- November 23, 2024
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The Orlando Ballet performs with the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra for the Young People's Concert at the Peabody Auditorium. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, dancers from the Orlando ballet and singers from Opera Orlando perform in the Young People's Concert at the Peabody Auditorium in Daytona Beach. Photo by Michele Meyers
Volusia County Schools Curriculum Specialist John Dupuis addresses the VIPs duirng a reception before the concert. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, dancers from the Orlando ballet and singers from Opera Orlando perform in the Young People's Concert at the Peabody Auditorium in Daytona Beach. Photo by Michele Meyers
Close to 5,000 Volusia County fifth graders attended the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra's Young People's Concert at the Peabody Auditorium in Daytona Beach. Photo by Michele Meyers
Daytona Beach Shores Economic and Community Development Director Nancy Maddox and former County Council Chair Frank Bruno attend the VIP reception prior to the Young People's Concert at the Peabody Auditorium. Photo by Michele Meyers
John Dupuis, Jamie Haynes, Dr. Grace Kellermeier, Patty Corr and Craig Uppercue with Volusia County Schools are joined by Orlando Philharmonic Musicians during the VIP reception before the Young People's Concert. Photo by Michele Meyers
Daytona Beach Symphony Society Executive Director Mark Francis, Volusia County Schools Curriculum Specialist John Dupuis and Volusia County Schools District 1 Board Member. Jamie Haynes. Photo by Michele Meyers
Daytona Beach Symphony Society Executive Director Mark Francis, Daytona Beach Symphony Society President Margaret Yaeger and Volusia County Schools Curriculum Specialist John Dupuis. Photo by Michele Meyers
Volusia County Schools District 1 School Board Member Jamie Haynes is bestowed the light saber during the VIP reception. Photo by Michele Meyers
Volusia County Schools District 4 School Board Member Carl Persis. Photo by Michele Meyers
Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra Director of Philanthropy Jennifer Coolidge. Photo by Michele Meyers
Tomoka Elementary fifth graders Croix Bello, Hailey Lucas, Autumn Clark and Luann Monahan get ready to sing the Star-Spangled Banner before the Young People's Concert at the Peabody Auditorium. Photo by Michele Meyers
Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra Director of Philanthropy Jennifer Coolidge claps for the Young People's Concert Conductor Chelsea Gallo when she stops in to greet everyone in the VIP reception. Photo by Michele Meyers
Volusia County Schools Fine Arts Resource Craig Uppercue prepares the fifth graders to take the stage at the Peabody Auditorium to sing the Star-Spangled Banner. Photo by Michele Meyers
Tomoka Elementary fifth grader Luann Monahan leads the other students toward the backstage area get ready to sing the Star-Spangled Banner before the Young People's Concert at the Peabody Auditorium. Photo by Michele Meyers
Fifth graders file in to fill the seats of the Peabody Auditorium as the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra warms up before the Young People's Concert. Photo by Michele Meyers
Fifth graders take the stage at the Peabody Auditorium to sing the Star-Spangled Banner before the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra's Young People's Concert. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Symphony in Space concert narrator, Gamma Ray, smiles as she starts to learn about music. Photo by Michele Meyers
Gamma Ray runs off stage as the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra performs a space-themed piece for the fifth graders. Photo by Michele Meyers
Gamma Ray uses her facial expressions to narrate the Symphony in Space Young People's Concert at the Peabody Auditorium. Photo by Michele Meyers
Two groups of Volusia County fifth graders totaling 4,351 students descended on the Peabody Auditorium in Daytona Beach on Tuesday, Oct. 17.
They were there to fill their ears with sounds from the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra and Opera Orlando singers, while watching the Orlando Ballet take the stage.
The collaborative performance was part of the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra’s Young People’s Concerts. This is the orchestra’s 31st season of the program, designed to instill knowledge of and love for music in young listeners while entertaining adults as well.
Daytona Beach Symphony Society President Margaret Yaeger believes in the importance of introducing young people to symphonic music.
“Symphonic music soothes the heart,” she said. “We have a YES program — Youth Experiencing Symphony. I’m hoping that children attend our seven concerts this year and grow in appreciation for symphonic music and opera. The symphonic music and opera will enrich their lives forever.”
Every year, the team devises a themed program designed to captivate young audiences with visual effects and interactive antics. This year’s theme is space-based and aptly named “Symphony in Space: A Musical Adventure That’s Out of this World.”
Volusia County Schools supports all of our music programs. We’re lucky in this state that every single school in our school district has music and a lot of our schools in our secondary program—middle school and high school—have dance and also have theater. Music and the arts are alive and well in our district. We also have a very robust visual art department as well. - John Dupuis, Volusia County Schools Curriculum Specialist
The story line follows the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, which is hosting the galactic games and is in search of an “interstellar superstar.” A narrating alien named Gamma Ray, troupes of dancing stars and aliens, and a singing moon that is in love with a self-centered sun all join together to take the audience on a trip featuring old and new composers — Mason Bates’ Mothership, Stella Sungs’ Starburst and Gustav Holst’s Jupiter are a sampling of the pieces played during the concert.
A VIP reception was held for Volusia County Schools district personnel, board members and the business community prior to the performances. VCS Curriculum Specialist John Dupuis thanked everyone in attendance.
“Volusia County Schools supports all of our music programs,” he said. “We’re lucky in this state that every single school in our school district has music and a lot of our schools in our secondary program — middle school and high school—have dance and also have theater. Music and the arts are alive and well in our district. We also have a very robust visual art department as well.”
Volusia County School Board Chair Jamie Haynes is thankful her children were exposed to the arts at an early age. She said it is important to provide opportunities like the Young People’s Concerts for all children and get them hooked, with the goal to have them continue with the arts and experience the arts’ positive impact throughout their lives.
“When we want to build a strong foundation for our children, starting as early as our elementary level, we have to include the arts — music, dance, theater, all of those things,” she said. “I never started a day off in my classroom without music as a part of it. Music is that common force as well as a tool for learning. I want to thank everyone that works together to put this on for all of our children, because some of them would never have this opportunity to do this.”
A group of fifth graders opened the program by taking the stage and singing “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Tomoka Elementary music teacher Lilly Kershner had four students participating — Croix Bello, Hailey Lucas, Autumn Clark and Luann Monahan.
Kershner is from Tampa, where she participated in band at Orange Grove Middle School. That is where she learned how to play her favorite instrument — the flute. She teaches her students how to play a variety of instruments, as well as sing. After school, she teaches her wind ensemble, which includes students playing the flute, clarinet and saxophone.
She remembers seeing the Florida Orchestra perform when she was in elementary school. She was a dancer, but said she thought it was cool. That, and her friend’s persuasiveness, led her to music.
“I think just being in arts in elementary school gives [students] benefits, even if they don’t pursue it,” she said. “I feel like the foundations that music and certain arts teaches carries through the rest of their life. The arts and music teaches you a certain determination and motivation and discipline that not all areas focus on. I feel like just having to practice to be good at something and you to see the outcome and for other people to hear it and it be so universal, then, yes, I think it is very important and it does have a lifelong effect.”
