The Carmel Symphony Orchestra (CSO) celebrated another outstanding year of its Music Matters educational concerts recently, welcoming more than 1,500 fifth-grade students from central Indiana to the Payne & Mencias Palladium at Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts.
For this performance, the CSO was under the direction of conductor Thomas Chen, the Director of Orchestras at Carmel High School.
Photo provided by Carmel Symphony Orchestra
Students were all smiles as they entered the concert hall. (Photo provided by Carmel Symphony Orchestra)
Sponsored by Glick Art, with heartfelt thanks to Marianne Glick for her leadership and generosity, the Music Matters concerts provided an unforgettable live orchestral experience designed to spark curiosity, creativity, and a lifelong appreciation for music among young learners.
“This program is one of the most rewarding things we do each year,” CSO Board Chair Nancy Sutton said. “Seeing students’ faces light up when they hear the orchestra live – many for the very first time – is incredibly powerful. We’re deeply grateful to Glick Art and to Marianne Glick for making this possible.”
The immersive concerts featured interactive elements, musical storytelling, and performances of beloved classics and contemporary works, tailored to align with school curriculum standards. Conductor Chen discussed each section of the orchestra including percussion, strings, harp, brass and woodwinds. He had the orchestra demonstrate their instruments as he talked about each section and showed how music tells stories, sets moods, and brings people together.
The trumpet section performs during the concert. (Photo provided by Carmel Symphony Orchestra)
One member of the CSO’s Education Committee said that the students were engaged and receptive to the musical selections. She also commented that it was a great opportunity for them to be exposed to the magnificent structure of the Payne & Mencias Palladium, hear and see an orchestra of this stature, and be exposed to the arts at a young age.
“Music education is a cornerstone of community enrichment,” said Marianne Glick, philanthropist and founder of Glick Art. “Supporting programs like Music Matters ensures that the next generation experiences the joy and inspiration that live classical music can bring.”
Anna Thompson-Danilova is the principal cellist for Carmel Symphony Orchestra. (Photo provided by Carmel Symphony Orchestra)
The Music Matters series continues to grow each year, connecting students and educators with professional musicians and expanding access to arts education throughout the region.
For more information about the Carmel Symphony Orchestra’s education initiatives or to learn how to support future programs, visit CarmelSymphony.org.