Causes: Education, Higher Education

Mission: The mission of the new world symphony is to prepare gifted graduates of distinguished music programs for leadership roles in orchestras and ensembles throughout the world. The new world symphony, americas orchestral academy (nws), offers a three-year postgraduate fellowship program focusing on musical technique, performance, audience development, and community engagement. Founded in 1987 by michael tilson thomas and ted arison, nws seeks to expand its 87 fellows musical and professional horizons beyond traditional conservatory training. Visiting faculty offer master classes, coaching, private lessons, and advanced seminars in audition training, performance psychology, communications, and community engagement. In addition, nws fellows perform weekly concerts, playing a diverse repertoire in an array of performance formats. Nws envisions a strong and secure future for classical music, seeking to redefine, reaffirm, and share its traditions with as many people as possible. Nwss campus, ne

Programs: The fellowship program - fellowship activities are structured under the areas of orchestral performance and musicianship, community and audience engagement, leadership development and wellness. Each year, more than 150 visiting artists and coaches work with nws fellows, offering master classes and private lessons as well as instruction in audition preparation, performance psychology, communications, and community engagement. Instrumental coaches help prepare performance repertoire, lead sectional rehearsals, coach within ensemble settings, and play side-by-side with nws fellows in rehearsals and performances. Fellows learn how to connect with audience members in the concert hall and in the community. Nws leadership development curriculum prepares fellows to be self confident, influential "artist-leaders" in whatever professional endeavors they pursue. Leveraging the internet2 network-a highspeed, next generation internet-nws fellows also conduct and receive lessons, master classes, interviews, and rehearsals with musicians, composers, and performers around the world. Fellows participate in approximately 70 classical music presentations throughout a 35-week season, with most performances taking place at the new world center in miami beach. Concert repertoire includes solo, chamber ensemble, and full orchestra works ranging from centuries-old compositions to world premiere commissions. Programming includes an orchestra subscription series; chamber music concerts; childrens concerts; late-night "club-style" concerts; and a contemporary music series. The result of a multi-tiered training approach is an ever-growing cadre of nws fellows and alumni equipped with a deeper understanding of diverse styles and traditions within classical music; the ability to articulate this in their playing; and the skill to share their deeper understanding with audiences and with the next generation of musicians. Since nws's founding, more than 1,000 alumni have gone on to make a difference in communities and organizations worldwide.

audience research and development - nws has linked several alternate performance formats to ongoing audience research. Confronted with an economic downturn, an aging audience, and more than a generation of potential audiences with limited exposure to classical music, orchestras nationwide have tested alternative ways to attract new audiences. This effort is essential for orchestras artistic and fiscal health. Nws alternate performance formats include the following: * pulse concerts: late-night concerts featured visually enhanced performances in the concert hall and an "unplugged" performance interspersed with a set of dj-spun electronica. Cocktail bars inside the hall, club-style lighting, and video projections mark these cutting-edge musical, social, and dance events. * wallcast concerts: the live projection of select nws concerts onto the 7,000 sq. Ft. Front faade of new world center. These free, high-definition broadcasts are viewed by local residents and tourists gathered in adjacent soundscape park. Each of these monthly outdoor presentations attracts an average of 2,000 attendees. * new audience fellow initiative (fellow-driven concerts): fellows vie for several opportunities each season to design and produce a concert program from start to finish, accomplished with guidance and support from nws staff. Selected fellows are charged with articulating an overarching artistic concept, defining a target audience, designing a program and marketing strategy, forming and managing a budget, and coordinating auxiliary events that dovetail with their artistic vision for the audiences experience (e. G. , post-concert social gatherings). This is a comprehensive learning experience for the producing fellows, who are mentored by staff in these areas. The cycle of data gathering, content refinement, marketing redesign, and performance is ongoing. As part of this process, audiences are surveyed for their reactions to the alternate formats; this dialogue gives them a voice in the creative process and helps deepen their relationship to the fellows, the music, and nws. Results to date show promise. Alternate format concerts have allowed symphony orchestras and classical music presenters to take informed risks in their audience growth initiatives. Nws artistic director michael tilson thomas, nws fellows, and the institutions collaborating artists continue to reimagine the concert experience using video, lighting, and theatrical enhancements. These explorations intrigue audiences and deepen their understanding of the music; they also provide fellows with new perspectives that will inform their careers as they build on these models. Nws is a leader in using digital technology to enhance classical music performance and education, both in the concert hall and online. Nws is the lead partner and curator of musaic, an online video library of master classes, orchestral excerpts, how-to lessons, interviews, and performances. This free repository serves classical music students, professionals, and aficionados. Fellows benefit from its use as well while also creating content for the site. Nws maintains partnerships with nine major music schools around the world, all of which regularly contribute content to the site. During the opening session of their 2013 conference, league of american orchestras president and ceo jesse rosen noted, "the new world symphony is one of our beacons for taking innovation to the next level. They have not only been testing new concert formats, but they have been adjusting as they go-getting audience input, evaluating the results, and collaborating with [partner orchestras in] san diego, charlotte, memphis, detroit, and kansas city to extend the tests outward. " nws considers its work a major step forward in bringing new ideas and research-based findings to the orchestra world.

