As music curricula are becoming increasingly rare in public schools, the Gina Bachauer’s Music-In-Our-Schools Program often provides the first exposure to classical music for local school children.  Since 1999 this unique program has paired world-class pianists with local elementary schools for an assembly that introduces the fundamentals of classical music and the acoustics of a Steinway grand piano.  The children are taught concert behavior and the mechanics of sound, rhythm and harmony on the piano.  The students are encouraged to ask questions, as well as participate in hands on instruction. This program reaches some 22,000 students in elementary schools across the Wasatch Front, reaching students from diverse ethnic and economic backgrounds.

During the week of October 16-20 Mirian Conti, an Argentine pianist residing in New York performed for nearly 2000 children in eight schools.  She emphasized music from Argentina, Cuba, Spain, and Poland, inviting individual children to point to the different countries on a map.  She had the children participate in learning musical rhythm and pitch during many of her pieces. 

Justin Kolb of Fleischmanns, NY included Salt Lake City in his tour of the Western states.  He performed for over 2000 students in five elementary and two secondary schools.  He also taught a career development class and a master class at the University of Utah. 

Jeroen van Veen, a pianist/composer from the Netherlands performed for the students at Upland Terrace Elementary.  Willem van Schalkwyk from South Africa and Namibia performed at three elementary schools, about 1800 students, in early March.  Professors Ning and Jie Lu of China performed duets for the students at Beacon Heights Elementary.

Armen Babakhanian from Armenia will present assemblies in eight public and private elementary schools as part of his visit to Salt Lake City.  He will be heard in recital on the evening of March 22, 2007 at the Rose Wagner Center for the Performing Arts.  During the week following his debut with the Utah Symphony, Stephen Beus, winner of the 2006 Gina Bachauer International Artists Competition, will perform for approximately 4,000 children in eight elementary schools. 

The response to this program has been extremely positive.  The students are invited to attend public performances by the artists free of charge. The students often send letters and drawings expressing their delight with their musical experience.  Principals will call the Bachauer office requesting the Music-In-Our-Schools program for their school after learning of the foundation’s educational performances in other schools. 

Our dream for the future is to double the number of students who hear the sound of a Steinway grand and a world-class artist in their school.  Our hope is also to provide a way, using live video feed, for more of the students in the room to watch the piano action and the fingers on the piano keys. We also plan to develop the means for students to attend the Bachauer Concert Series with their families. 

2006-2007 Music-In-Our-Schools Schedule: