Press Release
May 12, 2009
Orchestra Nova San Diego Hosts County-wide Music Competition

Orchestra Nova San Diego (formerly the San Diego Chamber Orchestra) will host the first-ever Frances Hunter Music Memory competition on Wednesday, May 20, 10:30 a.m. – noon, at Brown Chapel, Point Loma Nazarene University.

Reflecting one of Artistic Director Jung-Ho Pak’s greatest passions in life – ensuring quality music education in our schools – the orchestra kicked off the Frances Hunter Music Memory Program last fall, one of the most extensive music education programs ever provided by an arts organization in the San Diego area. During this school year, over 4,000 students in 17 schools have been learning about classical music through listening and related activities. This contest is the culmination of the year’s program. Thirty-five teams of 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th graders from seventeen schools in the San Diego, Del Mar and Encinitas unified school districts will participate.

Named for Frances Hunter, a long-time supporter of the orchestra’s music education programs, this program is open to all San Diego county schools. The San Diego, Del Mar and Encinitas unified school districts are participating this year, and more will be added next year. The only cost to the schools is a minimal amount for the materials (assisted by the orchestra, if necessary). Regular classroom and music teachers are trained at no charge, and the event is totally supported by the orchestra and its generous sponsors, Frances Hunter and Hunter Industries, Rancho Santa Fe Women’s Fund and the County of San Diego Board of Supervisors (at the behest of Bill Horn).

Music Memory is a national program that has become a phenomenon across the country. Designed to develop a lasting appreciation for fine music in young people, it is a dynamic, multifaceted initiative consisting of innovative classroom learning methods and this extraordinary annual competition event. The program focuses on grades three through six. Each grade level learns to identify 16 classical pieces through interactive and innovative teaching materials, resulting in each student learning 64 pieces of classical music by the end of the sixth grade.

During this music contest event, the orchestra will play portions of a piece and the teams will “name that tune.” All participating teams will receive ribbons. First, second and third-place winners will be presented with awards and will be photographed by a professional photographer with the orchestra. The orchestra will also perform some selections during the contest.

Judges for the event will be local TV personality and musician, Dave Scott; Karen Childress-Evans Director of San Diego Unified School District’s Visual and Performing Arts Department; and Laura Robinson, Director of Development at Integrium, also a member of Orchestra Nova’s board of directors.

The public is invited and the event is free of charge.

For more information, call 858-350-0290, ext. 201.  

Address for the event:                       
                                                                                                                                    Brown Chapel, Point Loma Nazarene University
                                                                                                                                    3900 Lomaland Drive, San Diego, CA  92106