Since its opening in 1891, Carnegie Hall has been an aspirational performance space for premier artists worldwide. From May 21st through 23rd, a new group will join the illustrious artists who have performed at Carnegie Hall. “Link Up,” the longest-running education initiative from Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute (WMI), has been designed for elementary students in grades 3-5. It connects their music classroom with the concert hall through a yearlong curriculum. The program culminates in an interactive concert where students play the recorder or violin and sing from their seats along with the orchestra.
This year’s program, “Link Up: The Orchestra Swings,” will bring more than 11,000 New York City-Area students to participate in these interactive concerts. The yearlong curriculum and concert experience explore core elements of jazz, including improvisation, rhythm, and the relationship between the genre and orchestral music. Joanna Massey, Director of Learning and Engagement Programs for Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute, shared the importance of teaching young students through interactive methods and the value of “Link Up” as a beginner instrumental program with WBGO’s Emily Springer.
The culminating concerts performed for and by students on May 21st-23rd feature an orchestra and big band. The big band, directed by trumpeter Sean Jones, and the orchestra conducted by Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser. The ensemble also features alums of Carnegie Hall’s other education initiatives, including Ensemble Connect, the National Youth Orchestra of the USA, NYO2, and NYO Jazz, along with musicians from Gateways Orchestra. Having a diverse group of musicians on stage is an essential aspect of the program, as it is a reflection of New York City and the students who attend what is often their first orchestral concert.
The repertoire for the concerts features standards including “I’ve Got Rhythm,” “Duke’s Place,” “When the Saints Go Marching In,” and a new piece composed by John Clayton commissioned by WMI.
Link Up is a national and international program serving more than 300,000 students worldwide. The curricula and program materials are shared at no cost with more than 100 orchestras from coast to coast, as well as in China, Spain, Japan, Dominican Republic, Kenya, and New Zealand.
To learn more about “Link Up,” its curricula, worldwide partners, and other education initiatives, visit Carnegiehall.org.
