Schools & Teachers
The Louisville Orchestra invests in educators and students by providing robust, high-quality musical performances and music education experiences for schools across Kentuckiana.
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, professional development, and online curriculum and resources. MakingMUSIC supports state and national standards in Music/Arts, English Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies for 4th and 5th grades.
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 will be provided with tickets and transportation to the annual MakingMUSIC concert or will receive 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.
JCPS teachers and staff: If you have questions your participation in the program, please contact the LO Education team.
Non-JCPS schools: The MakingMUSIC program is available as a membership at a cost of $1,000 per school. School membership services include:
- Musician Classroom Visits: Individual LO musicians visit classrooms to play and demo their instrument, discuss their background, and participate in a Q&A. Visits ideal for general music, orchestra or band classrooms, and/or during a STEAM unit in another classroom environment.
- In-School Ensemble Performance: Small musician ensembles present a 45-minute program that includes various musical concepts traditionally reviewed in elementary. Experience is designed to expose students to a variety of instrumental music and themes, familiarize them with the instruments of the orchestra, and provide an opportunity to meet with professional orchestra musicians.
- Online Music Education Learning Library: Access to over 30 original videos featuring instrument demonstrations, concerts, chamber ensemble performances, and teacher resources including PBL units.
- One (1) customized teacher professional development session.
Financial support and sponsorships are available. District memberships are also available and customizable upon request. If interested in a MakingMUSIC Membership, please contact the LO Education team.
Additional Programs for Schools
In addition to the MakingMUSIC membership program for 4th and 5th-grade students, the LO offers a variety of experiences at individual program cost for students of all ages in all Kentuckiana schools. If you have questions or need assistance, please contact the LO Education team at 502.585.9417 or education@louisvilleorchestra.org.
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. The experience is customizable to fit your classroom needs and visits can be in-person or virtual.
Cost: $250 / Audience: Grades K–6 / Program Length: 2 hours (up to 4 classrooms may be visited by the musician during the service)
Classroom Visit FAQs | Classroom Visit Reservations
MAKINGMUSIC CONCERT (SPRING 2023)
This LO education concert series introduces 4th and 5th grade students to the full symphony experience. Presented at The Kentucky Center twice daily on March 15, 16, 17, 2023, the concert features a diverse range of musical genres and student performances. A concert guide and classroom activities are provided. Additionally, 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 with Teddy Abrams, 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 PERFORMANCES
Request an in-school performance with a LO chamber ensemble. Performances are designed to expose students to a variety of instrumental music and themes, familiarize them with the instruments of the orchestra, and provide an opportunity to meet and talk with professional orchestra musicians.
Cost: $400-$800 (varies per size of group – contact LO staff to discuss budget) / Audience: Grades 3-6 / Program Length: 45 minutes
Ensemble Performance FAQs | Ensemble Performance Reservations
ONCE UPON AN ORCHESTRA ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE
(NEW FOR THE 2022-23 SEASON) Bring the LO’s new concert series for families to a family event at your school! Small musician ensembles present 30-min interactive storytelling-through-music performances that inspire and foster a greater interest in music and creativity. Following the performance, students/families are invited to make an instrument from recycled materials. These performances are great for school or PTA-sponsored cross-generation family events with a focus on music and general/early literacy education.
Cost: $600–$1,350 (varies per size of group – contact LO staff to discuss budget) / Audience: Family, grades pre-K–3 / Program Length: 60 minutes
Once Upon an Orchestra School Performance Reservations
GRADES 6–12
MASTERCLASSES WITH LO MUSICIANS
Individual LO musicians lead 1-hour masterclasses for middle/high school band or orchestra students at all levels. Musicians are available to cover selected repertoire and/or demonstrate a range of exercises from practice and warm-up routines to performance techniques.
Cost: $300 / Audience: Middle/High School music students / Program Length: 60 minutes
Masterclass FAQs | Masterclass Reservations
COFFEE CONCERTS: DISCOUNT TICKETS
From Stravinsky and Beethoven to world premieres and commissioned works by modern composers, Coffee Concerts allow middle/high school students to enjoy concerts featuring the full Louisville Orchestra. 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: Middle/High School and college-aged students / Program length: 60 minutes
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 Officer, Jon Wysong at 502.587.8681 or jwysong@louisvilleorchestra.org.