community engagement - nws believes that orchestral musicians should be ambassadors for classical music-as advocates, educators, mentors, and leaders. Nws community engagement programs (i) prepare fellows for leadership roles as educators, communicators, and role models; (ii) introduce children to classical music and the concert-going experience; and (iii) foster lasting and meaningful relationships between the orchestra and the community. Nws community engagement activities include the following: * nws in the schools and community: fellows visit area schools to make 45-minute interactive and thematic musical presentations aimed at helping students discover and become excited about classical music. Nws fellows also play in various other community venues, including hospitals, hospices, and senior centers. * inside the music: this series of free, hour-long presentations at new world center allows nws fellows to provide an intimate and interactive view into the world of classical music and symphony musicians. Topics range from music appreciation to the historic contexts of composers and more, and audience members are encouraged to participate by asking questions and taking part in post-presentation discussions. * rehearsal observations: local groups are invited to attend orchestra rehearsals with internationally renowned conductors and soloists. Prior to rehearsals, participants meet with fellows to learn about both the musical pieces and the instruments. Participating organizations include k-12 schools, universities, and adult learning centers. * education concerts: these daytime concerts are designed to introduce schoolchildren to the concert-going experience, major orchestral works, and famous composers. Nws provides free transportation for all attendees, and teachers receive a study guide to heighten the educational impact of the performance. A post-produced broadcast of the concerts is made available online for students in schools around the country. * side-by-side concert: this program offers advanced young instrumentalists in grades 7 through 12 an opportunity to perform alongside nws fellows in concert. Through this experience, participants and fellows develop a musical working relationship as together they rehearse and perform various orchestral works. Auditions are open to advanced string, woodwind, brass, and percussion students from across south florida. * musiclab: musiclab is a community mentorship program that brings nws fellows into youth music programs to work with local students. Each year, 100 young musicians from partner schools and organizations receive lessons coaching from fellows in one-on-one and group coaching sessions on a bi-monthly basis throughout the schoolyear. At the end of the season, musiclab students showcase their talent to their peers, families, and members of the community in a concert performance at the new world center. * nws connect: this online program enables purposeful discussions and interactions between aspiring young instrumentalists with mentorship from nws fellows. Students can find information about and participate in online events such as virtual hangouts (opportunities to converse in real-time with nws fellows through the google+ hangout platform), webcasts, and in-person events at new world center. Fellows also conduct online residencies with student music ensembles around the united states via skype and internet2. Reaching thousands of south florida children and youth each year, these programs allow fellows to mentor student-musicians, offer free music lessons, coach local school bands and orchestras, and offer free concerts tailored to young audiences. In the process, fellows sharpen their presentation, leadership, and teaching skills, which they will continue to use in their professional lives as musicians. Each season, nws reaches 12,500 youth, children, and adults through community engagement.

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