music performances
Young Audiences of Houston offers diverse arts-in-education performance programming for PK-12 participants in an assembly setting. These innovative and culturally diverse programs introduce participants to the arts through a balance of demonstration and participant interaction through the highest quality artistry. Each performance program is aligned with the Texas state curricula and offers curriculum ties, classroom activities and discussion ideas, extension activities, program goals, objectives, vocabulary words, and teacher resources. All performances are 45 minutes.
Below you'll find information about:
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Performances: For an assembly, performances introduce participants to an art form or culture through a balance of demonstration and interaction.
For more information please call 713.520.9264 or email us at scheduling@yahouston.org.
Musical Melting Pot
PERFORMANCE
Apollo Chamber Players
The rich diversity of cultures in Houston offers an instructive look into the musical and folk elements of world cultures while serving as a microcosm for the United States’ unique ethnic melting-pot. Apollo takes participants on an engaging musical world tour, performing music from Mexico, Spain, and the U.S. Appalachia region while illuminating the folk traditions, important historical figures and events, and cultural contexts of each of these regions. Along the journey, participants gain insight into the instruments and workings of a string quartet and learn the similarities between musical language and basic human interactions.
Single Performance
$800
Back to Back Performance
$950
Participant Limit
350
Grade Levels
K-8
A Texas Quilt
PERFORMANCE
Apollo Chamber Players
Apollo brings the rich global history of Texas to life in this musical Texas History program. Folk music from Greece, Ireland, the Czech Republic, Mexico, and others are performed, as participants and Apollo musicians construct a huge quilt with the flags from each of these immigrant communities that settled in the Texas region, alongside historical trivia and thought-provoking discussion.
Single Performance
$800
Back to Back Performance
$950
Participant Limit
120
Grade Levels
4-12
To Life: L'CHAYIM
PERFORMANCE
Best Little Klezmer Band in Texas
Try to escape the infectious spirit and high energy of Klezmer music: you'll find it irresistible! This unique musical style combines the haunting, lyric melodies of Eastern European Jews and Gypsies, the boisterous sound of Russian folk dances, and American jazz and swing rhythms of the 1920s and 30s. Together, they produce an electrifying world music that challenges you to remain in your seat. Interspersing this music with a fascinating description of the customs and culture of the creators of Klezmer makes the program as educational as it is entertaining.
Single Performance
$750
Back to Back Performance
$880
Participant Limit
250
Grade Levels
K-6
There Once Was a Town
PERFORMANCE
Best Little Klezmer Band in Texas
With the virtual destruction of Eastern European Jewish culture during the Holocaust comes the inevitable question: "How could such devastation occur and could it happen again in our lifetime?" Civilizations lacking the ability to respect the humanity of "the other" cannot help but breed intolerance and allow scapegoating of minority populations to prevail. There Once Was a Town recreates pride for the beauty of European Jewish cultural heritage by revitalizing the 400 year-old musical tradition of a bygone era through dynamic characterizations of Klezmer's electrifying and spirited world-beat. The artists intersperse their high-energy performances with a fascinating multimedia portrayal of the music, language, and customs of the once-vibrant Eastern European Jewish culture. The program is divided into three parts: Part One portrays the vibrancy of Eastern European Jewish culture (traditions and customs) prior to the events leading up to World War II; Part Two introduces content relating to the rise of Nazism and its effect on European Jewish culture; and Part Three relates to the American Jewish immigrant experience. The concept of the program is unified by integrating live klezmer instrumental and vocal music and dialogue with archival video footage.
Single Performance
$750
Back to Back Performance
$880
Participant Limit
300
Grade Levels
7-12
A Journey Through Jazz
PERFORMANCE
Blue Gnus
Join us in the 1890’s as we explore the American melting pot that brought us jazz. See how this uniquely American form evolved through the 20th century. This history is portrayed through musical examples and the stories of the individuals who helped create this form of music.
Single Performance
$840
Back to Back Performance
$1,100
Participant Limit
300
Grade Levels
1-5
The World of Percussion
PERFORMANCE
Brian Del Signore
The World of Percussion is a multi-media presentation with live percussion performance, artist interaction, and digital presentation, designed for elementary schools to instill a love for music at an early age. In this program, Houston Symphony Principal Percussionist, Brian Del Signore, introduces participants to percussion instruments and rhythms in a geographical trip around the world. The program starts with an introduction to the symphony orchestra and the four instrument groups (strings, woodwinds, brass and percussion). The word “percussion” is then defined and Mr. Del Signore discusses and shows examples of finding percussion instruments in the world around us, providing demonstrations and inviting student to take part in a world music “jam session”.
Single Performance
$450
Participant Limit
120
Grade Levels
K-5
Cypress Falls Choir
PERFORMANCE
Cypress Falls Choir
Cypress Falls Choir is the performing and touring Chamber Choir of Cypress Falls High School. The Directors are Deidre Douglas and Matthew Perez. The Cypress Falls High School Choral Program awards include: 2015 National ACDA Invitational - Varsity Women's Choir, 2018 TMEA Invitational - A cappella Choir, 2015 TMEA Invitational - Varsity Women's Choir, 2012 TMEA Invitational - Varsity Men's Choir. 1993 TMEA Invitational - A cappella Choir, and 2007 American Classics, 1st runner up - Chamber Choir. Choral performances are tailored to fit your audience and range from Acapella spirituals to Classic Holiday tunes.
