Koncerts for Kids

As part of its mission of providing enriching experiences in the visual and performing arts for schools and local citizens, TACFA underwrites the cost to transport over 1100 elementary school students along with their teachers to attend a special music program performed by Orange County’s resident orchestra, South Coast Symphony.

“Koncerts for Kids” is a specifically designed multi-media program for fourth-grade students incorporating both music and art. They experience music, performed by a large symphony orchestra, from a variety of genres including classical, jazz, opera, film scores from Hollywood and the music of Broadway. Highlights of these concerts have included an interactive music and art performance to the music of George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, and multimedia presentations from the film scores of composer John Williams. The students also have the opportunity to hear performances at each concert from two very talented young performers who have been chosen as award winners from the Symphony’s annual Young Stars of the Future competition.

Kids Koncerts is designed with young students in mind as they learn about various sections of band and orchestra, concert manners, and the prospects for entering the music programs in middle and high schools in Tustin Unified School District. The concert highlights the talents of the both the Beckman Orchestra, conducted by Jim Kollias, as well as the Beckman Marching Band, led by Matt Bausman. Students also learn about the music of the marching band and the cadence played by the drum line. 

Founded in 1996, the 70-member Symphony’s mission is to provide South Orange County’s fifteen diverse communities with a professional, accessible and affordable symphonic musical experience. The Symphony’s eclectic programming is designed to entertain and educate while also attracting a whole new generation of patrons. The Symphony performs a wide variety of orchestral literature from the classics and opera to light classics, Broadway and pops.

The Conductor of the Symphony is Barry Silverman who is also a member of the TACFA volunteer group Encore. Mr. Silverman is a multi -talented musician who has played professionally with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, Hollywood Bowl Symphony, Glendale Symphony, Long Beach Symphony, Debut Orchestra of Young Musicians Foundation, and the Pacific Symphony Orchestra.

Kids Koncerts is a great success! But don’t take our word for it…read some of the comments given by the fourth grade teachers:

“We loved it! Thank you so much!”

I thought this was a great opportunity to see the next steps for my students in music!”

“Thank you for providing this opportunity this year! My students really enjoyed it!”

“The Beckman band and orchestra were amazing!”

“This concert motivated my students to play a musical instrument in middle school and high school.”