LSO Representatives Visit Wickersham Elementary School
Imagine four children ranging in age from kindergarten to third grade so enraptured by an hourlong presentation that they are surprised when it is over. What could grab and hold their attention? Why, music, of course, but not just any music. The four children were in a SWAN (Scaling Walls A Note at a Time) after-school class at Wickersham Elementary, and the presentation was made by Lancaster Symphony Orchestra (LSO) concertmaster Luigi Mazzocchi and assistant concertmaster Nina Zubadi. The pair performed a Leclair sonata for two violins.
Following the performance, the musicians spent time talking to the students and answering questions. SWAN founder and executive director Diana Vuolo noted that the students were "lost in learning." "They had an engaging conversation. It was stimulating, instructive, and inspiring," said Vuolo. "Experiencing music live has an impact emotionally. It was a really upbeat and happy time."
The presentation came about through a partnership between LSO and SWAN, with the visit being part of LSO's Stand Partner Community Program, in which LSO makes a concerted effort to serve the community. SWAN is a free one-hour music program provided to School District of Lancaster (SDoL) students ages 6 to 18. The organization currently offers music lessons through several SDoL schools and at the Youth Intervention Center (YIC). SWAN is a nonprofit organization specifically serving children affected by parental incarceration.
Since the children play ukuleles, it was natural for them to compare their instruments with the musicians' violins. "(The students) saw that the violin has two holes to let the sound out and that both (instruments) have bridges, but they are different in shape and size. Both have four strings and a similar-shaped body," shared Vuolo. "They were describing the instruments with good adjectives, and they created good conversation."
The visiting musicians then gave the students an opportunity to play with them. "One of the most magical moments was when the symphony musicians had our children start plucking two notes repeatedly (on their ukuleles), and then the musicians started to play a folk dance," said Vuolo. "They really did sound beautiful together."
Vuolo is especially looking forward to a return visit by Mazzocchi and Zubadi. "(LSO) will be sending the same musicians to the same classes multiple times throughout the year," she explained, "so the school children will be able to create a relationship with them."
On Friday, Nov. 19, SWAN will take part in the Extraordinary Give (ExtraGive), hosted by the Lancaster County Community Foundation (LCCF). The 24-hour event, which is the the largest per-capita giving day in the nation, will begin at 12:00:01 a.m. on Nov. 19. Individuals may make donations using a credit card to participating nonprofits at http://www.extragive.org. Readers who would like to learn more about SWAN may visit http://www.swan4kids.org.
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