Artists-in-Residence Program

History

In 1996, the Symphony restructured its extensive educational programs and formed a two-year Artists-In- Residence (AIR) partnership program. The goal of the Artists-In-Residence program is to significantly impact students’, teachers’ and parents’ awareness of music and the role music can play in their lives by presenting the orchestral experience on three levels: experiencing the Grand Rapids Symphony through orchestral concerts in DeVos Hall and throughout the community; meeting the Grand Rapids Symphony musicians through one-on-one interactions in the classroom; and learning about the actual orchestral instruments by providing hands-on exposure to the instruments through the Symphony’s Discovery programs and Instrument Petting Zoos.

Now, over sixty years later, the Grand Rapids Symphony provides a multitude of education programs serving more than 77,000 students from thirty-three counties in West Michigan each year. The Grand Rapids Symphony musicians spend one-quarter of their time performing for children. In comparison with other orchestras of our size across the country, the Grand Rapids Symphony ranks first in the number of education and outreach performances, providing over 300 musical experiences to students in 270 schools across West Michigan each year. The passion to serve the community is ever present with this orchestra.

2005-06 School Year

In September 2005, 45 schools from across West Michigan were chosen to participate in the Grand Rapids Symphony’s Artists-In-Residence program for the 2005-06 school year.

Aberdeen Elementary – Grand Rapids
Ada Vista Elementary – Forest Hills
Alpine Elementary – Kenowa Hills
Beaverdam Christian School – Hudsonville
Bowen Elementary – Kentwood
Buchanan Elementary – Grand Rapids
Burton Elementary – Grand Rapids
CA Frost Environmental Academy – Grand Rapids
Campau Park Elementary – Grand Rapids
Cannonsburg Elementary – Rockford
Central Elementary – Grandville
Century Park Learning Center – Grandville
Challenger Elementary – Kentwood
Cherry Creek Elementary – Lowell
Coit Creative Arts Academy – Grand Rapids
Crestwood Elementary – Rockford
Douglas Elementary – Saugatuck/Douglas
East Elementary – Grandville
East Leonard Elementary – Grand Rapids
Greenridge Elementary – Comstock Park
Hudsonville Christian School – Hudsonville
Kelloggsville Christian School – Kentwood
Ken-O-Sha Elementary – Grand Rapids
Knapp Forest Elementary – Forest Hills
Lakes Elementary – Rockford
Lincoln Elementary – Zeeland
Morley Elementary – Morley
Mulick Park Elementary – Grand Rapids
New Branches School – Grand Rapids (charter)
New Groningen Elementary – Zeeland
North Godwin Elementary – Wyoming
Ottawa Montessori School – Grand Rapids
Palmer School – Grand Rapids
Quincy Elementary – Zeeland
Roosevelt Elementary – Zeeland
Shawmut Hills Elementary – Grand Rapids
Sherwood Park School – Grand Rapids
South Godwin Elementary – Wyoming
Southwest Campus Elementary – Grand Rapids
St. Alphonsus Parish School – Grand Rapids
St. Andrew’s School – Grand Rapids
Stanwood Elementary – Stanwood
Stoney Creek Elementary – Comstock Park
Vista Charter Academy – Wyoming
Woodbridge Elementary – Zeeland

What They Will Be Experiencing…

Kindergarten – 2nd Grade
When the students return from their winter break in January 2006, they will attend the infamous Lollipop concerts sponsored by Target Stores. We are presenting “Little Red Riding Hood” in January with the Grand Rapids Ballet Company and “Green Eggs and Ham” in March. With the assistance of many volunteers, musicians and dancers, 20,000 kids will be exposed to the art of music and ballet.

3rd Grade
Third-grade participants in the A.I.R. program will see a performance by Symphony Principal Percussionist Bill Vits, which begins on November 8-11, 2005. Mr. Vits will present a program which uses several types of percussion instruments including “bones,” African drums, and xylophones. One portion of the program uses a recording of Sweet Georgia Brown that he created with the help of Symphony bass trombone player, Bob Ward. Mr. Ward will whistle the tune while Mr. Vits plays the “bones” live. Teachers and students alike enjoy this program.

