Nearly 12,500 second grade students from Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) will experience classical music, many for the first time, during the annual Strathmore Student Concerts from November 17-20, 2015. This marks the highest number of attendees in the program’s history, resulting in the addition of an eighth concert to accommodate increased enrollment. Students will fill the 1,800-seat Music Center at Strathmore eight times over four consecutive days for this hallmark education event.

Through the performance with the National Philharmonic, students learn about the four families of instruments that make up the orchestra. The concerts are a real life example of the introductory music education students are receiving in classrooms—curricular goals are reinforced with video and images, creating a multidimensional experience. Students also get the chance to sing along and interact with the orchestra.

The concerts also present a unique opportunity for talented local high school students to play with a live orchestra. Soloists are winners of the National Philharmonic’s annual Concerto Competition. High school soloists for the 2015 Strathmore Student Concerts are:

• Jason Hong, clarinet, Richard Montgomery High School (Rockville, MD)
• Sarah Kim, violin, Centennial High School (Ellicott City, MD)
• Kenneth Naito, violin, Juilliard School Precollege Division (Ellicott City, MD)
• Olivia Chen, violin, Richard Montgomery High School (Rockville, MD)

The Strathmore Student Concerts for second graders represent a $192,000 investment in the community and arts education. The series is a partnership between Strathmore, Montgomery County Public Schools, and the National Philharmonic, with additional support from Geico, Jordan Kitt’s Music, and the Paul M. Angell Family Foundation.

The first student concert was held in 2004.

WHEN
November 17-20, 2015
10:45 a.m. and 12:25 p.m. (students arrive 30 minutes prior to each concert.)

WHERE          
Music Center at Strathmore
5301 Tuckerman Lane
North Bethesda, MD 20852

CONTACTS    
Strathmore: Mike Fila, (301) 581-5194, mfila@strathmore.org
Montgomery County Public Schools: Brian Edwards, (301) 279-3853, brian_edwards@mcpsmd.org
National Philharmonic: Deborah Birnbaum, (301) 493-9283 x118, deborah@nationalphilharmonic.org