What a way to end the season for the Peninsula Youth Orchestra! On Sunday, May 19th, PYO held an amazing concert featuring songs from around the globe and student compositions. Felix Burnsed was presented with the Citizen Artist Award and Tyler Pickett was recognized for his 10 years of participation with Soundscapes. Several other students… Read more »
Calling all businesses: In case you missed it, our Executive Director Carol Minter was recently featured in Inside Business. She shares why your business should take the LEAP and support the local arts community.
Leap on over to 13News Now – WVEC right now as Communications Specialist Catina Billups and Development Director Sara Balgoyen share more about our Leap for Soundscapes campaign!
Our Executive Director Carol Minter is on the Hampton Roads Show to sharing how music changes lives. Watch the segment at https://www.wavy.com/hr-show/community-connection/community-connection-soundscapes-provides-empowering-music-education/
La Vida is a PYO student composition reflecting the realities, challenges, and joys of growing up and beginning to face new responsibilities.
The Process: In January of 2023, the Peninsula Youth Orchestra Symphony Orchestra worked with Soundscapes Creative Content Manager Joe Hamm to collectively compose a piece of music. Students learned to and were guided to build a subject theme, determine an instrumentation, write words, and compose instrumental melodies. These elements were assembled over the course of five weeks for a total of about 6 total hours of instructional time including rehearsal.
Teaching Artist Team: Joe Hamm Westley Benson Suzanne Warner Rey Ramirez
A collective composition project of the Peninsula Youth Orchestra.
Executive Director Carol Minter was interviewed for Audacy’s Hampton Roads Perspective show. It as broadcast on RNB957, Z104fans, 2WDRadio, and 949ThePoint beginining at 6 a.m.!Z-104 at 6 a.m.94.9 The Point at 6:30 a.m.95-7 R&B at 7 a.m.2WD 101.3 at 7:30 a.m.
Carol had a great time telling Bethany Reese and all the 13News Now – WVEC viewers about the upcoming Peninsula Youth Orchestra concert during November 21st’s noon broadcast! If you missed it, you can watch the video on the 13NewsNow page: https://www.13newsnow.com/…/291-5bc66c48-bf81-4da1-a8d7…
If you missed seeing Soundscapes on Focal Point on October 13th, it’s not too late to catch it online! See the full episode on Music in Virginia, then watch the extended interview about Soundscapes.
At Soundscapes we invest in our communities by providing immersive, engaging, music-making, and ensemble performance opportunities for young people to strengthen social, emotional, creative, and critical thinking skills. We make music learning accessible and fun for students from early elementary school through early adulthood. Soundscapes offers free daily after-school music programs, an affordable regional youth orchestra, and several week-long summer camps. Learn more at www.Soundscapes.org
Voices: Noah Hill – Floutist, 6th Grade CJ Baker – Trumpeter, 2nd Grade Jemon Windham – Percussionist and Trombonist, 8th Grade Jordan Hill – Cellist, PYO 12th Grade Westley Benson – Wind Band Director Alana Lunsford – Violinist, 5th Grade Elijah Johnson – Percussionist, PYO 11th Grade Krystal Stokes – Violinist, 8th Grade Catina Billups – Connection Specialist Joe Hamm – Creative Content Manager Karma Karter – Cellist, PYO 12th Grade Sara Balgoyen – Development Director Carol Minter – Executive Director Rey Ramirez – Program Director
Did you see this Peninsula Chronicle article about the #BofAStudentLeaders program from Bank of America? We’re so glad to have Aaron with us this summer! https:/peninsulachronicle.com/2023/06/30/peninsula-high-school-students-honored-as-bank-of-america-student-leaders
Blues legend Bobby BlackHat joins the Peninsula Youth Orchestra on stage to perform his original song “I Hear Mama’s Voice” at the American Theater in Hampton, Virginia.
Written by Bobby BlackHat Arranged by Hamed Barbarji Edited by Rebecca Brown Orchestra Conducted by Rey Ramirez
Weβre so thankful for everyone who supported our students through #GiveLocal757 this year!Thanks to you, more than $3000 was added to the Yaffa Howell Music Fund to support our graduating seniors!Check out these behind the scenes exclusives from the LIVE news broadcast yesterday on 13NewsNow WVEC!
πΆ Name that tune! πΆThis performance has us feeling pretty blessed... and these young musicians certainly weren't acting childish on stage. πSome might say they got their own when it came time to perform at the gala. ππ»Do you recognize this jazz standard? Drop your guess belo#namethattunet#Soundscapesc#StudentMusicianscians ... See MoreSee Less
This year, Soundscapes expanded into Central Virginia with programming in Chesterfield β¨ Monthly support helps us continue growing access for students who need it most. Join today at soundscapes.org/encoreclub ... See MoreSee Less
π« Happy World Chocolate Day! πΆDid you know chocolate and music have something in common?Both can give your brain a little mood boost and help release those feel-good chemicals that make us smile. πIf you pair them together, that's a pretty sweet day. #WorldChocolateDayt#Soundscapesc#MusicMakesLifeSweetereeter ... See MoreSee Less
πΆ Name that tune! πΆNo cheat codes needed for this one...Just collect a few clues, avoid the turtles, and see if you can make it to the flagpole with the right answer. ππWhat's the tune? Tell us belo#namethattunet#Soundscapesc#levelupvelUp ... See MoreSee Less
"My story is America's story."In the final installment of We Are America's Story, students, parents, and teachers reflect on hope, leadership, resilience, and the possibilities that lie ahead.Parents share the joy of watching their children pursue their dreams. Students talk about the importance of music in the human experience. Educators reflect on the future we build when people learn to move forward in harmony.Together, their stories remind us that the future is shaped by the dreams we nurture, the challenges we overcome, and the communities we build along the way.Because America's story is still being written.And all of us have a part to play. πΊπΈπ#WeAreAmericasStory #Soundscapes #Community #Leadership #StudentVoices... See MoreSee Less