OREGON SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION

In the 2023/24 season, our education & community engagement department focused on expanding access to music education and fostering community connections. We held 143 free performances, private lessons, and hands-on activities for more than 30,000 people without access to the arts, with programs offered throughout portland, nw oregon, and sw washington. Examples of our education and community engagement programs include the following programs. Our annual free celebration concert reached over 1,000 attendees, spotlighting youth musicians and young composers. The concert also featured an ongoing partnership with housing organization path home, which offers emotional support to families experiencing homelessness by inviting parents to compose and perform original lullabies. Our artist-in-residence program included performances at schools and community centers, including a memory care facility and developmental day centers. We held 55 free community events, including performances by guest artists and our own symphony musicians. Youth education programs reached thousands through initiatives such as symphony storytime, kinderkonzerts, young people's concerts, and link up. These programs served nearly 20,000 students in-person (an additional 112,000+ digitally), with a focus on children in underserved communities and title i schools. 715 students received personalized coaching and lessons across the region, enhancing their music skills and deepening their appreciation for the art form. And around 800 young musicians were invited to perform in the lobby of the arlene schnitzer concert hall as part of our prelude performances series.