Community Engagement & Education
The importance of education and community engagement activities in America's orchestras has grown exponentially over the past 10-15 years as research has revealed the positive effect music has on children and adults. Orchestras are engaging their communities in ongoing, active learning in the arts and establishing long-term collaborative partnerships with community-based organizations.
In an effort to support music education in schools, the Mansfield Symphony is exploring partnerships with local school systems, businesses, and other arts organizations to create innovative programs such as residencies and after-school programs; early childhood and teen programs; continuing education programs for adults; and a host of other activities.
It is part of the Mansfield Symphony mission to provide not only world class entertainment, but to be a resource for our community. Studies show clearly that kids with music education perform better in school, socialize easier in society, have a better understanding of the world we live in, and grow into adults that not only land better jobs, but are more tolerant and understanding of other people. This essential truth is vital to the future of the Mansfield Symphony. We believe that music education is not a luxury, but a necessity.
Mansfield Symphony chamber groups make dozens of visits a year to local schools, and the Renaissance passes out thousands of free symphony tickets to students who may not otherwise be able to afford the cost of a ticket. The Operation Bridge Building program offers a rare opportunity for students to experience music in their own classrooms--even in combination with math or science!
Our groundbreaking partnership with NAMI Richland County in Oct. of 2007 is a great example of what an orchestra can provide for its community. This wonderful night was many years in the making. A celebration of artists who created exhilarating art while battling debilitating disorders, this unique program represents an important partnership with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Richland County. A favorite of the MSO audience, Carlos Cesar Rodriguez returned to Mansfield to perform one of his favorite pieces, Schumann's Piano Concerto. A brief introduction by our guest speaker, Dr. Kay Redfield Jamison (the author of several books, including An Unquiet Mind, and a distinguished Professor of Psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine), enlightened the audience about the compelling connection between mental disorders and enhanced creativity. This partnership not only provided a wonderful evening of entertainment and education, but also provided a service to the people of Richland County in a way that only a symphony can provide!
For information on how you can make use of the Symphony in a more direct way through education and community engagement, contact our Director of Education at 419-522-2726, x251.
