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 email education@louisvilleorchestra.org or call 502.585.9417.
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 2024-25 season, JCPS elementary schools beginning with A–J receive complimentary classroom visits/demos with individual musicians. Schools beginning with K–Z receive complimentary admission and transportation to a MakingMUSIC concert in March 2025.
Non-JCPS schools: The MakingMUSIC program is available as a membership at a cost of $1,400* per school. Member schools receive a bundle of services at a discounted rate: One 45-min chamber ensemble performance, a 2-hour musician visit with up to 4 classrooms, and access to the LO Online Music Education Learning Library featuring instrument demos, performances, classroom activities, an overview of careers in the arts, 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 their instrument, demonstrate musical concepts, discuss their background, and participate in a Q&A. Musicians may visit up to four classrooms in a 2-hour visit. Classroom activities are provided for students to prepare for and reflect upon their experience.
Cost: $275* / 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 (March 2025)
The LO’s historic MakingMUSIC education concert series introduces 4th and 5th grade students to the full symphony experience. Presented at The Kentucky Center twice daily March 12-14, 2025, the program features traditional “classical” music, work written by contemporary composers, and student performers. A teaching guide and online classroom activities are provided.
Schools attending the concerts may recommend one student 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
Host a Louisville Orchestra chamber performance at your school! A small group of LO musicians will present a 45-min program 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: $1,200* / 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 are available to lead 1-hour masterclasses or sectionals with middle/high school band or orchestra students at all levels. Musicians can cover selected repertoire and demonstrate a range of exercises from practice and warm-up routines to performance techniques. Experience is customizable – great for preparing students for assessment festivals, conferences, and auditions. Consider hosting multiple musicians for different sections of your ensemble!
Cost: $300* / Audience: Music students, grades 6-12 / Program Length: 60 minutes
Masterclass FAQs | Masterclass Reservations
COFFEE CONCERTS: DISCOUNT TICKETS
Coffee Concerts feature abridged versions of LO evening Classics performances, condensed into shorter, intermission-free performances on select Friday mornings. This season, experience the virtuosity of Ray Chen and Midori Gotō in masterful violin concertos, the romantic flair of Ravel’s Piano Concerto, the dramatic storytelling of Stravinsky’s The Firebird Suite, and premieres and commissioned works by contemporary composers. Concerts are 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, College / Program length: 60 minutes
View the 2024–25 Coffee Series Schedule
Coffee Series FAQs | Coffee Concert Reservations
*Mileage required for schools outside of Jefferson Co. (Calculate mileage to/from 40202 and your school. Cost is $.67 per mile + program cost)
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 Director of Development, Jessica Underwood at 502.587.8681 or junderwood@louisvilleorchestra.org.
