March was a busy month for the Cleveland Orchestra Miami delivering educational activities throughout Miami-Dade County. The centerpieces of the Cleveland Orchestra’s comprehensive array of educational activities presented in Miami each season are the Education Concerts at the John S. and James L. Knight Concert Hall at the Adrienne Arsht Center. Nearly 4,000 second grade students from across Miami-Dade attended the two concerts performed on March 22. The students were treated to the salsa sounds of the Miami-based ensemble Tiempo Libre playing with The Cleveland Orchestra. These Education Concerts are free of charge to students and the district each season, and are supported by professional development workshops for teachers and through curriculum materials distributed to teachers and students. The Orchestra received some wonderful feedback in letters from 2^nd grade students from Miami Springs Elementary:

“You guys make music that is so wonderful it makes me think of being in the music band.” – Stephanie

“I enjoyed your performance. I like your music. I want to go again with my mom and dad.” – Sebastian

Students were also given the opportunity to interact one-on-one with Cleveland Orchestra musicians during on-site programs at local schools. Cleveland Orchestra cellist Brian Thornton visited students at Charles R. Drew Elementary School and Liberty Square Head Start Center to deliver a special program about story telling through music. WSVN Channel 7 Miami, with Louis Aguirre reporting, put together a great piece on the Orchestra’s education programs, which was picked up nationally by CNN (see video above).