Schools Outreach Program
2003 School Outreach Program
The Chamber Music at Great Gorge Foundation's 2003 School Outreach Program was sponsored by the Bank of New York.
During the week of March 24, brother and sister duo David and Gail Niwa visited seven local schools to give an introduction to classical music to the third- grade students. Schools included in this year's outreach were the Cedar Mountain Primary School and the Rolling Hills Primary School in Vernon, the Wantage School in Wantage, the Sparta Alpine School in Sparta, Immaculate Conception School in Franklin and the Fredon Township Public School in Newton.
Ms. Niwa, who is the Artistic Director of Chamber Music at Great Gorge, said "We always look forward to sharing the joys of classical music with the young people of Sussex County. I believe that this is one of the more important things we, as musicians, can do. It is so inspiring to see the young faces alive with enthusiasm for what they hear. I hope this encouraged them to become life-long music lovers."
Local students were invited to attend a Children's Concert on Sunday, March 30, at 2:00pm, at the Crystal Springs Country Club on Route 94 in Hardyston. Admission was free to children ages 12 and under. Adult tickets were $5. Children (who were be accompanied by an adult) were admitted on a first-come basis. The program featured special presentations by musicians from the Chamber Music at Great Gorge Foundation. Violinist David Niwa of Columbus, Ohio, and pianist Gail Niwa, of Vernon and New York City, performed short selections by Kreisler, Saint-Saens and Mendelssohn. They were joined by surprise guest performer Michelle Djokic, cellist.
2002 School Outreach Program
On May 16 and 17, 2002, local third-graders were treated to special presentations by musicians from the Chamber Music at Great Gorge Foundation. Cellist Michelle Djokic, a New Jersey native who currently lives in New Haven, Conn. and pianist Gail Niwa, of Vernon and New York City, visited five elementary schools in the area, performing for more than four hundred students. They delighted their young audiences with stories about classical music and short selections by Bach, Saint-Saens and Ginastera.
Ms. Niwa, who is the Artistic Director of Chamber Music at Great Gorge, said "I believe that one of the most important things we, as musicians, can do is to expose young people to the joys of classical music. To be able to share my musical energy with students is a great opportunity. My hope is that their lives will be enriched by the great musical treasures as mine has been."
The Chamber Music at Great Gorge Foundation plans to sponsor this community service annually. The schools visited by Ms. Djokic and Ms. Niwa were the Cedar Mountain Primary School (Vernon), the Wantage School (Sussex), the Hardyston Township Public School (Franklin), Immaculate Conception School (Franklin) and the Fredon Township Public School (Newton).
1999 School Outreach Program
In our first season, Chamber Music at Great Gorge sponsored a special childrens concert on Sunday, June 6, 1999 at 2:00 p.m., at St. Francis de Sales Church. This concert featured artistic director and pianist Gail Niwa and her brother David Niwa, violinist. It was a brief introduction to music and the workings of the piano and violin. It was especially geared for children ages 6-11 and included a question and answer segment. In addition, Ms. Niwa visited local elementary schools to give a preview of the concert.