Santa Fe Pro Musica educational outreach programs introduce New Mexico residents, including thousands of local schoolchildren, to classical music, and encourage them to learn, perform and create. These programs include:
Youth Concert Series brings thousands of Northern New Mexico students to Santa Fe Pro Musica concerts at the Lensic Performing Arts Center. For many, this is a life-altering first encounter with classical music.
CHAMPS! is our unique apprentice chamber musician program. Each academic year, talented young musicians are organized into ensembles and coached by professionals.
Youth Scholarship Competition offers college and career-bound high school musicians from New Mexico the opportunity to perform publicly and compete for cash prizes.
Meet the Music, because music education is not just for youngsters! Before each Santa Fe Pro Musica Orchestra concert at the Lensic Performing Arts Center, conductor Thomas O’Connor presents pre-concert talks, taking listeners inside the music with interesting stories about the lives of composers, their music and their times. He demonstrates his lecture with musical excerpts, clues and cues that will enhance your understanding and enjoyment. Meet the Music is scheduled one hour before each Pro Musica Lensic Orchestra Series Concert, and is free to ticket-holders.
Youth Concerts
Santa Fe Pro Musica’s Youth Concert Series has reached more than 32,000 children and youth since its inception in 1994. Participating teachers receive pre-concert study materials to assist them in preparing their students for a live concert experience. These study materials include program notes, music history, composer biographies, audio CDs, and directed activities, and not only assist in providing an in-depth and enjoyable concert experience, but also help the students meet the New Mexico Benchmarks and Standards for Music.
At each Youth Concert, conductor Thomas O’Connor, with the assistance of the Santa Fe Pro Musica Chamber Orchestra, leads the assembled students through an introduction to musical instruments, program-specific guided listening exercises, and a question-and-answer session.
2009-2010 Youth Concerts
1. The Brandenburg Concertos: the music of J. S. Bach
Friday, October 2, 2009 at 10am in St. Francis Auditorium2. Classical Weekend: the music of Mozart
Wednesday, January 27, 2010 at 10am in the Lensic3. Classical Weekend: the music of Beethoven
Friday, January 29, 2010 at 10am in the Lensic4. Death and the Maiden: the music of Mendelssohn, Britten and Schubert
Friday, February 12, 2010 at 10am in St. Francis Auditorium5. The Four Seasons: the music of Handel, Bach and Vivaldi
Friday, April 23, 2010 at 10am in St. Francis Auditorium
Youth concerts are open to public school, private school and home-schooled students, grades K through 12. To enroll in the Youth Concert Series, please contact Toni Espeset at 505.988.4640, ext. 1000, or e-mail
Young Artist Scholarship Competition
The Santa Fe Pro Musica Young Artist Scholarship Competition celebrates the highest levels of accomplishment of New Mexico’s teenagers. The competition begins with a preliminary round of performance CDs submitted by applicants throughout the state. From these preliminaries, nine finalists are selected to perform in a live audition. From these live performances, winners are selected, awarded cash prizes, and invited to perform in the Young Artists Recital.
The winner of the 2008 Competition was accepted at the very prestigious Curtis Institute of Music!
The preliminary application and CD must be postmarked on or before March 8, 2010. Click here for application form. The Competition final audition will be held on Saturday, May 1, 2010, from 10am to 2pm at the United Church of Santa Fe, 1804 Arroyo Chamiso.
Young Artists Recital
ach spring, Santa Fe Pro Musica hosts its Young Artists Recital where all the CHAMPS! and the current winners of the Young Artist Scholarship Competition perform before an enthusiastic and supportive audience. Following the concert is a reception for the young musicians, their families, teachers, friends and the public.
The Young Artists Recital will take place on Saturday, May 15, 2010 at the United Church of Santa Fe, 1804 Arroyo Chamiso..
For more information, please contact Carol Redman
CHAMPS!
The Santa Fe Pro Musica CHAMPS! (Apprentice Artist Chamber Music Program) is designed for all young school-aged musicians interested in chamber music. These musicians are organized into 3- and 4-member chamber music ensembles coached throughout the academic year by professional musicians. Each ensemble learns how to rehearse in a collaborative atmosphere, and works intensely toward their performance in the Young Artist Recital in the spring.
Click here for more details for the 2009-2010 CHAMPS!
