SOUTHWEST SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PRESENTS ITS 2024 YOUTH SERIES “INSTRUMENTS AT PLAY”

As it celebrates its 40th Anniversary, the Southwest Symphony would like to look back at the beginning of the Southwest Symphony Orchestra Youth Series. The Orchestra played one of its first youth concerts in 1998. The musicians began to travel to all the schools in Lea County, playing classical music for the students. The appropriately named Southwest Symphony Orchestra “Tour of Schools” quickly became a tremendous success.

As it grew in popularity, more schools became interested in the program. To efficiently serve Lea County, the Southwest Symphony Orchestra moved from traveling to the schools, to having the students bused to R.N. Tydings Auditorium. This 2-day event, now called Southwest Symphony Orchestra Youth Series, serves over 2,300 students throughout Lea County from both public and private schools.

This free program offered by Southwest Symphony provides Lea County students with the opportunity to experience classical music in a fun and educational way. Hands on introduction to orchestra instruments and questions answered by professional musicians open young minds to a whole new world of music comprehension. Nurturing young musicians and helping create an appreciation for music enhances student performance in all subjects.

With annual community and school support, Southwest Symphony will continue to offer the Youth Series to elementary students, thereby supplementing music programs at both public and private schools. Corporate and private donations create the basis of financial support for the Youth Series. All the schools involved in the Youth Series each season provide bus transportation for students, helping to make their participation possible. Southwest Symphony Orchestra looks forward to the future growth of the Youth Series!

This season, Southwest Symphony Orchestra will perform music that features the playful nature of the orchestra instruments with its concert “Instruments at Play”. The program will be both interactive and familiar, from music found in the movie “Coco”, to themes featured in sporting events. Geared toward youth and families, this fun filled line up will also be presented at an evening concert for youth and families on Monday, January 29, 2024, at 7:00pm, at R.N. Tydings Auditorium. Children 18 and under are admitted free to all concerts as well as college students with current ID.

Door tickets for the evening performance are available at Q Systems Music & Sound, Music World and online at www.swsymphony.org , or call (575)738-1041 for more information. Season Tickets for all 4 remaining concerts are still available and are interchangeable for any concert.