News From Britt Hill – September 2019

My two young grandchildren joined me in July for the Britt Festival Orchestra’s presentations of “Peter and the Wolf” (retold with a delightful Southern Oregon twist) and the story of the “The Mountain that Loved a Bird” by composer Caroline Shaw. They were enthralled, including the youngest one who is just 2-years-old. Britt offers so much for people of all ages.

Besides our family-friendly “Teddy Discovery Tuesdays,” Britt runs free “BrittKids Koncerts” at 10:15am throughout the summer. Kay Hilton, our Director of Education and Engagement, arranges 10 weekly summer concerts. Through our free “BrittKids Klub” program, these performances help local parents introduce their children to music, dance and art from around the world. Over 2,500 attended the free concerts this summer. With titles such as “Fiz and the Magic Fiddle,” Ballet Folklorico with “Dance Like a Cowboy,” and “Scout’s Silent Robot Dance Party,” who wouldn’t have fun?

That is not all. Our local schools in Josephine and Jackson County also benefit from the Orchestral Fellowships and Residencies sponsored by Britt. Rich varieties of artists share their expertise from the elementary school level through high school. For instance, the band Quattro Sound, a highly innovative multinational quartet, performed at Ashland High School for the concert band, orchestra and choir classes. From teaching the joy of jazz with horn player Dmitri Matheny, to the The Meriwethers’s “Songs of the Animal Kingdom,” to SOU Percussion Duos—Britt brings a wealth of diverse musicians into the classroom. With the SOU Duos, Britt worked in partnership with the Oregon Center for the Arts and Professor Terry Longshore to bring four percussion students into Jackson and Josephine county schools. The SOU Students prepared programs appropriate for K-6 classrooms, and demonstrated various percussion instruments and techniques at Scenic Middle School, Hanby Middle School, Hillside Elementary, and Cornerstone Christian Homeschool Co-operative.

And, let’s not forget the art part of the Britt Music and Arts Festival. Portland visual artist, Ursula Barton worked with the students at Crater Renaissance Academy to create a design for a nature mural which is now a permanent part of the Academy and for the entire community to enjoy.

This is only a short summary. Britt is more than your favorite band. There is an important year-round educational facet to Britt that provides fun and learning opportunities for the young people of our valley.

Featured Image: BrittKids Koncert Leandro-the-Lion, July 24, 2019 – by Jeremy Holmes