Corpus Christi Symphony Society Education and Outreach Program

Since 1945, the Corpus Christi Symphony Society has provided critically-acclaimed symphonic music to audiences in South Texas. One of the few Texas symphonies to have operated uninterrupted since World War II, the Corpus Christi Symphony Society has fulfilled its public outreach goals to preserve, promote and provide high-quality live symphonic performances of orchestral music to the Coastal Bend and points beyond; educate, entertain and serve all the diverse cultures and demographics of our local community; program and deliver a wide range of musical repertoire; and provide greater cultural and educational exposure and experiences through live symphonic performances, especially for the young people. Unique in the Coastal Bend, the Corpus Christi Symphony Society collaborates with regional organizations/musicians/ensembles including TAMUCC, Del Mar, City of Corpus Christi, Texas Commission on the Arts, Corpus Christi Arts Alliance, Corpus Christi Chorale, and a number of regional school districts to promote high quality arts education. Orchestra members also serve in Kingsville and Victoria Symphony Orchestras. With an orchestra of nearly professional 100 musicians and reaching 16,000+ live audience members each year, the Corpus Christi Symphony Society season includes six subscription concerts, two youth concerts, Pops in the Park, and educational outreach and programming.

The Corpus Christi Symphony Society has worked diligently to create a COVID-19 recovery plan. Benefitting approximately 5,000 youth in grades K-12, this year, we are adapting the Education and Outreach Program to offer it in a hybrid format, both face-to-face and virtually. Providing a tool for area school districts to supplement their limited music programs with a Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS)-aligned curriculum geared toward fourth and fifth grade elementary students, the Education and Outreach Program will serve approximately 5,000 students with four main components:

1) The Patricia Furley Education Concerts are two free 50-minute concerts scheduled for 2-5-21 at the Performing Arts Center on the Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi campus (virtually, if necessary). Each year, children from Calallen, Corpus Christi, Flour Bluff, Gregory-Portland, London, Port Aransas, Robstown, Rockport, Tuloso-Midway, and West Oso ISD, attend these concerts. Invitations are extended to school districts as far away as George West and Alice. The concert aligns with the goals established by the standardized TEKS and the requirement that all music programs provide opportunities for students to develop positive attitudes towards live classical music and potentially becoming motivated to learn to play. The CCSS also works closely with area school districts to monitor compliance.

2) CCSO on the Go! The Corpus Christi Symphony Society is working with Corpus Christi ISD to present up-close and personal performances with the orchestra’s chamber ensembles for 5th graders. These informances demonstrate the various instruments of the orchestra to the students. These are especially designed for 5th graders who will be deciding whether or not to play an instrument in 6th grade. Each school is visited by each ensemble (string trio, brass quintet, woodwind quintet). Each informance is 30 minutes.

3) Free Student Ticket Vouchers are available to all six subscription concerts throughout the year.

4) Youth Orchestra (postponed due to COVID-19). The Youth Orchestra has been an educational branch of the Corpus Christi Symphony Orchestra since 1996. Today, over 100 students representing 36 schools participate in one of four ensembles. The Youth Orchestra provides two full orchestras, an intermediate string ensemble and one elementary string class for instrumental students from 8-19 years of age. Performances are held at the Performing Arts Center at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Each Youth Orchestra ensemble performs at least twice a year.

Exposure to music is important to academic success. Please join us in serving approximately 5,000 youth in grades K-12 by providing an introduction to, appreciation of, and participation in symphonic music by offering free, innovative programs and performances for youth of diverse cultures and experiences. Your generous donation of $5,000 will help to underwrite the Education and Outreach Program that totals approximately $30,000/year.