The Music Opportunity Program presented three String Academy Concerts in May to feature students participating in our after-school string classes. MOP also had Solo Recitals for any students desiring to perform for friends and family. All of these concerts were great successes - thank you to the students for preparing and playing so well and thanks to the parents for sharing these great kids with us!

Throughout the month of June the Summer Strings classes met at Phillips Academy.  This year we offered classes for continuing First Year string students, Chamber Groups for students already in MOP orchestras, and Summer Orchestra for new members of the Birmingham String Orchestra. We capped off the month with a concert on June 29th at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Birmingham.

The last few weeks have been spent preparing for the new school year. If you have any questions about our class offerings, please email Jennifer at jholcomb@musicop.org for more information. Our class schedule is evolving daily so check the website often for current info.
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Don't forget to sign up for your audition to be a part of next year's orchestras!

Auditions will be held May 17-20 after school at Phillips Academy located at 2316 Seventh Avenue North.
You can register through the website and contact jholcomb@musicop.org to schedule your audition time.
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This weekend you can enjoy all 3 of MOP's youth orchestras! The Birmingham Strings Orchestra and Birmingham Prelude Strings will have their Spring Concert at Indian Springs School's Concert Hall this Saturday evening at 7:00 p.m.

Come back on Sunday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. for the Alabama Youth Symphony's Spring Concert and enjoy music by Schubert, Gould, Gluck, and Grainger. Members of the Alabama Symphony and Red Mountain Chamber Orchestra will be joining our musicians on stage for this wonderful Mother's Day performance.
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This weekend you have TWO ways to learn more about the Music Opportunity Program!

1) Come to our String-A-Rama concert on Saturday afternoon. This concert will be held at Trussville 1st Baptist at 3:00 p.m. and is free and open to the public. So bring some friends and enjoy an afternoon of music performed by some of our young musicians.

2) Head over to the Magic City Art Connection this weekend! This free event at Linn Park will run Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Stop by the MOP booth and pick up some information and hear a few of our talented students.
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Next up for the Music Opportunity Program... our String-A-Rama concert on April 24th! This concert features students from our Birmingham City and Jefferson County School programs. In addition, the Birmingham String Orchestra and Birmingham Prelude Strings will perform.
Join us at the First Baptist Church of Trussville on Saturday, April 24th at 3:00 p.m. Like all of our concerts, this event is free and open to the public so bring your friends and family.

Go ahead and make plans now to catch Daytime Alabama on NBC-13 on April 22nd at 11:30 a.m. The Music Opportunity Program will be featured including some of our students right here at Phillips Academy.
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After a wonderful Showcase Concert, everyone has enjoyed the much-needed Spring Break. We'll post some pictures from the concert as soon as possible!

Don't forget to head over the the AYS page and view a concert clip from the January concert - it was phenomenal.

Meanwhile, did you see Birmingham's Black & White City Paper this week? If not, then you can click here to read the featured article on the Music Opportunity Program.
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Please join the Music Opportunity Program for our Showcase Recital on Sunday, March 7th at 3:00 p.m.

The concert will be held at Boutwell Auditorium, 1930 8th Avenue North, Birmingham, 35203. This event is FREE and open to the public.

The 2010 Showcase Recital will feature students from MOP's String Academy as well as our 3 youth orchestras, the Birmingham String Orchestra, Birmingham Prelude Strings, and the Alabama Youth Symphony.

Please see below for more details. Contact the MOP office at 231-9504 or info@musicop.org with any questions.
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The Alabama All-State Orchestra Festival was held the Feb. 11-14th, at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. The Music Opportunity Program was well represented. 20 MOP students participated in the All-State Festival orchestras this year.
  


Next up for the Music Opportunity Program is... SHOWCASE!
The annual Showcase Recital will be on Sunday, March 7th at 3:00 p.m. at Boutwell Auditorium. The Showcase Recital features students from all parts of the Music Opportunity Program. Our audience will see beginners from around the community to the advanced orchestras. Over 100 of our best String Academy students will perform songs they have learned in string class. Also featured will be the Birmingham String Orchestra Honors Ensemble. This year the ensemble includes eight BSO student selected by competitive audition. They will perform a Telemann duet. The entire BSO will also perform, followed by the Birmingham Prelude Strings. The Alabama Youth Symphony will accompany BPS solo winner, Lian Remley in a Vivaldi Violin concerto, and then a Mozart Flute Concerto performed by Young Sil Yang, Principal Flute of the AYS. AYS will close the concert with the Zampa Overture by Herold. Join us for a reception following the Showcase Recital.
The Showcase Recital is open to the public with no admission charge. 

For more information about this concert, please contact the Music Opportunity Program at 231-9504 or email info@musicop.org.



Kudos to the Alabama Youth Symphony for a fantastic recent concert. Music Director of the Alabama Youth Symphony is Dr. Jon Remley. The January 24th performance featured the Bach Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, Beethoven Symphony No. 8, and Herold Overture to Zampa. The final piece on the concert was the Haydn Te Deum with the Indian Springs School Concert Choir.  Music Director for the choir is Dr. Tim Thomas.

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Fox 6 featured the Music Opportunity Program in the segment "What's Right with Our Schools" on Tuesday, April 14 at 5 pm. Check out the story here if you missed it!
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