Orchestra Iowa & From the Top Seek High School Students For Peer Leadership Program

Cedar Rapids, IA. - Orchestra Iowa and From the Top invite applicants for this year’s Iowa Makes Music Peer Leadership Program. The program admits ten high school age classical music students from the Cedar Rapids and Iowa City areas for a unique opportunity that combines leadership training and community service. Selected applicants will participate in an in-depth training session and will receive mentoring and support as they design and implement their own unique service projects that involve music. This year's application deadline is January 29, 2010. Applications can be found at iowamakesmusic.org.

This is the second year of the Iowa Makes Music Peer Leadership Program. As part of From the Top’s Arts Leadership curriculum, the program encourages young performers to explore their potential as artists, leaders and arts advocates in their own communities. Peer Leader projects might range from teaching music to younger children, to advocating for music education and raising money for a good cause. Last year nine students from the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City areas participated in the pilot year of the program.

Some of last year’s participants include:

Alyssa Adamec of Coralville, now a junior at Iowa City West High School who taught first and second grade students at her former elementary school using a movement and rhythm approach to music learning.

Daniel Voss of Atkins, a recent graduate of Benton Community High School, who wanted to address the problem of dwindling low brass players at the middle and high school levels. In order to recruit future brass players, he arranged for his school's brass ensemble to play at two elementary schools and worked individually with young brass players.

Aishwarya Vijay of Coralville, now a senior at Iowa City West High School, who performed monthly at two local nursing homes to use music to connect nursing home residents with the greater community.

This year’s leadership workshop will be held on Sunday, February 21 in Cedar Rapids. Leaders will have until June 1, 2010 to complete their self-designed programs. This year’s class of peer leaders will be announced in early February.

The Iowa Makes Music residency is a multi-year collaboration funded by the U.S. Department of Education to celebrate the excitement and joy of kids making classical music in Iowa. As part of the program, From the Top and Orchestra Iowa will present a live taping of the NPR radio series From the Top at Englert Theatre in Iowa City on February 24. For more information about Iowa Makes Music, please visit iowamakesmusic.org.

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ABOUT FROM THE TOP
For the past decade, From the Top has been the preeminent showcase for America’s best young musicians. Through award-winning NPR and PBS programs, online media, a national tour of live events, and education programs, From the Top shares the stories and performances of pre-collegiate musicians with millions each week. Learn more at www.fromthetop.org. Media inquiries for From the Top can be directed to Erin Haran MacCurtain, Associate Director of Marketing and Communications at 617-437-0707 x117 or emaccurtain@fromthetop.org.

ABOUT ORCHESTRA IOWA
Orchestra Iowa, formerly the Cedar Rapids Symphony, held its inaugural concert on April 13, 1921 and has since become Iowa’s premier orchestra, with an annual budget of over $2 million. Performing 32 Classical, Pops, Chamber, Youth and Discovery concerts yearly, Orchestra Iowa maintains a significant economic presence in the community. A professional orchestra with 83 musicians contracted for an average of 60 rehearsals/concerts, the symphony’s annual concert season runs from September to May. Please direct media questions to Christy Frost, Communications Director, at 319-366-8206 or cfrost@orchestraiowa.org.