With the arts leaving local schools, students are left seeking art-related extracurricular activities.
The String Project and Ogden Youth Symphony are now offering string ensembles. The classes are open for 3rd – 12th graders, allowing those who already have some experience with stringed instruments an opportunity to learn more from Weber State University students and those who have never touched a string instrument to learn the very basics. The program offers an opportunity for those interested in lessons in strings, winds and percussion on The Weber State campus.
The String Project is a small chapter that’s part of The Ogden Youth Symphony Project and is geared towards the community and its families.
The Ogden Youth Symphony is open to high-school-level winds and percussion. The chapter offers very affordable prices, including $5 private lessons.
Project managers Stephanie Strait and Alyssa Thornley want the project to instill a sense of appreciation and understanding of the arts to local children who no longer have access to them at their schools. They would like to help fill the gap in the arts world by helping the children to develop their personalities and creativity. The project also hopes to instill a sense of interregional community, as the students will all be coming from different cities and schools around the greater Ogden area.
Local support is what makes the program so unique. Not only is Weber State a huge supporter for the program, but the program is also supported by Weber County R.A.M.P. Music Education. Students at Weber also provide their knowledge and skills to give back and teach the student within the program.
Ogden Youth Symphony provides opportunities to perform at Abravanel Hall and Chamber Orchestra Ogden. They also accept donations from those who would like to contribute to the local community project.
For those interested in joining the String Project, a placement audition can be performed Sept. 17. These are not tryouts but simply an audition to see in which class the students will be placed by level of experience. Class registration, however, ends Sept. 16, unless you are signed up for the placement audition on Sept. 17. For more information, visit the WSU String Project website.
