Project 440 starts today!

project440_blog.jpg

SAVANNAH MUSIC FESTIVAL PRESENTS CLASSICAL MUSIC RESIDENCY WITH PROJECT 440 IN LOCAL SCHOOLS AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS BEGINNING SEPTEMBER 16TH

SAVANNAH, GA – From September 16th through 20th, Savannah Music Festival (SMF) presents Project 440’s original musical interpretation of The Fish Who Could Wish for students grades K-4. Musicians from Project 440 present a 50-minute performance to ten different groups of local schoolchildren throughout the course of the residency. In addition to the free performance, participating schools receive accompanying learning guides. For the first time, SMF is also offering local teachers a free teacher training session with the musicians/educators from Project 440. Additionally, Project 440 is presenting a High School Seminar, free for all area high school musicians, that highlights career options, networking opportunities and entrepreneurial skills for young musicians. This residency is part of SMF’s Music for Our Schools program, sponsored by Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation.

Project 440 is designed to encourage, educate and empower communities through the unifying power of music. Focused on service, this organization seeks to establish music as a central tool for education, leadership, and community building. Founding members and Savannah natives Joseph Conyers (Assistant Principal Bassist of the Philadelphia Orchestra, co-founder), Blake Espy (violin, General Manager and co-founder) and Catherine Gerhiser (violin, co-founder) collaborate with artists from around the country to bring classical music to local schools. Over the past three years, Project 440 has served thousands of youth throughout southeast Georgia and southern South Carolina through interactive and educational programming. For more information, visit www.project440.org.

The Fish Who Could Wish is a charming tale about a fish who could wish for anything he wants – anything! He makes one rather silly wish he probably wishes he could take back – teaching all who hear this daunting tale a very, very valuable lesson. Join this Project 440 string quintet for an exciting journey as they tell the story of The Fish Who Could Wish with innovative musical accompaniment. Students will also learn about the instruments of the string family, and other music fundamentals. 

Schedule of Events

(Members of the media are encouraged to attend events in bold.) 

Monday, September 16
8:25-9:15am Savannah Country Day (Jelks Auditorium)
10:00-10:50am Largo-Tibet Elementary Title I
1:45-2:35pm Savannah Arts Academy

Tuesday, September 17
9:00-9:50am West Broad St. YMCA/Gadsden Pre-K (at West Broad St. YMCA) Title I
1:30-2:20pm West Chatham Elementary Title I
6:45-7:35pm Armstrong Atlantic Youth Orchestra

Wednesday, September 18
9:00-9:50am Sand Hill Elementary (Guyton, GA) Title I
1:40-2:30pm Port Wentworth Elementary Title I
3:10-4:00pm Savannah Classical Academy

Thursday, September 19
8:00-8:50am Frank Long Elementary (Hinesville, GA) Title I
9:45-10:35am Brittin Elementary (Fort Stewart)
1:00-1:50pm Hesse K-8
6:30-8:00pm Teacher Training: “Storytelling Through Music” (Savannah Arts Academy)

Saturday, September 21
9:00am-12:00pm High School Seminar (Savannah Country Day)

ABOUT SAVANNAH MUSIC FESTIVAL
The Savannah Music Festival (SMF) is dedicated to creating timeless and adventurous musical productions that stimulate arts education, foster economic growth and unite artists and audiences in Savannah. Celebrating its 25th Anniversary Season in 2014, SMF produces one of the most distinctive cross-genre music festivals in the world. The 2014 festival lineup will be announced on November 6th, including more than 100 performances between March 20th and April 5th. For more information visit www.savannahmusicfestival.org