Rio Hondo Symphony

Home :: Site Map :: Contact Us

Related Links

Education & Community

Young Artists
Competition

Children's Concerts

Enrichment Program

Hire Us!

Sponsorships

For Families & Teachers

Enrichment Program

The Music Enrichment Program (MEP), started in 1988 in Pico Rivera, has over 10,000 students in grades 3, 4, and 5 in school districts in Whittier and Santa Fe Springs.

Laura Stone, freelance musician and oboist with the Rio Hondo Symphony, demonstrates the woodwinds to fourth graders. Introducing fifth graders to the mysteries and intricacies of the trumpet along with the entire brass family is Norman Major, noted soloist, band leader, and teacher.

In 2004 a long-time dream became a reality when the program was expanded to include the string instruments. Wendy Velasco, an outstanding cellist and teacher from Whittier, presents the string program to third graders.

Currently, funding for these programs is provided in the Whittier school districts by the Whittier Cultural Arts Foundation and the B.C. McCabe Foundation and in the Santa Fe Springs Area by the City of Santa Fe Springs.

Pictured here is Laura Hendrickson performing at a Children's Concert

Here are a few comments from teachers whose students have experienced the Music Enrichment Program:

Mulberry School:

"The presenter did a superb job. I watched my students participate with joy. They were also in awe of the musicians' talent."

Leffingwell School:

"Great presentation. Very interactive."

Laurel School:

"Another great presentation! Thank you. The students and I loved it and we learned a lot."

String Along With Me - Whittier Daily New February 18, 2008

Cellist brings her love of music to third-graders By Tracy Garcia, Staff Writer NORWALK - With a little help from cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants and the blockbuster movies "Star Wars" and "Pirates of the Caribbean," it only took about an hour for cellist Wendy Velasco to whip third-graders at Cresson Elementary School into a frenzy about string instruments. "That was great," said Emilio Gutierrez, 8, after he and his fellow classmates beat the pants off teachers in a quick game of "Name That Tune," in which Velasco played snippets of movie and television theme songs on her cello. "I liked that she played all of those songs, and that she let someone play `Jaws' (theme song) on her cello," he said. "I want to play cello now, too. And I think if anyone gets the chance to hear these songs at the symphony, they should go." ............... "I love to see the kids get so excited to see and hear something that they might not see or hear all the time," said Velasco, who has been teaching MEP for three years. "This group of students was pretty knowledgable, but many times, teachers will say this is the only time their students get to see something like this." The MEP is just one of several tactics the Rio Hondo Symphony is using to draw more youngsters to their concerts, Velasco said. .............. "You know how at restaurants, kids have crayons and paper to keep them busy before the food comes? Well, this is our children's menu," Velasco said. "It's one thing for parents to bring the kids to a concert, but it's whole other thing for them to stay still for two hours," she said. "In the end, we're just hoping this makes music more accessible to our kids."

For more information about this program call (562) 947-5907

iPod Nano Contest

At the March 4th, 2007 concert, Gabriel became the second elementary student to win an iPod Nano in a concert drawing, which is open to students who have received a Music Enrichment Program lesson in their school. Shannon, from East Whittier, was our first winner in November, 2006.

Kids, remember to bring your coupon with you to the March 2, 2008 concert to enter the drawing!

Click here to see pictures of the event!