Education Program

Giving the Gift of Music

The CSO’s mission and objectives include offering a five-concert subscription season and an intensive educational outreach program to local schools called “Giving the Gift of Music.” The CSO conductor, Dr. William Intriligator, musicians and guest artists every year provide hundreds of hours of arts enhancement for area students. The “Giving the Gift of Music” program is in its 20th year. More than 80% of first-time students participating have never attended the symphony before, so this program makes it affordable and accessible for students to participate in a cultural experience that might not otherwise be able to. Both professional and musicians playing for enjoyment warrant that this educational outreach helped direct their musical path. Introductions to various instruments at a young age, understanding and appreciating music interpretation, as well as learning the value of practicing discipline affirm measurable results over the years.

The Cheyenne Symphony Orchestra implements six different areas to provide opportunities for educating youth of where the arts can take them and exposing them to how it affects their life.

“It’s A GAS” (Guest Artists in the Schools) – Getting professional guest artists into the classrooms motivates, inspires, and teaches the virtue of discipline to students. This gives students an opportunity to communicate and interact with a professional artist that might not otherwise be able to.

“YES!” (Youth Educational Symphony) – The CSO’s annual YES! Concert brings the 5th and 6th grade students from Laramie County School District #1 & 2, parochial, private and home-schooled children to the Cheyenne Civic Center for two performances. Orchestral classes from the three high schools in Cheyenne also attend the concerts.

“It’s MUSIC” (Musical Up-and-coming Students in Competition) – Hosting the student winner of the WY-ASTA (Wyoming American String Teachers Association) at the YES! Concert has been a highlight for students. The winner plays their competition concerto music in a performance with the CSO.

“It’s COOL” (Conductor of the Orchestra Lectures) – The CSO Conductor makes visits to elementary, middle school, and high school music and orchestral classes. Teaching students the importance of choosing an instrument they love to play and making it fun has been the priority of Dr. William Intriligator. He conveys lessons learned from sticking with an instrument throughout the school years and the value that places on skills later in life.

“Art in Music” – Students from three Cheyenne high schools as well as area 8th and 9th grade bring forth their term project of artistic expression listening to CSO’s selected music. These works of art are then displayed for the Cheyenne community during the month of January at the Cheyenne Civic Center.

“Prelude to Youth” – To encourage the attendance of young people at Cheyenne Symphony concerts, approximately 600 free tickets are distributed throughout the season to Cheyenne high school and Laramie County Community College students.

The Art in Music program will be expanded this next year by encouraging community involvement. In November 2010, many winning art works from the previous program in January 2010, Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, will be used as table and ballroom decorations for the annual Symphony Ball. The theme will be based on the colorful pieces of art – “Kaleidoscope.”