Children's Program Musical Explorers Launches in Omaha

Omaha Performing Arts announced today the launch of Musical Explorers, a new music education program for children in kindergarten through second grade produced in partnership with Carnegie Hall's Weill Music Institute. Omaha Performing Arts is one of four performing arts centers invited to adapt Musical Explorers for use in their own communities.

Musical Explorers is a semester-long, curriculum-based program that features three local musical ensembles, each representing a different musical style and cultural community. The 2015-2016 Musical Explorers program in Omaha will feature African music with Charles Ahovissi and African Culture Connection; Mexican music with Marcos Mora; and Jewish folk music with Cantor Wendy Shermet. Teachers will implement Musical Explorers in their classrooms starting February 2016. For the 2015-2016 school year, participation is limited to approximately 500 students at select Omaha Public Schools district elementary schools.

"We're excited to be a part of this Carnegie Hall program," said Kendra Whitlock Ingram, Vice President of Programming and Education at Omaha Performing Arts. "It's a wonderful opportunity to introduce children to different musical styles as well as the rich cultural heritage of our city."

Focusing on the voice as an instrument, Musical Explorers is designed to build basic music skills in the classroom as students learn songs from different cultures, reflect on their own communities, and develop listening and singing skills. At the beginning of the semester, participating teachers attend a professional development workshop where they will receive lesson plans, activity guides, music recordings and other resources to implement the Musical Explorers curriculum in their classrooms. Musical Explorers will culminate with an hour-long, interactive concert at the Holland Performing Arts Center on May 3, 2016, featuring the musicians and songs from the semester's curriculum. Bank of the West is a sponsor of the program.

Carnegie Hall's Weill Music Institute launched Musical Explorers in New York City during the 2008-2009 school year. After expanding the program beyond New York City for the first time last season in pilot partnerships with the Savannah Music Festival in Savannah, Georgia and The Broad Stage in Santa Monica, California, Carnegie Hall has now partnered with The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts in Hartford, Connecticut as well as Omaha Performing Arts, bringing the total number of students served by Musical Explorers to over 15,000 across the US during the 2015-2016 season.

"We are thrilled to partner with Omaha Performing Arts this year as part of Carnegie Hall's Musical Explorers program," said Sarah Johnson, Director of the Weill Music Institute. "Musical Explorers takes students on a journey through the diverse musical styles and cultures found where they live, and we know young people in Omaha will soon be listening, singing, and moving to the vibrant sounds of their community."

Omaha Performing Arts announced today the launch of Musical Explorers, a new music education program for children in kindergarten through second grade produced in partnership with Carnegie Hall's Weill Music Institute. Omaha Performing Arts is one of four performing arts centers invited to adapt Musical Explorers for use in their own communities.

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