5th Grade
Each February, 22,000 fifth graders will travel to DeVos Performance Hall to see the Fifth Grade Concerts. These students wait all year to hear the Symphony and have the opportunity to conduct with a little help from Associate Conductor, John Varineau.

Small Education Ensembles (Kindergarten – 6th Grade)
Symphony ensembles perform 30-40 minute presentations for a maximum audience size of 125 students. Musicians spend time showing student their instruments, discussing the music and composers and performing alone and with the ensemble. Students get a front row seat as these performances.

Symphony 101 (Middle School & High School)
An insider’s view! 60-minute sessions for a maximum of 30 students includes an in-depth tour and an on-stage interactive conversation with Music Director David Lockington and Associate Conductor John Varineau.

Side by Side (High School)
What could be more exciting them sitting next to a Grand Rapids Symphony Musician, sharing music and a music stand and performing for hundreds of people? This truly unique experience gives High School students a chance to perform with professionals.

Artist-in-Residence Sponsor

Title Sponsor
$20,000

In return for your support of the Artist-in-Residence program; the Sponsor will receive the following;

  • The series will be called the Sponsor Artist-in-Residence Series and will be referred to as such on all Grand Rapids Symphony materials.

  • The Sponsor will be recognized at all Artist-in-Residence events and on all educational materials sent to participating schools.

  • The Sponsor will be recognized as the title sponsor from stage at all Sponsor Artist-in-Residence Series concerts.

  • The Sponsor will receive a full-page, four-color advertisement in four volumes of the DeVos Performance Hall program book. (Value: $4,265, Distribution: 100,000)

  • The Sponsor will be recognized in all four volumes of the Symphony’s regular season DeVos Performance Hall program book under the Corporate Council of a Thousand. (Distribution: 100,000)

  • Any media releases or print advertisements created by our marketing department for the Sponsor Artist-in-Residence Series will list the Sponsor or will display the Sponsor logo if space is available. Advertisements may appear in the Grand Rapids Press, On the Town and Grand Rapids Magazine.

  • Signs at the Fifth Grade Concerts and Lollipops Concerts sponsored by Target will recognize the Sponsor as the Artist-in-Residence Series sponsor.

  • The Symphony’s 2007 Education brochure will recognize the Sponsor as the title sponsor of the Sponsor Artist-in-Residence Series using text and corporate logo. (Distribution: 40,000)

  • The Sponsor will have the opportunity to provide a 40-word, written testimonial and photo of choice representative to be featured in the DeVos Performance Hall regular season program book. (Distribution: 100,000)

  • The Symphony’s website, www.grsymphony.org, will recognize the Sponsor as the Sponsor Artist-in-Residence Series sponsor and a member of the Symphony’s Corporate Council of a Thousands.

  • The Sponsor will have a subscription to and receive a listing throughout the season in the Symphony’s Newsletter “In Concert” as Corporate Council of a Thousand member. (Distribution: 23,000)

  • Any media releases created by our marketing department for the sponsored concert will list the Sponsor or will display the Sponsor logo if space is available.

  • The Sponsor will receive ten vouchers, each good for two tickets, to one of five Symphony events. (Value: $600)

Artist-in-Residence Sponsor

Benefactor Sponsor
$5,000

In return for your support of the Artist-in-Residence program; the Sponsor will receive the following;

  • The Sponsor will be recognized at all Artist-in-Residence events and on all educational materials sent to participating schools.

  • The Sponsor will be listed as a sponsor in our 2007 Education Brochure. (Distribution: 80,000)

  • Any media releases created by our marketing department for the sponsored concert will list the Sponsor or will display the Sponsor logo if space is available.

  • The Sponsor will be listed throughout the season in the DeVos Performance Hall program book's Corporate Council of a Thousand. (approximate distribution: 100,000)

  • The Symphony’s website, www.grsymphony.org, will recognize the Sponsor as a member of the Symphony’s Corporate Council of a Thousand and a sponsor of the A.I.R. Program.

  • The Sponsor will receive ten vouchers, each good for two tickets, to one of five Symphony events. (Value: $600)

  • The Sponsor will have a subscription to and be listed throughout in the Symphony’s Newsletter “In Concert” as Corporate Council of a Thousand member. (Distribution: 23,000)