Grant to provide "Carnegie Hall Experience" to more than 4,000 West Michigan students

A $10,000 grant from the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) of Outstate Michigan to the West Michigan Symphony (WMS) will help provide the Carnegie Hall Community Link Up (CHCLU) program. The academic-year-long music curriculum, created by Carnegie Hall for elementary students (grades three to five), will reach more than 4,000 students in 52 West Michigan elementary schools throughout Kent, Muskegon, Ottawa, Oceana and Newaygo counties. At the conclusion of the 2012 school year, students will have the opportunity to meet and perform with the WMS.

“In a time of music education cuts, we are pleased to know that this grant will provide musical enrichment to the lives of more than 4,000 children in rural, urban and suburban communities throughout West Michigan,” said Lesa Dion, executive director of RMHC of Outstate Michigan.

The RMHC of Outstate Michigan grant will cover the costs associated with seven WMS music mentors, who will make a total of 84 classroom visits throughout the year, transportation to the Frauenthal Theatre in Muskegon for the students’ end-of-year performance with the WMS and other costs associated with the concert.

The WMS is one of 14 orchestras nationwide and the only Midwest orchestra to collaborate with local elementary schools using the CHCLU program.

“The West Michigan Symphony is extremely thankful for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Outstate Michigan’s support,” said Carla Hill, president and CEO of the West Michigan Symphony. “Education is a vital part of our mission as a Symphony, and this grant will allow us to continue to bring music to schools in Kent, Ottawa and Muskegon counties.  Keeping music in schools provides children with opportunities for self-expression, teamwork and fun.”

In addition to ensuring that music education continues in public schools, the CHCLU program provides elementary students with an education in fundamental music concepts and access to the orchestra while fostering relationships between the WMS and surrounding public schools and communities. At the conclusion of the program, students are able to read music, understand tempos and rhythms as well as play music on the recorder.

As a way to strengthen its partnerships with schools and enhance the student’s musical learning experience, the WMS Music Mentor program was developed to supplement the CHCLU program. Each WMS music mentor, an active member of the WMS, is matched with six schools, visiting each school twice before the end-of-year Link Up concert. Mentors are familiarized with the current year’s Link Up curriculum and classroom management skills as well as provided with a recorder and student workbook. 

“The students are truly in awe of the West Michigan Symphony music mentors,” said Rhonda Vanderwest, music teacher at Kent City Elementary School. “It is an extremely profound experience for them to perform with their mentor, and the entire symphony, at the end-of-year concert.”

Any tax-exempt 501c(3) charity that strengthens the social, physical or emotional well-being of children is eligible to apply for a grant, which are awarded quarterly. The next grant application deadline is December 29. The RMHC donation boxes inside participating McDonald’s restaurants are RMHC of Outstate Michigan’s largest fundraiser, contributing nearly $600,000 annually.

Founded in 1990, RMHC of Outstate Michigan has awarded grants totaling more than $6 million to approximately 350 Michigan nonprofit organizations throughout 58 Michigan counties. For more information visit: www.facebook.com/RMHCOutstateMI.

As one of the few professional regional orchestras in Michigan, West Michigan Symphony (WMS) has played a leading role in the region’s cultural community for more than 70 years.  Founded as the West Shore Symphony Orchestra, WMS now serves a regional audience with eight pairs of concerts annually, along with dozens of educational and outreach activities for children and adults. WMS oversees operations for the West Michigan Youth Symphony.  For more information, visit www.westmichigansymphony.org.