Public School Students Experience Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet
Thousands of public school students in Chicago and
Waukegan were introduced to classical music through Ravinia’s One Score, One Chicago
program. Romeo & Juliet, the great ballet written by Sergei Prokofiev in
1935, is this year’s selection. Prokofiev extracted music from the ballet into three
orchestral suites and a 10-piece piano work. Students learned about the piece through
various educational formats. Ravinia’s REACH*TEACH*PLAY Education Programs provided
workshops for over 100 Chicago Public School teachers on the ballet, Romeo & Juliet.
During a workshop with Joffrey Ballet’s Community Engagement Director, Pierre Lockett,
teachers learned the dance to the “The Montagues and the Capulets” scene and then
took the choreography back to the classroom and taught it to their students. Additional
workshops were led by Northwestern University music education professor Dr. Janet
Barrett.
One Score, One Chicago served as a focal point for Ravinia’s Guest Artist
in the Classroom Program this year. Over 20 elementary schools enjoyed live performances
by pianists or chamber musicians who performed Romeo & Juliet for students
in grades k-3. Performers included pianists from Ravinia’s Rising Stars series,
local musicians, members of the Ravinia Family and ensembles of Midwest Young Artists.
On Tuesday, May 24 some 2,900 students from Chicago and Waukegan who received in-school
instruction and
performances of Romeo & Juliet came to Ravinia
for an orchestral performance of the work. The renowned youth orchestra, Midwest
Young Artists, performed selections from the ballet with narrative. The day included
a dance performance from Burr and Fermi elementary school students during “The Montagues
and the Capulets” and singing to the “Aubade”. The students danced and sang what
they learned in the classroom as the orchestra played.
Students from Chicago Public schools participating in Ravinia’s Music Discovery
Program have done in-depth explorations of Romeo & Juliet during their
school year residencies. They learned about Prokofiev and other Russian composers,
his inspiration for composing the piece, and specific musical motifs found in the
piece. Ravinia teaching artists and CPS classroom teachers introduced their students
in grades K-3 to sections including “The Montagues and the Capulets”, “Aubade” and
“Masks,” among others. Children interpreted the piece through movement and song
at their schools throughout April and May. Schools included are Burr, Fermi, Yale,
Banneker, Suder and Catalyst: Howland.
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