OrchKids & BSYO to Perform on Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage

he Baltimore Symphony Orchestra is excited to announce a special collaborative concert with its flagship community education program, OrchKids™ and its Youth Orchestra, on the world renowned Millennium Stage at The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. on Friday, February 6th from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. Under leadership of OrchKids Artistic Director Dan Trahey, Bucket Band Director Brian Prechtl, BSYO Conductor Mary Poling and OrchKids Conductor Eli Wirth, 65 children, spanning pre-kindergarten through ninth grade, will perform together for a special concert that will feature a mix of classical, jazz, pop and spiritual-inspired pieces. The ensemble will be accompanied by Chi-chi Nwanoku, Principal Double Bass and a founding member of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and Endymion Ensemble, on the orchestral version of Rihanna's "Stay."

As part of the Kennedy Center's "Performing Arts for Everyone" initiative, visitors can enjoy free local, national, and international artists on the Millennium Stage, which is located indoors in the Kennedy Center's Grand Foyer. No tickets are required, though seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The BSO's education programs have a history of receiving national recognition. Recently, in November of 2013, OrchKids was a recipient of a 2013 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award, the signature program of the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities.

"This event marks another highlight of the accomplishments that our education programs have made over the years," said BSO VP of Education and Community Engagement Carol Bogash. "First because this is the largest collaboration of our BSYO and OrchKids programs that we have ever had, but also because they will be playing to a national audience at one of the most prestigious venues in the country. This experience provides lessons beyond music education. It helps to enhance the students' self-esteem, shows the impact of hard work, and proves that anything is possible when you put your mind to it!"