Concordia Conservatory has partnered with the Stamford Symphony Orchestra to develop a new concert series specifically for children and families of the special needs community.
Liz Ast, music therapy faculty at Concordia Conservatory, will host the interactive concert experiences, engaging audiences with elements of music therapy set to accessible classics performed by Stamford Symphony musicians. The inaugural season will focus on tempo, encouraging movement to a variety of rhythms.
The series’ artistic director is Elizabeth Lim-Dutton, longtime friend and supporter of the Conservatory, and violinist with the Stamford Symphony. She brought the series to life with Kathleen Suss, Executive Director of Concordia Conservatory, and Nicolas Gonzalez, Director of Community Engagement and Education for the Stamford Symphony. Conservatory students Kathleen Moriarty and Lilly Slaughter will serve as Series Ambassadors. Funding is provided by the Lone Pine Foundation, Inc.
Unique is a natural progression of the Conservatory’s longstanding commitment to being a friendly haven for the full spectrum of learners. While top-notch faculty and an honors program ensure that exceptionally gifted graduates are well-prepared to continue their studies at prestigious college music schools, that same faculty ensure that the enriching benefits of self-expression through music are available to all members of the community, through private instruction and a wealth of group classes and programs.
Concordia College students have access to the Conservatory’s faculty, programs and facilities through the College’s Conservatory Department, and students in Concordia's innovative Impact U program, a college experience for young adults with intellectual disabilities, study singing with Conservatory faculty Julie Schmidt. “My goals for these students are the same as for my other students: ear training, sight singing, stage presence and integrating movement with song. We've had a wonderful experience together as they have grown in skills and confidence.”
Formal arts therapy is provided through the Conservatory’s Arts for Healing division. In addition to private and group arts therapy for people of all ages, including seniors with dementia, Arts for Healing provides weekly music and art therapy classes for the Stamford and Norwalk Public Schools, serving 375 students aged five to 18.
This year, classes have been delivered remotely from the broadcast studios at the Conservatory’s Stamford campus.
The Unique Series will debut with concerts at 11:00 am on Saturday, February 6 (for elementary-age audiences) and Saturday, May 1 (for middle and high school audiences). The concerts will be broadcast for home viewing from the Stamford campus.
Unique Series concert tickets are $10. Broadcast links may be purchased at concordiaconservatory.org or by calling 203-595-5059 or 914-395-4507.