Something wonderful happened on Friday morning in Punta Gorda!

It’s Friday, May 2 at 9:30 AM and the kids are already sitting on the lobby floor at the Charlotte Performing Arts Center. Out front, more cars and school busses are lined up, continuing to deliver their precious cargo of third graders from all over Charlotte County to our welcoming group of volunteers.

They are here for the event that Maestro Raffaele Ponti has been talking about for months: The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra’s Young Peoples Concert, “Where in the World is the Orchestra?”

All season, each week before the scheduled concerts, Maestro Ponti and Charlotte County Public School’s Ellen Harvey, the powerhouse behind this whole program, have visited third graders in every school, leading an exciting music and art class. Students were introduced to the music of Tchaikovsky’ FIREBIRD SUITE and Beethoven’ FIFTH SYMPHONY, and encouraged to draw images inspired by what they heard.  In every class, Maestro talked about the concert they would be invited to attend in May – a concert just for them, the Symphony Kids of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, more than 1200 of them!

And, now the day has arrived and they’re here!

Inside the lobby, samples of the kids’ artwork produced during the weekly classes line the walls and onstage, there is a slideshow featuring photos of the young artists at work runs continuously.

I was lucky to be part of the team during the past few months, going to each school, watching Maestro at work, the kids enthusiastic response to the music, this opportunity to create. Today, my job is to do whatever is needed, meet and greet, do an errand, help in any way I can to see that things go smoothly.  Truly, I simply could not be elsewhere. I am as excited as anyone to see all this planning and work come to its promised culmination!

Standing at my post at the concert hall door, directing students, teachers and chaperones to their designated seats, I get to see faces light up, the “whoa”, “wow”, “cool” as kids take it all in. Everything is so well organized, the house quickly fills and crackles with energy – the kids catch glimpses of their photos in the slide show, watch the musicians as they take their places, admire the stage, the high ceilings, the beautiful theater, all chattering away.

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The Concert Master takes his seat and two students come forward, welcoming the audience and introducing Maestro Ponti, emerging to a rally of applause rewarded with his broad, winning smile and a sweeping wave. He takes the podium and raises his boton. It is‘magic time’.

The orchestra bursts into John Williams’ theme from STAR WARS and the audience is hooked.  Following, a brief ‘show and tell’ describing sections of the orchestra – strings, wind, brass and percussion - including some entertaining snippets of familiar tunes, a little fancy showmanship from the Concert Master, menacing drums, another theme from STAR WARS.

Maestro chats casually with his eager audience about the classtime he and his “Symphony Kids” shared back on their turf, at school. He reminds them of wild images evoked from Stravinsky’s FIREBIRD, the composer’s Russian heritage and his flashy style.  As the orchestra begins to play the piece now, they stir with recognition.

The musical tour continues to France and Spain represented by - Toreador from Bizet’s CARMEN, three dances – Russia, Arabia, China - from the NUTCRACKER. Then, the United States with Copeland’s RODEO, an original Latin piece by local Barbara Goldberg, beautifully orchestrated by our own George Mancini. Bringing us all back to our time together in the schools, Maestro announces “We’re going to Germany now.  Do you remember Ludwig von Beethoven?”  They do.  He sings: “DOT DOT DOT LINE!” then asks them to it sing with him.  Oh yes, they remember it well - the other big hit they listened to while creating their works of art, starting with only …___ !

This is an audience from heaven. Enthusiastic, captivated, appreciative, open, responsive. A performers dream. I perch in the top row, watching heads bobbing, young feet tapping, shoulders keeping rhythm, and then finally, as Maestro strikes up Sousa’s STARS and STRIPES FOREVER, hundreds of clapping hands!

My friend Nanette Crist whispers in my ear, “This is so wonderful I feel like I could cry.”  She’s right.  It is SO wonderful. All these young people experiencing a live performance, in a beautiful concert hall – many, if not most, for the first time. A youthful, vibrant Maestro who has touched their lives personally, timeless music they can relate to outside the realm of transient pop, surrounded by adults who are there for them, investing in their growth and development. THIS is how we create a better world.

We folks who live in Charlotte County have a good thing going, for sure.  One of the best things we have going is our Charlotte County Symphony and the partnership it has with our Charlotte County Schools.  This particular program was also made possible in part by a grant from the Florida Division of Cultural Affairs.

The long awaited concert comes to an end and spirits are high.  I can’t help but think that one of these young ones will someday be playing on this very stage, or in Carnegie Hall, or teaching a class.  Maybe that Symphony Kid will say “It all started one Friday morning in May when we went to hear the Charlotte Symphony play for all of us kids”.