Single Performance
$800
Participant Limit
350
Grade Levels
2-12
World Rhythm Synergy
PERFORMANCE
Dan Egger-Belandria
World Rhythm Synergy is a high-energy multicultural presentation that infuses explosive drumming with a meaningful lecture and group participation for up to 300 English or Spanish speaking participants. Using percussion instruments from throughout the world, musician Dan Egger-Belandria demonstrates how people of different cultural backgrounds connect through drumming and dance. Throughout this ethnomusical journey, your participants will have an opportunity to explore various African, Afro-Cuban, and Caribbean rhythms and folklore that help explain the connection between African-American history and Hispanic heritage. *Available in English and Spanish.
Available Fall 2023
Single Performance
$550
Back to Back Performance
$650
Participant Limit
300
Grade Levels
PK-12
From the Forest to the Stage:
Tracing an Instrument's Creation Around the World
PERFORMANCE
Hope Cowan
Learn how different businesses and suppliers help to create musical instruments. Participants will learn about the production, supply chains, trades, manufacturing, and skilled labor required to build a harp. This is a fun way to inspire participants to think critically and creatively about economic ecosystems and how products are brought to market. They will also get to hear the beautiful music created by the harp, and about how instrumental music can entertain and bring people together in different ways. They will also have the opportunity to learn and practice the “role” of the audience. (slideshow presentation and live performance)
Single Performance
$300
Back to Back Performance
$400
Participant Limit
150
Grade Levels
3-12
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Storytelling through Sound
PERFORMANCE
Hope Cowan
Music tells stories just like your favorite books. Experience both a performance element and an interactive project element. Explore the techniques composers use to tell their stories, and relate the musical ideas back to literary techniques. Participants can then invent their own sound story, and hear it come to life on the harp in the second portion of this visit. Please allow for a 90m session.
Single Performance
$300
Back to Back Performance
$400
Participant Limit
50
Grade Levels
K-12
A Night at The Opera
PERFORMANCE
Houston Brass Quintet
From clapping the Anvil chorus to watching a skit where Rossini himself conducts his work, this interactive performance will have your participants laughing, engaged, and learning about opera! Participants will learn about composers, plots to famous operas, brass instruments, conducting, and a whole lot more!
Single Performance
$600
Back to Back Performance
$800
Participant Limit
350
Grade Levels
3-12
Drum & Strum with JAWAD and Joseph
PERFORMANCE
JAWAD & Joseph
Through the use of voice, drum, banjo, and guitar, guitarist JAWAD and African drummer Joseph demonstrate two basic elements of music: rhythm and melody. The history and evolution of the drum and stringed instruments are discussed, as well as their contribution to these basic elements. Participants learn the true meanings of tone, pitch, rhythm, and melody as they become part of a collective, interactive performance piece.
Available on Monday - Wednesday only
Single Performance
$460
Back to Back Performance
$585
Participant Limit
200
Grade Levels
1-12
Conflict and the Triple Cs with JAWAD and Ken
PERFORMANCE
JAWAD
This performance uses music and humor to address conflict resolution. When two artists are booked for the same day and time, a musical conflict erupts. Dr. Triple C comes to the rescue with a formula for conflict resolution. With audience participation, JAWAD and Ken learn how to solve their problems using consideration, compromise, and cooperation. Participants demonstrate ways to use Dr. Triple C’s formula to resolve conflicts in their own lives.
Available on Monday - Wednesday only
Single Performance
$460
Back to Back Performance
$585
Participant Limit
200
Grade Levels
1-5
Everybody is Smart!
A Social Emotional Learning Experience
PERFORMANCE
JAWAD
This performance inspires young learners to feel empowered and embrace expression through music, art, singing, and character creation. Participants actively participate in musical self-exploration utilizing both literacy and numeracy while engaging in group interaction, self-reflection, and emotional reflection.
Available on Monday - Wednesday only
Single Performance
$325
Back to Back Performance
$455
Participant Limit
200
Grade Levels
1-5
Jojo Gitcho Banjo
PERFORMANCE
JAWAD
Through the use of 4 different banjos (two of them hand-made), original songs, storytelling and visual aids, JAWAD shares knowledge of music, science, history and social studies in a way that assures each audience leaves with more than they entered with. JAWAD operates on the premise that the banjo is nothing but a drum with a stick and strings. You’ll see the evolution of the banjo within both a musical and historical context. Audience participation is encouraged through original call and response songs written to weave history and storytelling together.
Available on Monday - Wednesday only
Single Performance
$325
Back to Back Performance
$455
Participant Limit
150
Grade Levels
5-12
Kings & Queens of Jazz: Armstrong, Ellington, Fitzgerald, Dizzy, and the Count
PERFORMANCE
Jazz Houston
These concerts for Young People will take you on a musical journey of some of Jazz’s most iconic figures: Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and Count Basie. Hear the stories and anecdotes from their colorful lives, their individual impacts on Jazz, and enjoy the timeless sounds that made each of them American Jazz treasures. Each of these concerts can be extended to 90 minutes and feature each artist individually.
Single Performance
$950
Back to Back Performance
$1,250
Participant Limit
350
Grade Levels
2-12