OREGON SYMPHONY DOCENT PROGRAM EXPANDS: COMMUNITY RECRUITS WANTED
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Portland, Ore. … Volunteers from around the community to share their love for music and children are being recruited and trained by the Oregon Symphony Education and Community Programs Department to prepare 3-5 graders for Youth Concerts with classrooms visits. This year, volunteers from outside the organization are being enlisted and offered training sessions in an effort to expand the program.

students will be introduced to at the concert. With a variety of visual aids, docents lead students through a listening lesson of musical excerpts that will be performed on the upcoming concert. Audio tapes and materials are provided for use in the classroom free of charge. "Oregon Symphony docents prepare our youngest audience members for their concert experience by inspiring a love and understanding of music," said Director of Education and Community Programs Michael Kosmala.

The Oregon Symphony Education department will hold a docent training session Saturday, Sept. 29 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. Docents will learn about "The Music Team!," the first Youth Concert of the season. "The Music Team!" teaches grades 3 through 5 about the team effort involved in a symphony orchestra performance through the music of Dvorák, Elgar, Gliere, Mendelssohn, Mussorgsky, Tchaikovsky and Wagner. Concert are scheduled for Nov. 19 and Dec. 4 at 10 and 11:30 a.m. at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. At the training session, Symphony staff will walk volunteers through an overview of the concert program and help prepare classroom presentations.

People interested in becoming an Oregon Symphony docent should call Oregon Symphony Education and Community Programs at 503-228-4294 for more information.