Outreach
For seven decades, Ames Town & Gown has brought to central Iowa world-renowned musicians performing masterpieces from the 1400s to the present. An equally important, but less known, promise of our mission is to reach audiences BEYOND THE CONCERT HALL. Our artists visit elementary and secondary schools, universities, public libraries, senior centers, and veterans' homes throughout central Iowa, offering special performances, master classes, workshops, career discussions, and more. The recipients of these special programs come away inspired by these great musicians' talent, knowledge, and above all, generous spirits..
Merz Trio brings "Musical Storytelling" Outreach to local elementary school students
In the spring of 2020, coronavirus brought live performances to a halt. In order to continue offering meaningful outreach opportunities, Ames Town and Gown board members asked the Merz Trio of Boston to produce an interactive performance that could be shared with elementary students in our local schools. This performance was shared with all elementary music teachers in the Ames Community Schools, as well as music teachers in twelve other local schools. Music teachers shared this performance with their students in live classrooms as well as in their virtual classrooms.
Master classes have also taken place at Iowa State University.
Liang Wang and Bryan Young of the Poulec Trio with Iowa State students in November 2016
In November 2016, principal oboist of the New York Philharmonic, Liang Wang, and bassoonist Bryan Young, both of the Poulenc Trio, conducted a master class with students from Iowa State University and the University of Iowa. Amy Christensen, oboe professor at Iowa State commented, “The best part for me as a teacher was the opportunity for my students to see a great artist at work, to hear in a real world setting what it is we are working toward achieving.” The next day, the entire Poulenc Trio performed for and interacted with music students at Ballard High School.
Ida Kavafian, world-renowned violinist and professor at the Juilliard School and the Curtis Institute, with the Klier String Quartet made up of student from Ames and Gilbert High School.
Consider a gift to our educational programs!
Please consider a gift to our education program so that we may continue to share our artists with the community at large.