Schools & Teachers
The Louisville Orchestra invests in educators and students by providing engaging, high-quality musical performances and music education experiences for students at all levels. From concerts and classroom visits by musicians, masterclasses and chamber ensemble performances – JCPS and all private, parochial, homeschool, and schools in other districts are invited to participate in our programs.
If you have questions or are interested in scheduling an experience for your students, please contact Jenny Baughman, Education & School Programs Manager at 502.585.9417 or jbaughman@louisvilleorchestra.org.
MakingMUSIC
Founded in 1940, MakingMUSIC is the LO’s long-running, premier music education program providing immersive in-person and virtual musical experiences to 4th and 5th-grade students. The program features thoughtfully curated programming, musician engagement opportunities for students, and online resources, lesson plans, and other materials for use in the classroom.
Through a partnership with the Jefferson County Public Schools district (JCPS), the LO provides the MakingMUSIC program to all JCPS elementary schools at no additional cost. In alternating years, every school is provided with tickets and transportation to the annual MakingMUSIC concert or receives classroom visits by an individual musician. This format ensures that every JCPS 4th and 5th grade student experiences both services during their elementary school career.
During the 2023-24 season, JCPS elementary schools A–J receive complimentary admission and transportation to a MakingMUSIC concert. Schools K–Z receive in-school classroom presentations by individual LO musicians throughout the school year.
Non-JCPS schools: The MakingMUSIC program is available as a membership at a cost of $1,200 per school. District memberships are also available upon request.
MakingMUSIC member schools receive the following services:
Musician Classroom Visits: Individual LO musicians visit classrooms to play their instrument, demonstrate musical concepts, discuss their background, and participate in a Q&A. Musicians may visit up to 4 classrooms during visit.
In-School Ensemble Performance: Small chamber ensembles present 45-min. programs designed to expose students to a variety of instrumental music and themes, demonstrate different musical concepts, and familiarize them with the instruments of the orchestra.
Online Music Education Library: Access to over 30 original videos – instrument demos, concerts, chamber ensemble performances, classroom activities, and more.
The MakingMUSIC program was developed for grades 4-5 but can be adapted for grades 3-6.
School Music Education Programs
In addition to the MakingMUSIC School Membership, the LO offers a variety of experiences at program cost for students of all ages in schools in the Greater Louisville area and across Kentuckiana.
Grades K–6
MAKINGMUSIC MUSICIAN CLASSROOM VISITS
Would you like your students to meet a professional musician? Do you have a STEAM unit that could benefit from a guest artist and speaker? LO musicians are experienced in visiting elementary general education and music classrooms to play and demo their instrument, discuss their background, and participate in a Q&A.
Cost: $200 / Audience: Grades K–5 / Program Length: 2 hours (Musician may visit up to 4 classrooms during service)
Classroom Visit FAQs | Classroom Visit Reservations
MAKINGMUSIC CONCERT (SPRING 2024)
The LO’s historic MakingMUSIC education concert series introduces 4th and 5th grade students to the full symphony experience. Presented at The Kentucky Center in March 2024, the program features a mix of traditional classical repertoire and pieces, guest artists, and student performers. A teaching guide and online classroom activities are provided.
Students attending the concerts are eligible to be nominated to participate in the Young Conductors program through the LO Conducting School. Participating students learn the art of conducting, then represent their school and debut their skills on stage during the performance.
Cost: $8 per student (chaperones free 10:1) / Audience: Grades 4-5 / Program Length: 60 minutes
MakingMUSIC Concert FAQs | MakingMUSIC Concert Reservations
MAKINGMUSIC ENSEMBLE SCHOOL PERFORMANCE
Request an in-school performance with a LO chamber ensemble. Performances are designed to expose students to a variety of instrumental music and themes, demonstrate different musical concepts, and familiarize them with the instruments of the orchestra.
Cost: $1,000 / Audience: Grades 3-6 / Program Length: 45 minutes
Ensemble Performance FAQs | Ensemble Performance Reservations
ONCE UPON AN ORCHESTRA SCHOOL PERFORMANCE
Small chamber ensembles present 20-minute interactive storytelling-through-music performances – playing music and narrating the text from favorite children’s books. With a focus on music and general/early literacy education, these performances are perfect for your school’s youngest students or PTA-sponsored cross-generation family events!
Cost: $800 / Audience: Family, grades pre-K–3 / Program Length: 30 minutes
GRADES 6–12
MUSICIAN-LED MASTERCLASSES & SECTIONALS
Individual LO musicians lead 1-hour masterclasses or sectionals with middle/high school band or orchestra students at all levels. Experience is customizable and musicians can cover selected repertoire and demonstrate a range of exercises from practice and warm-up routines to performance techniques. Consider a masterclass with a single musician, or multiple musicians to prepare sections for upcoming competitions and auditions.
Cost: $300 / Audience: Music students, grades 6-12 / Program Length: 60 minutes
Masterclass FAQs | Masterclass Reservations
COFFEE CONCERTS: DISCOUNT TICKETS
From Mahler and Debussy, the music of Nosferatu, and premieres and commissioned works by contemporary composers, Coffee Concerts allow middle/high school students to enjoy a sampling of music from the LO Classics Series. These public concerts are presented on select Fridays at 11AM at The Kentucky Center and each is preceded by an optional “Concert Talk” that offers students the opportunity to learn about the concert program. A study guide is provided for each performance.
Cost: $12 per student (chaperones free 10:1) / Audience: Grades 6-12 / Program length: 60 minutes
View the 2023-24 Coffee Concert Schedule
Coffee Series FAQs | Coffee Concert Reservations
Partners in Education
The Louisville Orchestra wholeheartedly thanks the thousands of individuals who support our education and outreach programs through their annual gifts. For information about how you can impact our education programs through an annual gift or the creation of a scholarship, sponsorship, or outreach fund, please contact the Louisville Orchestra’s Development Manager, Jonathan Wysong at 502.587.8681 or jwysong@louisvilleorchestra.org.
