Utah Symphony Brings Full Orchestra to District Students in Diversity-Themed Performance

September 18th, 2024 /
Spencer Tuinei /
Elementary School, News, Schools, Secondary Schools

Utah Symphony brought the magic of live music to Provo City School District students from grades 4 to 11 yesterday, connecting our school communities during the in-school Symphony Concert. The theme? Diversity and unity in and through music. It seems a perfect theme, considering the event.

Between 19 districts, 229 schools, and more than 28,000 students statewide, the Utah Symphony has made a goal of “connecting communities through live concerts, programs, and meet-and-greets,” to quote their Utah Symphony Education Annual Report for 2023-2024. Each performance, to further quote, “takes students through guided listening, highlighting different musical aspects that communicate ideas and feelings.”

This event was part of the Utah Symphony’s ongoing Professional Outreach Programs in the Schools (POPS), funded by the Utah State Legislature and managed by the Utah State Board of Education.

These outreach efforts are designed to connect students with professional artists, offering high-quality arts education, reinforcing the state’s core art, and reinforcing students to live music is a core part of what we do,” said a representative of the Utah Symphony. “Our goal is to introduce students to various musical traditions and allow them to experience the power of a full orchestra firsthand.”

The concert program featured a diverse lineup of pieces from composers across the globe, including:

Mikhail Glinka: Ruslan and Ludmila Overture
An-lun Huang: Saibei Suite No. 2, Saibei Dance
Johannes Brahms: Symphony No. 3, Movement 3
Jose Pablo Moncayo: Huapango
Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 7, Movement 1
Gerónimo Giménez: La Boda de Luis Alonso, Intermezzo
Alexander Borodin: Symphony No. 2, Movement 4

The Utah Symphony carefully selected each piece to showcase how music bridges diverse cultures, tied together by their ability to express shared human experiences through distinct cultural lenses. From José Pablo Moncayo’s Huapango, which pulses with the vibrant energy of Mexican folk rhythms, to Brahms’ Symphony No. 3, Movement 3, where delicate, lyrical themes evoke a sense of reflective connection, the program reveals music’s universal language. Throughout the performances, students were invited to compare musical elements such as melody, harmony, and dynamics, learning how composers from different periods and countries express their ideas to inspire and unite listeners.

This in-school concert series is symbolic of the many efforts by the Utah Symphony to promote a deeper connection between students and the world of classical music. In a world increasingly dominated by digital experiences, these live performances offer students a chance to engage with the arts personally and effectively. Experiences like these are rare and create community; we’re grateful that The Utah Symphony brings worlds of music to our modest halls.

Concerts are made possible in part by funding from the State Legislature funding through the Professional Outreach Programs in the Schools (POPS). The goal is to connect schools, teachers, administrators, and students with professional artists. POPS supports the state’s core arts standards by providing arts education opportunities to all Utah schools.