Pacific Symphony Relaunches Santa Ana Strings Violin Instruction Program
Orange County, Calif.—May 29, 2015—Smiles of joy and excitement lit up the faces of 50 elementary school children when they each received a new, shiny violin to take home during the re-launch in January of Pacific Symphony's Santa Ana Strings (SAS), a Heartstrings program. Thanks to a partnership between the Symphony and the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Ana (BGCSA), SAS returned for a six-month pilot program (with plans to expand to year-round) that provides after-school violin instruction by Symphony and volunteer musicians. SAS is inspired by El Sistema, the international model defined as an intensive youth music program seeking to effect social change through the pursuit of musical excellence. Serving elementary school students living in Santa Ana, the program is designed to foster creativity, perseverance and self-esteem as well as develop teamwork skills through the study and practice of the violin.
