Press Release
August 25, 2008
San Diego Chamber Orchestra Awarded Major Grant for Groundbreaking Music Education Program - Second Such Grant in As Many Months


The Frances Hunter Music Memory Program
The San Diego Chamber Orchestra is pleased to announce a grant of $30,000 from the San Diego County Board of Supervisors Community Projects Grant Program at the behest of Supervisor Bill Horn. This grant will provide support for the Orchestra’s ground-breaking music education program, the Frances Hunter Music Memory Program.

The Orchestra has long provided highly successful music education outreach programs, and will kick off its silver anniversary this season with the most ambitious music education program in its history. Named in honor of Frances Hunter, a long-time supporter of the Orchestra’s education outreach programs, the program will be implemented in the San Diego County Unified School District, the Encinitas Unified School District, the Rancho Santa Fe School and elementary schools in Escondido. There are plans to expand the program into all county schools in the future. The program will be managed by Paige Satter in her role as Artistic Administrator and Educational/Outreach Coordinator, a new position for the Orchestra.

“We are very appreciative that we have a Board of Supervisors so supportive of the arts, and a special thanks goes to Bill Horn for his understanding of the importance of music education in the schools,” says Tyler Richards Hewes, Executive Director of the Orchestra.

Music Memory is a nationally recognized program that has become a phenomenon across the country. It gives children in the 3rd through 6th grades the life-long gift of music through an in-depth study of sixteen selections per year. The program will culminate each year with a San Diego-wide “music bee,” a Music Memory final competition that will feature all-star teams from the participating elementary schools. They will attend a live concert by the San Diego Chamber Orchestra, and will be tested on their knowledge by participating in a lively, but fun, team competition that will result in awards to participants and winners. 

According to Jung-Ho Pak, the Orchestra’s Artistic Director and Conductor, and one of the areas most passionate advocates for music education in the schools, “This program will make a significant difference in the lives of these children, and we are so grateful to supporters like Bill Horn who help make it all possible.”  

The Orchestra previously announced an award of $45,000 from the Rancho Santa Fe Women’s Fund for this program.