Community Outreach

The Charlotte Civic Orchestra, with funding made available by Arts Teach, coordinates the Composer-in-the-Schools project. This project provides a rare opportunity for middle school orchestra students to experience creating their own compositions, a rehearsal and then a public performance on a professional level with members of the Charlotte Civic Orchestra.           

David Crowe, as a composer and teaching artist living in the Charlotte area, has had considerable experience in the schools working with children on composition projects. Mr. Crowe is also a conductor, and has guest-conducted the Fort Wayne Symphony, the Charlotte Symphony and the Charlotte Civic Orchestra, as well as serving as conductor and arranger for the touring orchestra of David Holt, storyteller and musician. Last season 2006-2007 Mr. Crowe worked with students at Albemarle Road Middle School, Alexander Graham Middle School, Northeast Middle School, and Randolph Middle Schools for the fourth consecutive year. This collaboration extends benefits that all of the orchestras can bring to students at all four schools. David Crowe worked at all 4 schools to create original music for string orchestras. Students from all four schools performed their works in a joint concert with the Charlotte Civic Orchestra on Sunday, May 6, 2007 at the First United Methodist Church in Charlotte.

The Charlotte Civic Orchestra for this season, 2007 – 2008, was awarded a second grant from Arts Teach.  For the first time in addition to the Middle School program we will be working with students from two different high schools.  E.E. Waddell High and South Mecklenburg High schools will work with David Crowe on composing a piece with the theme of “Technology”.   It promises to be an entertaining program.