The world of chamber music comes to sparkling life through the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival’s many enriching and engaging education and outreach programs for children and adults. Through these activities the Festival increases the community’s access to chamber music, lets children hear and learn from live performances, and expands performing opportunities for talented young musicians. For more information, call Kristen Tidwell, Development & Outreach Director at 505-983-2075 ( ext. 108), or click here to email.

Music in Our Schools
The Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival’s Music in our Schools program may be a student’s first exposure to live classical music; and for many, it will be a life-changing experience. Throughout the year, the Festival provides Santa Fe public school children with musical performances that they would otherwise have little or no opportunity to enjoy. Music in our Schools is a series of three fun and informative performances by a variety of chamber ensembles at selected Santa Fe elementary schools. As a supplement to the students’ existing general music education, this program introduces young listeners to a wide variety of music that Festival ensembles perform, including traditional and contemporary classical chamber music, jazz, and world music. Music teachers receive lesson plans and instructional CDs to prepare students for the visits.

Currently, eight Santa Fe public elementary schools enjoy music through this Festival outreach program–Agua Fria, E.J. Martinez, Kearney, Piñon, El Dorado, Salazar, Ramirez Thomas, and Wood Gormley–as well as students from the northern Pueblo day schools, reaching a total of approximately 4,000 students each year.

Strings in Our Schools
Through Strings in Our Schools, the Festival provides weekly violin lessons to more than 60 students at Ramirez Thomas, Sweeney, and Tesuque Elementary Schools.  Participating students are given use of violins for the school year, receive weekly lessons, and perform in a year-end concert at their schools. Provided at no cost to the youngsters, the program introduces students to hands-on music-making they otherwise might not have. Strings in our Schools shares the joy of creating music, builds students’ confidence and self-esteem, gives them a sense of responsibility and self-discipline, and aids their overall academic achievement.

Youth Concerts
Chamber music comes alive for children and their families in the Festival’s interactive, fun, and educational Youth Concerts. These lively concerts never fail to engage young people, building their knowledge, and inspiring them with a new curiosity about the world of music. Performed by Festival artists, Youth Concerts offer a variety of music drawn from the Festival’s regular programming. The chart below provides this season’s for Youth Concert schedule; or call for more information.

2010 Youth Concert Schedule
All concerts are held in St. Francis Auditorium located inside the New Mexico Museum of Art.

Open Rehearsals
Held in informal settings the immensely popular daytime Open Rehearsals–free and open to the public–provide a unique behind-the-scenes look at the dynamics of Festival artists preparing for performances. The weekly Open Rehearsal schedule is posted at St. Francis Auditorium, at the Lensic Performing Arts Center, and on our web site here. The schedule is also available by calling 505-983-2075.

Salute to Indian Market Concert
The Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival salutes the city’s annual Indian Market with a free concert for the community. The 2010 Salute to Indian Market Concert takes place Friday, August 20, at 6:30 PM at St. Francis Auditorium.