EDUCATION AND OUTREACH

Mission of the Education and Outreach Program

"The Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra's Education and Outreach mission is to provide a variety of music programs in the area schools to expose students to classical music through performances by guest artists; to encourage participation in school instrumental classes that build life long skills and pleasure; and to support educational opportunities that foster students' self esteem, which can lead to academic success."

Hilton head Youth Orchestra

Under the direction of David Lunt, the Hilton Head Youth Orchestra provides training, experience and music enrichment to approximately 40 talented students each year. The students audition to earn a chair in this organization. Several of these gifted students currently qualify for the HHSO’s Scholarship Lesson Program. The Youth Orchestra performs in concerts and ensembles, annually conducts a Concerto Competition, and performs side-by-side with the professional musicians in the HHSO.

Hilton Head International Piano Competition

One of the most successful events held under the Orchestra’s auspices is the Hilton Head International Piano Competition. Considered to be one of the leading international piano competitions in the United States, the Competition attracts applicants from all over the world to compete in this annual March event. The goal of the HHIPC is to encourage and support excellence in the performance of classical music by showcasing the talents of young pianists on the threshold of their careers. Contestants who don’t advance to the semifinal round are brought to area schools for assembly programs where they talk about their lives and to play for the students.

Adopt-A-School Program

The Adopt-A-School program provides funding, hands-on support and musical materials for one elementary school for two years. Past adopted schools who have benefited from this program are J.J. Davis Elementary, Whale Branch Elementary, St. Helena Elementary and Bluffton Elementary schools. The current “adopted” school is Hilton Head High, to whom we provided string instruments to establish their first-ever Strings Program.

Recorder Program

All Third and Fourth and Fifth Grade Students in the Beaufort County Public Schools received a Recorder in 2007 to enable students to learn to read music and play an instrument. This gift was made possible through the Heritage Foundation of Hilton Head. These recorders will be sanitized and kept by the schools for future classes.

Children's Bookmark and Library Programs

The Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra provides a comprehensive list of age appropriate and entertaining books regarding classical music and composers in a convenient bookmarks which have been distributed to schools, libraries and local bookstores. The bookmarks are researched and compiled by former librarian and current Board member of the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra, Mary Ann Putnam. She also conducts the Library Programs featuring the books.

Guest Artists and Musical Ensembles in the Schools.

The Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra Guest Artists program schedules artists’ visits to the schools to perform music selections and talk to the students about the music, their instruments and their experiences as musicians.