In Jacksonville, we are fortunate that both the City and Duval Country School Board support the arts. Although a tight budget, there is a music teacher in every school, even if some are part time. Part of The Guild’s Mission Statement states that The Guild will further music education. Therefore, we supplement school music programs. The Guild’s Education Committee has several programs available to schools and students. The Instrument Zoo, available in the schools to all 5th graders, provides the children an opportunity to learn about all musical instruments by holding and playing them. It’s wonderful to see the expressions on children’s faces when they make sounds with an instrument for the first, and possibly only time. In addition to schools, the Zoo is available at Family Concerts at the Times Union Performing Arts Center where many adults join in on the fun. The Guild is proud to have received an award from the American Orchestra League on behalf of the Instrument Zoo program.

Many talented music teachers want to put on special programs or purchase equipment not provided by their budgets. With this in mind, The Guild created Harmony and Melody grants. All teachers, not just music teachers, in Northeast Florida are invited to apply for grants up to $500, which are awarded each year in December. From original musicals to drum and guitar groups, or start up strings programs, we have seen some amazing results because of these grants. The money for these programs is raised with another award winner, “Music For Your Eyes”, painted violins.

For many years The Guild has sponsored Performance Scholarships for members of the Jacksonville Youth Symphony Orchestra (JSYO). Winners are announced at the Major/Minor Concert held each spring when the JSYO performs with the entire Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra. Listening to these talented and hard-working children gives us hope for the future of music performance.

This past year, one of our members, Eleanor H. King, saw a financial need for children who wish to play in various JSYO programs. With this in mind, The Guild created the Eleanor H. King Tuition Scholarship. This first year, seven children were awarded the scholarship, which will help them to meet their tuition costs. The results of this scholarship will be seen for years to come. We applaud Eleanor King for her wisdom and foresight. Anyone wishing to contribute to this worthy cause, please call The Guild at (904) 358-1479.

Melody Grants

The Jacksonville Symphony Guild offers to donors the unique opportunity to enhance music education in public schools by donating a Melody Grant.

Melody Grants are $500 awards offered to area educators (K-12) to enhance their music education programs. The grants can be used by the recipients of the awards for textbooks, sheet music, instruments, guest performers, field trips or any other aid to student music education. Individuals, groups, trusts, or businesses may donate a Melody Grant of $500. The donor of the grant may title the grant in one of a number of ways. The Grant can be designated in the name of a family or family trust, in recognition of a particular individual, in the name of a business, or in the name of a group. Both donor and recipient receive recognition in Encore Magazine, and will be informed which educator and school has been awarded his/her Melody Grant and the specifics of that Grant. Each year Melody Grant donations must be received at The Guild office no later than October 15th. Grants are awarded in December.

Harmony Grants

The Jacksonville Symphony Guild recognizes the value and importance of music education in our public schools. To that end, The Guild sponsors the “Harmony Grants” program which provides funding to public schools in northeast Florida counties to enhance their music education programs.

Each year The Guild awards grants in value up to $500 to area educators of grades K-12. These awards are utilized for projects or materials to enhance student music education. Teachers who have received Harmony Grants have been able to provide equipment and experiences for their students that would not have otherwise been available. The number of grants awarded each year is directly related to the success of annual fund raising efforts. Monies raised by the “Music for Your Eyes” project fund Harmony Grants.

Docent Program

The Jacksonville Symphony Guild’s Docent Program is an important outreach of The Guild’s Education Committee. In anticipation of attending a symphonic concert, upon request by a teacher, volunteer docents address the classroom to explain audience etiquette, play snippets of the music they will hear, and present photographs of the instruments they will see and hear. Docents share how exciting symphonic music can be, and thereby prepare an audience for the future.

Neither membership in The Guild nor experience to be a docent volunteer is necessary. Training is provided by The Guild. If interested, please contact The Guild at (904) 358-1479.

Instrument Zoo Supports Family Concerts

As the name implies, Family Concerts provide an opportunity for family members of all ages the opportunity to share together the joy of listening and participating in musical activities. The Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra performs as well as the Youth Symphony Orchestra. For some events the audience may be predominately Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts that are earning merit badges for achievements in music. At other times there may be a seasonal theme such as the “Symphonic Spooktacular” concert held in October, complete with Halloween costumes.

At all of the Family Concerts the Instrument Zoo is available so family members, particularly the younger ones, can experience the joy of producing the sounds of music on virtually all of the traditional instruments that are a part of a symphony orchestra. The parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents are all smiles at these concerts as they share the joy of music with the younger members of their family.

IZ volunteers are of all ages and experience. Some IZ volunteers are music majors at Jacksonville schools while others have limited to no experience in playing an instrument but are provided instructions on how to show the young people how to play the instruments. Because of the popularity of the IZ there is always a need for volunteers. If you are interested in becoming an IZ volunteer contact the Jacksonville Symphony Guild Office at (904-358-1479).