New Generations Initiative
Through its New Generations Initiative, the La Porte County Symphony Orchestra is laying the groundwork for future orchestras and audiences.
Participation, Performance, Perpetuation
- The award-winning Drayton Family Children’s Education Concerts, offered each fall, is a fun, interactive, and age-appropriate event for fourth through sixth grade students. The LCSO is working to broaden the concerts to include every child in the region and to eliminate all cost barriers.
- Drew’s Gift of Music, a Plymouth, Indiana-based non-profit founded by Deb Johnson in memory of her son, accepts donations of used instruments, repairs those instruments, and places them in the hands of students who could not otherwise afford an instrument. LCSO seeks to strengthen its partnership with Drew’s Gift by reaching more qualifying students in the area. In addition, the LCSO is exploring opportunities to provide these deserving students with lessons and more opportunities to perform.
- LCSO’s Student Apprentice Program allows high school musicians to audition for the opportunity to rehearse and perform side-by-side with LCSO musicians.
- The LCSO plans to further its support of young musicians by offering an annual performance-based concerto competition.
- The LCSO pledges to strengthen its partnership with other community organizations to connect families and young children to music, art, and literature through special events.
LCSO ANNOUNCES NEW EDUCATION MANAGER
La Porte, IN- The La Porte County Symphony Orchestra (LCSO) is pleased to announce the appointment of Jared Coller as Education Manager. Coller will begin the newly created position effective June 5.
Coller is presently the band director of Rensselaer Middle and High Schools as well as a percussion section member of the LCSO. He is a graduate of Valparaiso University and is an endorsing artist with Artifact Percussion and Soultone Cymbals.
“Jared will bring a passion for music education to this position,” stated LCSO Executive Director, Tim King. “His experience as an educator as well as his vast network of contacts in the region will help to further our “New Generations” initiative. Thanks to the many donors to our MUSIC FOREVER campaign who made the creation of this position possible.”
Coller shared, “As difficult as it is to leave my students, I am very excited for this next step that will allow me the opportunity to cultivate the next generation of artists, leaders, audiences, and culturally aware citizens.”
Coller’s duties will include all aspects of organizing the Drayton Family Education Concerts, coordinating the Student Apprentice Program, serving as the LCSO’s liaison with Drew’s Gift of Music, organizing the small ensemble offerings of the LCSO, serving as the coordinator for the newly created Steck Family Music Education Fund as well as keeping in contact with all of the music educators in the region about opportunities and events with the LCSO.
