Tacoma Symphony Orchestra's Mini Maestros travels to Mary Bridge Children's Hospital & Hope Center

Tacoma Symphony Orchestra's Mini Maestros travels to Mary Bridge Children's Hospital and Hope Center Boys & Girls Club

TACOMA, WA - Children at Mary Bridge Children's Hospital and the Boys and Girls Club in Lakewood will enjoy a special treat next Monday, March 16 when the Tacoma Symphony Orchestra String Quintet brings its "Mini Maestros" performance to the Hospital in the morning, and the Gary and Carol Milgard Family HOPE Center, 10402 Kline Street, in the afternoon.   The quintet will feature Concertmaster Svend Ronning, Associate Concertmaster Gwendolyn Taylor, Principal Bass Chris Burns and other members of the TSO string section.  The group will be joined by host and Kindermusik specialist Shay Ryan for an entertaining and interactive intro to the string family of instruments.

Beginning at 9:00 a.m., the ensemble will arrive at the Hospital and will offer performances in the health center and the hospital playroom-the latter of which will be broadcast via closed-circuit television throughout the hospital so that children who are too ill to leave their rooms can watch and listen. At 4:15 p.m., Shay and the String Quintet will perform for youngsters at the HOPE Center.

Listeners will explore the contrasts of high/low, slow/fast, and loud/soft while learning all of the ins and outs of what makes the string family unique. What kind of wood are the instruments made of?  What about the strings and bows?  Why are they so loud even though they're not "electric"? These questions and more will be answered. The music featured in this concert will be a balance between popular classical pieces and music from the movies...tunes for all ages!

The performances at Musical selections will include the waltz from Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty, Grieg's In the Hall of the Mountain King, the "Grand Old Duke of York," and such popular works as "Under the Sea" from The Little Mermaid and "I'm A Believer" by The Monkees (adapted from the movie Shrek). 

Later this spring the TSO Brass Quintet will return for a performance as well.  "Mini Maestros" is the Tacoma Symphony's own educational concert series created for children "ages 0 to 10," a joint project with Ted Brown Music and the University of Puget Sound Community Music Program.  The series is designed for young children and their families, and each program introduces one of the 'families' of instruments that makes up the symphony orchestra: woodwinds, strings, brass and percussion.  Dr. Anna Jensen, TSO Education Specialist, prepares the curriculum and plans the programs jointly with Shay Ryan.  The Tacoma Symphony Orchestra (TSO) has been a vital part of Tacoma's cultural landscape for 65 years, and has operated as a professional symphony orchestra for the past 20.  Under the leadership of new Music Director Sarah Ioannides, the Tacoma Symphony attracts audiences of all ages, from all walks of life and with varied musical interests by presenting classical, pops, seasonal and educational repertoire.  Tacoma Symphony's appearance at Mary Bridge is sponsored by Multicare Health System.  The Boys & Girls Club performance is sponsored by The Bamford Foundation.