Owen Bradley joins The Perlman Music Program/Suncoast as its education outreach coordinator

(Sarasota, FL) Dr. Denise Davis-Cotton, a Perlman Music Program/Suncoast (PMP/Suncoast) trustee and chairperson of its education committee, recently announced that the organization has appointed Owen Bradley to coordinate its Education Outreach Program. Davis-Cotton, a nationally acclaimed educator who teaches research and leadership courses at Argosy University, says that Bradley brings “a wealth of experience and knowledge to the position.”

Bradley is band director at North Port High School and has a 26-year track record teaching high school and middle school music. A doctoral candidate at Argosy University in Education Leadership, Bradley is also an education consultant specializing in school reform and data-driven analysis. From 2001 to 2010, Bradley served as Performing Arts Small Learning Community chairman for North Port High School. He is a Sarasota County NeXt Generation educator and recipient of the 2006 Superintendent’s Spotlight Award, specifically designed to recognize employees who go beyond what would normally be expected in the execution of their jobs or duties. With special expertise in technology, Bradley maintains an active schedule as a speaker on the subject of music education both in Florida and around the country. He is also the author of several articles and a blog on music education.

“We’re delighted to have Owen join our team,” says Davis-Cotton. “He has a deep grasp of the roots and structure of music—and the rare ability to translate that knowledge to middle and high school students in a way that’s fresh, exciting and engaging. He’s passionate about music, and equally passionate about passing that love on to others. It’s the perfect combination for our program."

Now in its fifth year, PMP/Suncoast's Education Outreach Program brings professional teaching musicians, alumni of The Perlman Music Program, into area schools in Sarasota and Manatee counties during three separate one-week residencies. Members of the acclaimed Ariel Quartet were the artists-in-residence for the 2012-2013 season and will return for the 2013-2014 season during October, February and May to present interactive performances and hands-on training for area music students and their teachers.

Davis-Cotton explains that the program served 23 schools at the elementary, middle, and high school levels during the 2012-2013 season.

“Our Education Outreach Program provides area music students and educators a unique opportunity to witness the creative process up close and to interact with professional musicians on a personal level. Some students may decide to further their music studies—all will leave these sessions better informed, and perhaps more curious, about classical music. This approach is the raison d’etre of The Perlman Music Program/Suncoast. We’re not simply training classical musicians of tomorrow—we're building the classical music audiences of the future.”

The PMP/Suncoast Education Outreach Program was launched in October 2009 with the support of The Juilliard School, Columbia University’s Teacher College, Toby and Itzhak Perlman and the faculty of The Perlman Music Program. Kim Miles, music educator at Bay Haven School for Basics Plus, helps develop the curriculum packets, connecting musical concepts with academic subjects and Common Core Standards.

For more information about The Perlman Music Program/Suncoast, visit www.PMPSuncoast.org or contact Elizabeth Power, executive director, 941-955-4942.

ABOUT THE PERLMAN MUSIC PROGRAM/SUNCOAST

The Perlman Music Program/Suncoast was established in May 2008 as an independent non-profit organization with the mission to provide operational stability and funding support for a permanent Sarasota winter residency for The Perlman Music Program. Founded by Toby Perlman, and with world-renowned faculty members led by her husband, internationally acclaimed violinist and conductor Itzhak Perlman, The Perlman Music Program augments its seven-week summer program in Shelter Island, NY, with a two-week intensive winter residency each December in Sarasota, in partnership with University of South Florida, Sarasota-Manatee. The residency provides valuable mentoring and performance opportunities for young string musicians, ages 12-20, and a rich opportunity for community audiences to experience the magic of musical mentoring during more than 20 free events on the University of South Florida's Sarasota-Manatee campus. The program culminates with a “Celebration Concert,” featuring Itzhak Perlman directing the PMP String Orchestra.

The Perlman Music Program/Suncoast recently expanded its program offerings to include a year-round Education Outreach Program, which brings PMP alumni, who are now professional musicians, into elementary, middle and high schools in Sarasota and Manatee counties. These curriculum-based, in-school experiences include interactive performances and hands-on training for students and teachers. These acclaimed musicians also present free and low-cost concerts throughout the year as part of PMP/Suncoast's Emerging Artists Performance Series. For more information, visit www.PMPSuncoast.org.