Education

Concerts are only a portion of the Symphony’s involvement in our community. ISCS, its musicians, as well as many volunteers, also expend much time, effort, and a considerable portion of the annual budget on numerous education and outreach programs promoting music, supporting music education, and truly changing lives. These programs are made possible by our generous donors and through grants from the Idaho Community Foundation, the Idaho Commission on the Arts, USBanCorp Foundation, J.R. Simplot Company, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
 
Children’s Concerts are designed especially for a young audience, for area 4th and 5th graders, with costs of the concerts and the transportation to and from the schools borne by the Symphony. The same program is presented at the Family Concert where parents may bring children of all ages for a taste of live classical music.
 
Young Artists Competition, a biennial event, is open to instrumentalists and vocalists in Junior (ages 13-18) and Senior Divisions (ages 19-24). Winners of each division are provided scholarships to further their music education and then perform as guest artists with the Symphony at Jensen Hall.
 
ISCS Youth Orchestra provides the area’s best strings students an opportunity to play a more challenging repertoire than is possible with an orchestra from a single school. With regular rehearsals and concert performances, these students improve musically and in turn enhance their own school programs. This group is fulfilling the vision of Director Colin Brien and the Symphony to provide a full symphonic orchestra experience in a world-class hall to as many young musicians as possible.
 
Master ClassesThe Symphony Association also continues to sponsor free master classes and workshops for the community’s musicians held by our guest artists. These well-known musicians play with some of the world’s best symphonies, and are enticed to our small community by the opportunity of performance in our amazing concert hall. Guest Artists typically welcome the opportunity to teach and mentor students in the community in which they are performing.