Pennsylvania Philharmonic Coming To Norristown Schools

NORRISTOWN, PA -- The Pennsylvania Philharmonic has announced that their next educational concert cycle: “Cheers, Tears, and Fears: Music and Emotion” will be presented at several local schools, according to a press release.

The schedule is as follows:

• May 4: Phoenixville Area School District
• May 5: Norristown School District
• May 6: Octorara School District

Unique from other orchestras, over half of the Pennsylvania Philharmonic’s concerts are educational concerts tailored specifically for students in grades four through eight.

Each year a 60- piece orchestra enters regional schools delivering a dynamic and innovative program. Education is
at the core of who the Pennsylvania Philharmonic is, organizers said.

Led by the renowned music director, Michael Butterman, the orchestra’s engaging educational concerts are truly a one of a kind artistic experience.

The mission of the orchestra is to provide schools and communities access to the world of classical music, right in their own backyards.

The interactive educational concert program, “Cheers, Tears, and Fears: Music and Emotion” not only offers young students exposure to the sights and sounds of a full orchestra but also effectively engages students in the performance.

The music of Dvorak, Mendelssohn, and Mahler are highlighted in this series.

Butterman and the orchestra engage with the students, getting them involved in the creation of the music in order to demonstrate how well music can reflect and elicit emotions. As an example, students offer up personal responses in how they believe the music can be made to sound more joyful or sorrowful, therefore truly connecting the students with the music and the orchestra.

The concert series is coupled with a complete Study Guide that is then used in correlation with the school’s curriculum, making the event a comprehensive and enriching addition to the students’ studies. More than 15,000 students will be reached from Bethlehem to York.