Education and Outreach
Young Artist Competition
The Mankato Symphony orchestra has long been dedicated to education and
artistic growth of area youth. Through our Young Artist competition,
we offer the opportunity for our local young artists to experience a professionally
judged audition. Winners receive a cash scholarship and may also
have the pleasure of performing with the Mankato Symphony at our annual
Youth Concerts. In conjunction with the Young Artist competition,
the Mankato Symphony has also sponsored a similar Young Composer competition.
Youth Concerts
Every Spring, the Mankato Symphony presents three free concerts to 4th,
5th and 6th grade public and private school students from Mankato and
the surrounding nine-county region. These hour-long concerts present
an exciting mix of music and education to about 3,000 students annually.
April 15, 2011
10 am, 11 am, 1 pm
Mankato West HS Auditorium
Brent Michael Davids will traverse the history and musical legacy of the Dakota Nations
with his beautiful Black Hills Odowan and the MSO will perform award winning composer
Geoffrey Hudson’s Meeting Ground. MSU’s Dr. Joseph Rogers performs a new composition
by native artist and cellist, Dawn Avery who founded the North American Indian Cello Project.
MAESL - Music Appreciation at the Elementary Student
Level
This program has been a mainstay of music education in our community for
over 35 years. Third grade students are bused to either Mankato West or
Mankato East high school (the program takes place on two different days),
where students demonstrate instruments in each of the four instrument
families. In recent years, more than 500 third graders have participated
annually. MAESL takes place just before these students are eligible to
participate in band or orchestra, and provides the up-close experience
and inspiration they need in order to make a choice. The school district
relies on MAESL to build music appreciation and acquaint young students
with the instruments.