OrchKids ’ mission is to transform the lives of Baltimore students by providing community-based , high-quality music instruction and programming ; creating equitable access to instrumental music as well as critical resources needed to create brighter futures . Founded in 2008 by Music Director Marin Alsop , OrchKids began with 30 first grade students at one school site and now serves more than 2,000 pre-K through 12th grade students at 10 Baltimore City Public Schools .
ORCHKIDS VIRTUAL MUSIC LESSONS
Response to COVID-19
When news of the pandemic first began to emerge , OrchKids immediately began planning to keep our program running and accessible — we knew that the consistency of learning and connections to supportive and trusted teachers and staff would be paramount to helping our students stem learning loss while managing their feelings of stress . To do this , we moved our operations online with a multi-layered approach within 10 days of the Governor ’ s announcement that schools would be closed . The specific program components we offered were :
• Live , online private music lessons ( 30 minutes , once a week per student )
• Accessible digital content / online library of resources ( including practice materials , tutorials , etc .)
• Asynchronous material and classes delivered to our BCPSS
teachers and school partners to support on-going and needed resource classes
• Online ensembles
• Online creative composition workshops
As a result of this hard work as well as student and family commitment , we had over 90 % of our after-school , instrumental students from both the East and West sides enroll in private , online lessons virtually .
Understanding the need to keep students engaged and to continue to support any stem in learning loss , OrchKids re-envisioned its 4-week summer program , making it completely virtual . It was a success , with 161 students enrolled . We were able to continue to offer private / group lessons , as well as the addition of several enrichment classes , including :
• Music Theory
• Mindfulness
• Electronic Music Composition ( Chrome Music Lab )
• Life Skills ( Preparing for college auditions , resume-building , etc .)
• Online Jam Sessions
• Book Clubs
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While OrchKids is a program under the BSO umbrella , we have our own restricted operating budget . All gifts intended for OrchKids must be designated as such . For more information , please visit : OrchKids . org
We are grateful to our donors who continued to support this important work . Your investment has helped our students thrive musically despite all of the other challenges facing our communities .
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87 %
AVERAGE FALL PROGRAM ATTENDANCE ( OCT – JAN )
98 %
AVERAGE FALL PROGRAM COMPLETION
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86 %
AVERAGE SPRING PROGRAM ATTENDANCE
1,000
HOURS OF SPRING PROGRAM INSTRUCTION
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88 %
AVERAGE SUMMER LESSON ATTENDANCE
800
HOURS OF SUMMER PROGRAM INSTRUCTION
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2019-20 BSO YEAR IN REVIEW
15