On Monday, October 30, at 10AM, in partnership with Traverse Symphony Orchestra (TSO) and Interlochen Public Radio (IPR), Great Lakes Center for the Arts (GLCFA) will host its first Next Gen event of the 2023/24 school year entitled “Mussorgsky in Miniature: Pictures at an Exhibition – A Masterpiece in Narrative Style.”

Written by Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky in 1874, “Pictures at an Exhibition” is a ten-piece piano suite based on works by Russian architect and painter Viktor Hartmann.

Ideal for students in Grades 3 – 8, “Mussorgsky in Miniature: Pictures at an Exhibition – A Masterpiece in Narrative Style” combines music, storytelling, and visual art! A TSO octet will perform on stage with images of Hartmann’s visual art that inspired Mussorgsky projected behind the musicians, and Kate Botello of IPR’s “Kids Commute” program will narrate the event using storytelling and age-appropriate educational content that touches on musical composition, art, self-expression, empathy, and historical context. Through auditory and visual means, this multifaceted event has the potential to reach students in more ways than one.

“We’re so thrilled that IPR’s Kate Botello and the Traverse Symphony Orchestra musicians will be able to present classical music to hundreds of kids here in Northern Michigan through this collaboration,” shares Dr. Amanda Sewell, Music Director at Interlochen Public Radio. “We hope it sparks their interest and encourages them to listen even more!”

“The eight musicians from TSO, accompanied by IPR’s Kate Botello, will weave together the story, music, and images of this masterwork, all while students experience the sights and sounds of live music at Great Lakes Center for the Arts,” adds Angela Aleo, Director of Education and Music Librarian for Traverse Symphony Orchestra.

“Mussorgsky in Miniature is the second event in a new style of collaborative programming for Next Gen,” says Rachel Sytsma-Reed, Next Gen Director. “Regional arts organizations are coming together to create original, arts-based, educational programming that underscores our connections in Northern Michigan, helps build a stronger community network between the arts and education, and enables innovative thinking about how to best educate through the performing arts for the schools we are honored to serve.”

Through its mission of inspiring, entertaining, educating, and serving all in Northern Michigan year-round, GLCFA strives to present exceptional performing arts experiences and offer impactful educational opportunities for area youth and students. Next Gen educates through the performing arts for students, pre-kindergarten through college and provides teachers with lesson plans to extend learning anchored in on-site events.

By attending Next Gen events, students can interact with and learn from world-class artists, whether they be dancers, musicians, comedy troupes, or eloquent speakers. Presentations covering literature, history, government, dance, music, or science have been well-attended and received rave reviews. This month’s “Mussorgsky in Miniature: Pictures at an Exhibition – A Masterpiece in Narrative Style” will be no exception.

And, as a bonus, students are invited to dress up in Victorian-era costumes in honor of Mussorgsky, the 19th Century, and the upcoming Halloween holiday and for a chance to win some fun swag!

Teachers (including homeschools) interested in reserving space to bring students to the Center for this event may contact Rachel Sytsma-Reed at rachel@greatlakescfa.org or register online at greatlakescfa.org/next-gen.

Thanks to the generous support from grantors and its family of donors, GLCFA is able to offer Next Gen programs free of charge, eliminating barriers when it comes to accessing the performing arts.

This program is made possible in part by a grant from Michigan Humanities, an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.