North Shore Kids Team Up with the VSO by Valerie Wood m u s i c T o the delight o f many music lovers, the Vancouver S y m p h o n y Orchestra has arrived on the N o r t h Shore under the baton o f the always-entertaining C l y d e M i t c h e l l . T h i s year the s y m phony is featured in a three-concert series sponsored by the North Vancouver S c h o o l B o a r d . The first concert o f the North Shore Classics series, held at the Centennial Theatre on October 22, 1997. was well-attended. The second concert, scheduled for M a r c h 30, 1998, w i l l feature R y a n Karchut, a gifted 17-year-old N o r t h Vancouver violinist, w h o w i l l j o i n the Vancouver S y m p h o n y to perform Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto. symphony w i l l also perform M o z a r t ' s overture to The of Figaro, Prelude a Marriage Vapres-midi The taking students' education outside the classroom. For example, every July the peaceful stillness o f Paradise Valley, site o f North Vancouver's Outdoor S c h o o l , is broken by young instrumentalists making music in the sunshine. In addition, nearly every zone in the school district has an honour band, w h i c h provides students with the extra-curricular opportunity to make friends from other schools and play music w h i c h might be more challenging than what they normally encounter in their regular band classes. The partnership between the s y m phony and the school district has brought many benefits. First, the students w i l l have the opportunity to hear a world-class orchestra close to home, and at a reasonable price (tickets are $20, or $35 for the series). Learning to be a musician involves more than learning what keys to press: it requires learning how to listen. A young instrumentalist needs to hear an accomplished musician play before he or she knows what is possible. Hearing the orchestra inspires studentsand makes them excited about learning. Second, the students w i l l have a chance to interact with, and learn from, symphony musicians. Recently. Corey Cerovsek, a 24Valerie product Wood is a teacher in and a Tickets box more on sale at Centennial phone Theatre for The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra year-old v i o l i n virtuoso and former North Shore resident, spent some time with young North Vancouver strings players. H e held a master class, answering questions and advising students on works they are learning. H e taught the students a great deal, and they came away from the experience excited about what could be possible for them. It gave them the chance to dream. None of that w o u l d have been possible had this partnership not existed. The 1998-99 N o r t h Shore C l a s s i c s series is already in the works, and w i l l be featured in the Vancouver S y m p h o n y ' s subscription booklet next year. Watch for this, but in the meantime, come and enjoy the M a r c h 30 concert, a: d'un faune by Debussy, and Beethoven's Symphony No. 7. The final concert, to be held M a y 27, 1998, at C a r s o n G r a h a m Secondary school, w i l l showcase student musical groups. Last year's hugely successful concert featured the North Vancouver H o n o u r B a n d and the North Shore Youth Symphony, and was emceed by C B C ' s K e v i n Evans. A t a time when many school districts' arts programs are on the chopping block. North Vancouver's band and strings program -- the main beneficiary o f the North Shore Classics series -- is not just surviving, it's thriving. Thanks to a strong and resourceful parent association (formed in 1992 to fight the threatened elimination of the elementary band and strings program), school board support, and a group of enthusiastic teachers, the hand and strings program is finding new ways to enrich students' musical education and reach out into the community. How? B y forming partnerships with professional arts organizations such as the Vancouver S w i i p h o i n and by office. Please information. 984-4484 of the North Band Vancouver Program. Elementary When found and Strings music, at not teaching sipping lattes she can be Starbucks.