Manny Laureano

... to be a member of the MO (just got this mesage in a mass e-mail to the MO orchestra members):

The American Symphony Orchestra League has notified us that the Minnesota Orchestra has won the ASCAP Leonard Bernstein Award for Educational Programming for an unprecedented three years in a row! This is “awarded to the orchestra whose educational programs integrate the music of our time and are creative, relevant, and based on the best practices of music education.” Only one orchestra receives the award each year.


Not only is the Minnesota Orchestra the only orchestra to receive the award three years in a row – we are the only orchestra that has ever received the award more than once. This says a tremendous amount about the quality and scope of our educational programs and how they compare with what all the other U.S. orchestras are doing in the area of contemporary music.

We had a strong case for this award because of many programs that work to bring new music and education together: the Composer Institute and Future Classics! concert, Kinder Konzert programming, educational residencies, YP/Family concert programming, the Heitzeg commission on the MMEA concert, and more.

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That's the reason I'm optimistic about the future of music, orchestral music in particular. It's not about money because there are some orchestras with bigger budgets than ours. It's about caring about young ones and doing something about it. We have a tremendous education and outreach staff and that's the reason we have gotten these awards.

Yeah, I'm proud of them. They give my job meaning beyond the notes I play in a concert. They help me feel like it's going to mean something years from now not just tonight.

ML

40cal

Congrats to you and your co-workers!!!!

Danny W

Congratulations! That's a wonderful thing to hear! That makes me proud as well to be apart of the staff at the orchestra. Like Manny said, the mass scope of concerts; it's just amazing. Not to spill the beans too early (and I hope I don't say anything that'll land me in jail), but it was announced at the last Target Family Concert that they are going to again sponsor next year's family concerts, so that families can see the shows without paying a dime. That really makes me genuinely glad as well. Young kids are the getting the opportunity to be exposed to great music and the future looks really bright!

Pedal C

Wow, Manny! That's really great...I'm glad the MO's educational program is so strong and it must be really rewarding to be a part of. Keep it up, we need more and more generous musicians like you and the MO!

Jason.

Manny Laureano

Yeah, guys, thanks for the support. Between the two youth symphonies and the MO and also SPCO doing their bit for young ones The Twin Cities is a good place to be if you're a school age kid and interested in classical music.

ML

Alex Yates

That is wonderful to receive such deserved recognition. While I have not attended any of ML's MYSO concerts, I have heard recordings. The level of musicianship and maturity of the group is top-notch. Congratulations.

Vulgano Brother

Congratulations! The competition for such an award can never be fierce enough!

tpter1

That is great news, Manny! Congratulations! Please, on behalf of a music educator, pass along a huge thank you to those in charge of that sort of thing. What you guys are doing out there will have wonderful long-reaching impact on so many people in so many walks of life, and augments what is going on (or should be) in the schools. Who knows...maybe because of a MO youth concert someday a school principal will be able to tell the difference between a crash cymbal and a bass drum, and won't schedule a band and chorus rehearsal at the same time in the same room! (I know you guys are after bigger objectives than that; but you get the idea, I hope).

tromj

So the real question is, why aren't more Orchestras around the country ripping off your ideas? From everything I have heard, mostly from people on this board, you guys are doing great things, and obviously this award shows that people outside the Twin Cities realize this.
If that's the case, shouldn't other groups be coming to you to learn what they can about outreach and education?
I hope the answer I get is that they are.

Jordan

trumpetnick

Great news, Manny!
My Congratulations! I wish I lived near to hear and see what you are doing...must be great.