Music Director Grant Llewellyn and Associate Conductor John Finney direct Participatory Youth Concerts Feb. 10, 11 and 13 in Lynn, Brockton and Boston.

BOSTON, MA: Now in its 18th year, the Handel and Haydn Society’s Educational Outreach Program provides opportunities for youngsters to both hear and perform classical music. In partnership with 47 public schools in communities in and around Boston, the Program reaches some 12,000 students each year, and is comprised of Participatory Youth Concerts, In-School Workshops and the Vocal Apprenticeship Program.

PARTICIPATORY YOUTH CONCERTS

This year, seven high school choruses combine with the Handel and Haydn Society’s Orchestra and Vocal Quartet to perform Vivaldi’s Gloria on Feb. 10 at English High School in Lynn, on Feb. 11 at Brockton High School, and on Feb. 13 at Boston Latin School. In preparation for these performances, students have rehearsed for three to four months with their school choral directors, and with additional visits from John Finney and Grant Llewellyn.

IN-SCHOOL WORKSHOPS

This program features a professional ensemble called the Vocal Quartet. Established in 1985, the Quartet now visits 50 public schools in Boston, Brockton, Cambridge, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, Quincy and Woburn free of charge. In the 2002-2003 season, the Quartet offers “Voices of History,” an interactive, musical quiz game.

Vocal Apprenticeship Program (VAP)

Established in 1984, VAP now serves 160 students from 43 communities within Massachusetts and New Hampshire. VAP is composed of four choral ensembles and the High School Soloists program. The Youth Chorus sang at the Ice Chips Show at Northeastern University’s Matthews Arena in December 2001 and at the opening ceremony for the Leonard Zakim Bridge last October. Led by Matthew Garrett and Lisa Graham, the four ensembles include:

• Singers (22 members, ages 8 to 10)
• Youth Chorus (63 members, ages 10 to 13)
• Male Ensemble (12 members, changing to changed voices,
  ages 10 to 15)
• Young Women’s Chorus (43 members, high school females)

The High School Soloists program offers a select group of singers the opportunity to prepare for music study on the college level. This year’s 21 participants receive private voice lessons at New England Conservatory, as well as instruction in music theory, piano and ensemble singing.

Now in its 188th season, the Handel and Haydn Society specializes in music for chorus and orchestra composed in the Baroque and Classical eras, and offers historically informed performances, in which music is played on the instruments and with the techniques available to the composers in their time.

Handel and Haydn Society Educational Outreach Program Calendar

In-School Workshops for this year continue through March. For a schedule of events, please contact Gregg Sorensen at 617-262-1815, ext. 22, or .

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