Children's Concert Series

One of the Mid-Texas Symphony's proudest contributions to the community is the annual Children's Concert Series. Thousands of students from Comal, Guadalupe and northern Bexar Counties are bused to the concert venues where they hear the Mid-Texas Symphony perform just for them. The Mid-Texas Symphony provides curriculum material and free CDs to assist music teachers in preparing the students for the concert. Nest season's Children's Concerts will be held October 22, 2012 at 9 am and 10:30 am in the New Braunfels Civic & Convention Center and October 23, 2012 at 9 am and 10:30 am in Jackson Auditorium on the campus of Texas Lutheran University in Seguin. Sign up your 4th and 5th graders by emailing the Mid-Texas Symphony.

Music Director David Mairs, an outstanding music educator and Denton ISD 2010 Teacher of the Year, ensures that the concerts help schools meet Texas educational objectives. And with the help of generous supporters, it is all done at no cost to the children or the schools.

Young Artist Competition

The Mid-Texas Symphony annually sponsors a Young Artist Competition rotating among piano, strings, voice, and winds. The winner’s prize is a paid contract to perform with the Mid-Texas Symphony. Additional cash prizes are awarded.

The competition serves several purposes. It gives university students the chance to perform with a symphony orchestra, and it helps the Mid-Texas Symphony fulfill one of its major goals - the promotion of classical music among young people.

San Antonio pianist Daniel Anastasio, currently a student at the prestigious Juilliard School, won the First Prize in the 2011-2012 competition, held November 12, 2011. Second Prize went to Enhae Chung, a student at the University of Texas. Third Prize was awarded to Nicholas Reynolds, also from the University of Texas. Daniel will perform with the Mid-Texas Symphony at the concert to be held on April 1, 2012.

The Young Artist Competition has been supported by generous grants from the Cecilia Young Willard Helping Fund.

Community Music Academy

TLU/MTS Community Music Academy

For many years, the Mid-Texas Symphony sponsored string lessons for young students in Guadalupe and Comal counties. In 2006, the program was expanded in cooperation with Texas Lutheran University and became the Texas Lutheran University/Mid-Texas Symphony Community Music Academy, a non-profit community music school providing music education to students of all ages and levels of ability.

The C.M.A. offers private strings and guitar instruction and the opportunity for performance experience in vocal and string ensembles. The staff instructors have extensive teaching experience and are qualified to promote individual student advancement in the area of music skills, knowledge and appreciation. The C.M.A. strives to provide a supportive environment where students are encouraged to achieve their full music potential. In addition to private lessons, the Community Music Academy offers group lessons, chamber groups, a Youth Orchestra and a Youth Choir.

The Community Music Academy offers quality musical training, education and performance opportunities. For information about the Community Music Academy, contact Laurie Jenschke, CMA Director, at 830-456-3016 or communitymusicacademy@tlu.edu or visit www.tlumtscma.com.

Through the Lindenbaum Suzuki Outreach Program, the C.M.A. also provides free instruction in strings to interested students who may not otherwise have this opportunity. The vision of the program is to build a thriving strings program for youth in the Seguin and surrounding communities. The program is funded by the Lindenbaum Music Education Fund, created by a generous donation to TLU by the Lindenbaum family.  In 2011-2012, the program will include:

• entry-level classes at Navarro Elementary, and Patlan and Rodriguez Elementary Schools in Seguin ISD
• a level-two class at Navarro Elementary
• a new Training Choir for all 1st, 2nd and 3rd graders at Patlan Elementary School

Don’t miss these CMA events:

• March 31, 2012 - CMA String and Choir Ensembles perform for the Seguin Arts Festival at 1:00 p.m. at the gazebo in the downtown square
  


• April 1, 2012 - Lindenbaum Outreach Training Choir to sing before MTS Concert in Jackson Lobby from 3:00 - 4:00 pm


• April 12, 2012 - CMA Youth Choir performs with TLU Women's Choir at TLU -7:00 pm


• April 24, 2012 - 7:00 pm - 1st Presbyterian Church - Lindenbaum Outreach Classes and String Student Solo Recital - Graduation of Navarro Elementary Level II class.


• May 1, 2012 - CMA Ensembles Recital -7:00 pm


• May 5, 2012 - CMA Youth Choir rehearses with Mid-Texas Symphony from 12-3:00 pm at New Braunfels Civic and Convention Center


• May 6, 2012 - CMA Youth Choir rehearses with Mid-Texas Symphony at 1:00 pm-Concert, 4:00 pm at New Braunfels Civic and Convention Center

Music Memory

The annual Music Memory Competition serves as another way for the Mid-Texas Symphony to introduce classical music to our young people. Using the same selections as the UIL Music Memory contest, third, fourth and fifth grade students are introduced to classical composers and their works by their classroom music teachers. In the spring, teams of students from area schools gather with their teachers for the MTS Music Memory Competition. Prizes donated by local businesses are awarded to teams and individual winners.

In 2011, five students won season passes to Schlitterbahn Waterpark. Other prizes for the contest were generously donated by the City of Seguin Wave Pool, King Ranger Theater, CiCi's Pizza (Seguin), Kirby’s,  Mr. Gatti’s (New Braunfels), Chick Filet, ZDT, Sports West, Dairy Queen (Seguin) and Baskin Robbins.  All the participating students were awarded prizes for taking part in the contest. In addition, the students and their music teachers were given free passes to the Mid-Texas Symphony Pops Concert on May 8, 2011.

This season's Mid-Texas Symphony Music Memory Contest will be held in February 2012. For information, contact Marj Peters at 830-372-1930.

Guild Educational Programs

The two chapters of the Mid-Texas Symphony Guild sponsor a number of educational programs. For information about any of these programs, contact Trina Eastwood, Seguin or Judy Graves, New Braunfels.

The Debutante Program
The Debutante program for high school senior girls offers young women a year-long program teaching social skills, etiquette, event planning, community service, and financial planning. The debutantes, selected in the spring of their junior year, serve as concert ushers, provide help with other symphony events, and have regular workshops and training sessions during the year. The debutante year culminates in the presentation of the young women at the annual Mid-Texas Symphony Balls (one in each Guild chapter community). The program not only raises very significant funds for the Symphony, it transforms girls into poised young women. The escorts and stags are invited to many of the functions throughout the year. For more information about the Debutante program in New Braunfels, contact Doreen Fisher, and in Seguin, contact Trina Eastwood.

The Cotillion Program
The Cotillion program for younger boys and girls is modeled on our very successful Debutante Program. This educational program provides this age group an opportunity to plan for and attend at least one cultural and one social event during the year. Emphasis is placed on learning social skills, manners, and etiquette in a relaxed and enjoyable setting. A service component is also included.

The Color of Music Program
Under the direction of the New Braunfels Art League, twenty 3rd and 4th grade students from New Braunfels and Seguin schools created artwork while listening to a symphony performance. The resulting works were displayed at the Mid-Texas Symphony Concert on October 17, 2010 at the New Braunfels Civic Center.