First, just what is meant by “lots of kids”? The Family Concerts are designed to introduce children to classical music, and what better way than to show kids, onstage, performing and having a good time?
The February program features the Piedmont East Bay Children’s Choir, with approximately 70 members. In addition, there is the side-by-side program where young musicians perform alongside the professionals. Students from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music Prep Chamber Orchestra will participate at the San Francisco concert, performers from Berkeley’s Crowden School at the Berkeley concert, and musicians from Hillsdale High School at the concert in San Mateo. You’ll also see lots of kids in the audience. Altogether, that’s a lot of kids, as well as a good sign for the future of classical music.
The second component is education. SFCO Music Director Ben Simon cites his model as Leonard Bernstein’s wonderful Young People’s Concerts. “He was the man. I can’t really compare myself to him, but I want to bring in some real content and curriculum, with a spoonful of sugar.” The upcoming program is about breath and wind, and there will be four woodwinds (flute, oboe, clarinet, and bassoon) to help demonstrate how these apply to instruments and voices. The venues are relatively small, which keeps the music and the explanations close and personal. And the concerts run only an hour — long enough to showcase the music, yet short enough to keep everyone’s attention focused. But don’t think you’re going to be shortchanged on music. All the musicians, professional and amateur alike, take these performances seriously, while still having a very good time.
SFCO has a few other tricks up its sleeve to get people interested in classical music. A composer in residence, in this case Gabriela Lena Frank, is not unheard of in a musical organization, but how many other groups also have an artist-in-residence, Peggy Gyulai, plus a cartoonist-in-residence, Gail Machlis? It’s a feast for all the senses.
Finally, there’s the cost. You can’t beat it; the performances are free. Simon’s goal is to get rid of all the barriers that might keep children from being exposed to great classical music, and he acknowledges that ticket costs, while sometimes necessary, can be a barrier for an entire family. If you do want to help out financially, you can take part in the program’s Adopt-a-Musician program (there’s a special on violists).
And while the concerts are designed to be kid- and family-friendly, they still attract a lot of adults without children attached. They’re also a great way to introduce adults to the joys of music that isn’t heard on a top-40 station or American Idol.
So consider taking a classical musical break at the end of February. It’s bound to be a highlight of your weekend.