Mary Starling In-School Ensembles & Orchestra Concerts

Number reached: 12,000 (ages 9 – 12)

The goal of this program is to introduce all 4th and 5th grade Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School students to the symphony orchestra. In Phase One of the program, woodwind, brass, string, and percussion ensembles visit and perform for all 4th and 5th graders, giving them a close up view of the instruments and how they work. In Phase Two all 5th graders are transported to a formal concert hall to experience a full symphony orchestra concert.

To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Mary Starling In-School Education Program in 2010, the Winston-Salem Symphony partnered with the African Library Project (ALP) and Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools (WS/FCS) to create a first-of-its-kind program through which students learned about music, literacy and other cultures. Through its theme of storytelling and music, The Mary Starling Program illuminated literacy both locally and globally. Additionally, a short story competition resulted in the awarding of free violins and lessons with Symphony musicians to three students who will now play in their school orchestras.

The Mary Starling Program’s small ensemble performances for all 4th and 5th students in WS/FCS and full orchestra concerts were augmented by book drives at 43 elementary schools (sending over 51,000 books to libraries in Africa), a short story competition and in-school integration complete with lesson plans, classroom activities and a companion CD of music.

This program is funded by the Symphony and the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School System.

Fun with Fiddles

Number reached: Up to 7,000 (ages 5 – 9 )

This program provides a musical learning experience for every Kindergarten student in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools. The students are introduced to the instruments of the string family by a string quartet, which also introduces basic musical concepts such as melody, harmony, rhythm, and teamwork.