For Third Consecutive Year Dayton Philharmonic Wins NEA Award for Learning in the Arts for Children and Youth

For Third Consecutive Year Dayton Philharmonic Wins NEA Award for Learning in the Arts for Children and Youth

DPO is the only orchestra in Ohio to win such an award

DAYTON, Ohio, April 25 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) recently announced its FY2006 Learning in the Arts for Children and Youth grant recipients. The Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra is the only orchestra in the state of Ohio to win an award in this category. The DPO's School Partners with Artists Reaching Kids (SPARK) children's education program received a $30,000 grant from the NEA in this category, its third consecutive grant.

This NEA FY2006 grant is the Dayton Philharmonic's second award (out of two possible) for the year; its first is a $10,000 grant in the NEA's Access to Artistic Excellence category for the Philharmonic's ongoing NCR Miracle of Mozart Festival. With this award, the DPO becomes the only arts organization in Ohio to receive NEA awards for both its artistic and education programming excellence during FY2006.

About the SPARK Program

The SPARK (School Partners with Artists Reaching Kids) program, which integrates music into the kindergarten through fifth grade classes in seven partner elementary schools, represents a new paradigm in orchestra education programs. Instead of one-time exposures to ensembles and concerts for young people, SPARK students receive multiple exposures to individual professional musicians, conductors, and the full-orchestra each year throughout their K-5 career. Professional DPO musicians and classroom teachers plan a series of lessons that integrates music into classroom curriculum. The goals of these lessons align with Ohio Academic Content Standards.

About Learning in the Arts for Children and Youth

The Learning in the Arts for Children and Youth category offers funding for projects that help children and youth acquire appreciation, knowledge, and understanding of and skills in the arts. Projects must provide participatory learning and engagement of students with skilled artists, teachers, and excellent art.

About the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra

The Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra is the largest and oldest performing arts organization in the community. Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra performances are made possible in part by Montgomery County and Culture Works, the single largest source of community funds for the arts and culture in the Miami Valley.

Performance Place at the Schuster Center~109 North Main Street, Suite 200~Dayton, Ohio 45402

CONTACT: Joe Aiello
Communications Manager
937-224-3521
fax: 937-223-9189
jaiello@daytonphilharmonic.com
www.daytonphilharmonic.com

Source: Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra

CONTACT: Joe Aiello, Communications Manager of Dayton Philharmonic
Orchestra, +1-937-224-3521, or fax, +1-937-223-9189, or
jaiello@daytonphilharmonic.com

Web site: http://www.daytonphilharmonic.com/

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