2018 Grant Finalist Summary
Focus Area: Arts & Culture
Boca Raton Philharmonic Symphonia
Building a String Orchestra and Self-Esteem
The Organization
The SYMPHONIA has a 13-year track record for artistic excellence in the community. Its strength comes from having dedicated, highly qualified, and passionate staff and musicians. It has a facility with the capacity to serve as home to this program, and private and community partners who are enthusiastic about how music can make a difference in the lives of children.
The Program/Need
Through its “Building a String Orchestra and Self-Esteem” program, The SYMPHONIA is responding to a significant need in the community for music and arts programming for children, particularly those children from underserved families. The SYMPHONIA recognizes that this need began to surface when school-based arts programs in Palm Beach County were phased out of school curricula and acknowledges that children who are from low-to-moderate income households have the least access to private arts programs and are thus the hardest hit by this cultural void.
“Building a String Orchestra and Self-Esteem” is a free afterschool music program run at, and for,the children of the Naoma Donnelley Haggin Boys & Girls Club (B&G Club) in Delray Beach. Launched by The SYMPHONIA this past December, the program currently provides children with twoviolin lessons and one interactive class (teaching music theory, history and ear / rhythm training) per week.Under volunteer supervision, children will have designated time for practicing their instruments on the days there are no classes. Each semesterSYMPHONIA musicians will join the childrenfor a recital for families, friends and B&G Club members. The musicians will perform for and play side-by-side with the children. Over time, as the children develop their skills they will perform solo and in ensembles. As the program matures, other strings instruments will be added to the program. Ultimately the goal is for the children to have pride in being part of forming their own String Orchestra at the B&G Club.
Why is this project transformational?
Understanding how music benefits developing minds, The SYMPHONIA has created a dynamic afterschool program at the B&G Club that provides children, including those at risk for academic and behavioral problems, with high quality free music instruction and eventually, the opportunity to form a B&G Club String Orchestra. Children in this program, the majority from low-to-moderate income households, who have little chance of enrolling in costly music instruction programs, will experience the transformational impact that music holds. Research shows that most children respond to music with joy. This program will demonstrate how playing an instrument helps to develop the area of the brain that handles cognitive tasks, which can result in improved academic skills, particularly in the areas of literacy and math. Studying and playing music also fosters self-discipline, encourages cooperativeness, and sparks the imagination. All of these skills and the pure enjoyment that music brings draws out feelings of self-worth and self-confidence. Through this program, The SYMPHONIA is providing an opportunity for children’s lives to be touched and transformed through music. This is anopportunity tonot only transform their lives but to subsequently enrich and improve society.
How will Impact 100’s money be used?
If awarded an Impact 100 grant, The SYMPHONIA woulduse the funding for the maximum allowed two-year period. This would to cover theprogram’soperational costssuch asinstruments and accompanying materials for the children to use, as well as teacher and program coordinator compensation.This prestigious award would importantly provide The SYMPHONIA with the leverage to enhancethe sustainability of the program. It will provide additional credibility to grant writing requests, to outreach to individual donors, and to development of new funding sources and matching gifts.