Racine Symphony puts on a show for fifth-graders

About one-third of RSO's regular membership performed the two concerts.

About 1,700 fifth-graders got a taste of classical music Wednesday during two concerts put on by the Racine Symphony Orchestra.

Conductor Pasquale Laurino led the symphony through two 45-minute concerts for the 10- and 11-year-olds, teachers and the public.

The symphony played the "Star-Spangled Banner," Mozart's "Symphonia Concertante for Winds 1st Movement" led by Bria Kaufman on clarinet, Prokofiev's "Peter and the Wolf," Mozart's "Marriage of Figaro Overture" and Sousa's "Stars and Stripes Forever."

Kathy Berg sang the national anthem along with the symphony, her husband Greg Berg read the story "Peter and the Wolf," and the entire audience helped Laurino conduct the final number.

The concert was part of the RSO's annual outreach effort to local schools. This year the symphony played for all fifth-graders in Racine Unified, several local parochial schools and home-schooled students. The public was also invited to the performance, which was held at Grace Church on Highway 31. About 1,850 people attended the two concerts.

"Part of our mission is about education," said Bonnie Prochaska, interim executive director of RSO. "To have opportunities for studetns to see the orchestra playing classical music, and a fun concert, like 'Peter and the Wolf,' is about educating our young people."

Fifth-graders raise their hands when Laurino asks how many play instruments.

This lucky fifth-grader got to take Laurino's baton and lead the symphony in Sousa's "Stars and Stripes Forever."

Ban lifted on carry-in food at Racine Symphony concerts

The Racine Symphony Orchestra thanked Mayor John Dickert and the Racine Civic Centre management for reversing a policy that would have prohibited carry-in food at symphony concerts. Here's the item from RSO's newsletter:

Again, this year Richard Carsey, our musicians and soloist made the Summer Pops Concerts magical. In addition, we enjoyed great music, renewed friendships and food, either purchased or brought in. However, there was an elephant in the room ... the Civic Center management previously informed the RSO that the carry-in food policy would be changing at our Holiday Pops concert. Happily, the voice of the Pops audience was heard and at the August concert, Mayor Dickert announced the carry-in food policy was rescinded. For all future Pops concerts, audience members will be able to bring in their own picnic or purchase food at the event. Thank you Mayor Dickert and the Civic Center management for understanding how important that option is to our audience.