Symphony Of The Hills Association

THE SYMPHONY OF THE HILLS ASSOCIATION IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING CLASSICAL SYMPHONIC MUSIC TO AUDIENCES THROUGHOUT THE HILL COUNTRY OF TEXAS, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON EXPANDING THE APPRECIATION OF MUSIC AND DEVELOPING THE MUSICAL TALENTS OF YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.

THE SYMPHONY IS A 75-MEMBER REGIONAL ORCHESTRA WHICH PERFORMS CONCERTS IN THE CAILLOUX THEATER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS IN DOWNTOWN KERRVILLE. THE SYMPHONY PERFORMS FOUR CLASSICAL CONCERTS, TYPICALLY IN THE MONTHS OF OCTOBER, DECEMBER, FEBRUARY AND APRIL AND A POPS CONCERT IN JANUARY. IN ADDITION, IT PERFORMS TWO CHILDREN'S CONCERTS IN OCTOBER, DRAWING ON THE CONTENT OF THAT MONTH'S EVENING CONCERT. OVER THE YEARS, THE REPERTOIRE HAS INCLUDED SYMPHONIES, TONE POEMS, OVERTURES AND CONCERTOS FROM THE MUSICAL CANON OF THE WESTERN WORLD. PIECES WITH CHORAL CONTENT ARE ALSO COMMON, EMPLOYING A GRAND CHORUS. THE POPS CONCERT CHARACTERISTICALLY PRESENTS MUSIC FROM BROADWAY AND FILM AND THE REALM OF POPULAR CLASSICS, SOMETIMES IN TANDEM WITH SINGERS OR SMALL POP ENSEMBLES. THE ANNUAL CHILDREN'S CONCERTS BRING OVER 1600 ELEMENTARY STUDENTS FROM THE REGION FOR A MORNING AND AFTERNOON CONCERT. THE YOUTHS ARE PREPARED FOR BETTER APPRECIATION BY INDIVIDUALS FROM THE SYMPHONY WHO VISIT THEIR SCHOOLS TO PERFORM AND EXPLAIN AS WELL AS THROUGH A CURRICULUM DEVELOPED SPECIFICALLY FOR THESE CONCERTS.

WE STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A NEED TO INTRODUCE YOUNG PEOPLE TO THE GRANDEUR OF TRADITIONAL CLASSICAL MUSIC AND TO ENCOURAGE THEIR OWN INCLINATIONS TO CREATE MUSIC. FOR THAT REASON, OVER THE PAST 12 YEARS WE HAVE BEEN PERFORMING TWO CHILDREN'S CONCERTS EACH SEASON FOR ALL 3RD AND 4TH GRADE STUDENTS IN THE KERRVILLE AREA, FOR A TOTAL OF MORE THAN 1600 STUDENTS ANNUALLY. THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO FAMILIARIZE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH TRADITIONAL CLASSICAL MUSIC AND THE PRINCIPAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS OF A SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES FOR SEVERAL WEEKS OF IN-SCHOOL PRESENTATIONS AND TEXAS ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS (TEKS) COMPLIANT LESSON PLANS FOR THE TEACHERS AT EACH OF 12 SCHOOLS DESIGNED TO PREPARE THE STUDENTS FOR THEIR ATTENDANCE AT ONE OF THE TWO CHILDREN'S CONCERTS. IN THE CLASSROOM, THE CHILDREN ARE INTRODUCED TO THE PRINCIPAL SYMPHONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS AND TO THE MUSIC THEY CAN PRODUCE. THE CHILDREN'S OUTREACH TOUCHES NEARLY 2000 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THE KERRVILLE AREA WHO OTHERWISE WOULD NEVER HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE CLASSICAL ORCHESTRAL MUSIC. THE ENTHUSIASTIC RESPONSE WE HAVE RECEIVED FROM STUDENTS AND TEACHERS ALIKE DEMONSTRATES TO US THE CLEAR SUCCESS AND CONTINUING NEED OF THIS OUTREACH.IN ADDITION, MEMBERS OF THE SYMPHONY ARE ACTIVELY ENGAGED WITH THE HILL COUNTRY YOUTH ORCHESTRA, WHICH PROVIDES LESSONS FOR YOUTH FROM ELEMENTARY TO HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL. HCYO PARTICIPANTS HAVE PERFORMED OCCASIONALLY BEFORE OR DURING SOH PERFORMANCES, AND SEVERAL GRADUATES OF THE HCYO HAVE BECOME MEMBERS OF THE SYMPHONY.