Outreach

April 2012
In April, members of the San Francisco Bach Choir visited Cleveland Elementary School in Oakland as part of Music in Schools Today’s MILE (Music-Integrated Learning Environment) program. About 50 second graders and their teachers were enthralled by Artistic Director Corey Jamason’s explanations of music elements and his keyboard playing, and the choir's singing of Bach and Vivaldi.

The students even joined the choir on an enthusiastic (and loud!) rendition of “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.” We hope to build on and expand this new collaboration with MUST, and thank them for letting us share our love of music with these wonderful students!

Spring 2010
While preparing for our “Celebrating American Heroes” concerts, the choir visited Grattan Elementary School and Presidio Middle School to share songs and stories of the American Civil War. From the hauntingly beautiful “Come Where My Love Lies Dreaming” by Stephen Foster to “Tramp, Tramp, Tramp,” the students listened and asked many questions. Corey gave a bonus look into music of the Ragtime era, delighting the young crowd with lilting and wistful pieces, then surprising them with a rousing and energetic performance of Scott Joplin’s famous “Maple Leaf Rag.”

We look forward to continuing to grow our school visit program, as well as providing opportunities for students to participate more fully with the San Francisco Bach Choir.

October 2009
As a first step in a growing educational outreach program, on May 1, 2009, a small group of singers from the San Francisco Bach Choir visited students in kindergarten through the eighth grade at the San Francisco Waldorf School. With warmth and humor, conductor Corey Jamason spoke to the students about the possibilities of musical conversation. A palpable hush fell over the crowd as the choir began to share selections from a recent concert. The students wanted to be introduced to all of the members of the choir, they wondered aloud if Corey is famous, what exactly would he ask Bach if he were alive today, and when we were coming back. A successful beginning to what we hope will be an ongoing relationship between the SFBC and local classrooms!