OKTC 2025 Dates:
Wednesday, January 22, 2025
9:30 am and 11:30 amThursday, January 23, 2025
9:30 am and 11:30 am
THE OKTC PROGRAM
Each year, every Lexington third grader along with thousands of children from greater Boston hear a real live orchestra, learn the history of classical music, and are often inspired to play an instrument — a lifelong impact! Kids listen, laugh, cheer, and “conduct” from their seats — engaged, entertained, and educated by Lexington Symphony’s Orchestrating Kids Through Classics™ (OKTC).
Since 2009, Lexington Symphony has presented its OKTC program to more than 20,000 students across the state, including providing scholarships to underserved communities such as Somerville, Lawrence, and Dorchester. Most participants have never seen a live orchestra before. Corporate and individual support makes it possible for Lexington Symphony to present OKTC, our original award-winning education program created to introduce children to the instruments of the orchestra and the history of classical music.
Hear what Angela Carpenter, the music teacher at Harrington Elementary School, has to say about OKTC.
Your school’s participation in the program begins with an up-close classroom visit by a team of Lexington Symphony musicians in early January. A few weeks later, you and your students join us at Cary Hall in Lexington for a musical journey through time with the whole orchestra! Watch as we build the orchestra, one instrument at a time, from a small ensemble to its present day form. From chanting monks to Bach, Mozart, Beethoven and Tchaikovsky, all the way to John Williams’ thrilling Star Wars theme — including a special guest from the dark side! — it’s a music education experience that kids remember for years to come!
Lexington Symphony has presented OKTC to packed halls in Lexington, Burlington, and Framingham.
OKTC has had a huge impact on enrollment in the Lexington Public Schools’ instrumental music program, and is now a regular part of Lexington’s elementary school arts education!
Orchestrating Kids Through Classics™ 2024-2025 Season
Educators: Sign up now to reserve a spot for this season’s Orchestrating Kids Through Classics™ program! Early sign-up is encouraged. Classroom visits will take place in January 2025.
Please contact us for information about ticket prices and availability. Schools are responsible for bus fees. If you require access accommodation, please call two weeks prior to the concert date, and we will assist you with your request.
OKTC 2025 Dates
Wednesday, January 22, 2025 at 9:30 am
Wednesday, January 22, 2025 at 11:30 am
Thursday, January 23, 2025 at 9:30 am
Thursday, January 23, 2025 at 11:30 am
All concerts take place at Cary Hall in Lexington.
To learn more about how to include OKTC in your students’ music education, please email us at info@oktc.info today, or fill out the form below!
Thank you 2023-2024 Sponsor!
Orchestrating Kids Through Classics™ is generously underwritten by
Epp Sonin (Lexington Symphony’s Sustaining member)
and
Lexington Children’s Chorus under the auspices of Lexington Music School
To learn about becoming a OKTC sponsor, please contact the Symphony office 781-523-9009 or email Arianie Keeney at akeeney@LexingtonSymphony.org
“The Lexington Symphony is the best orchestra I have ever heard. When they played the Star Wars theme, it sounded like the movie! Right before the song, Darth Vader walked out! One of the other surprises was a sixth grader coming out to play Mozart while wearing a wig that looked like Mozart’s hair. Some of the composers they taught us about were Haydn, Bach, Beethoven, and Mozart, just to name a few. One of the things I liked most was how they taught us about the evolution of musical instruments. That’s why I like the Lexington Symphony.”
ABOUT OKTC
Lexington Symphony’s celebrated educational program, Orchestrating Kids Through Classics™, is not a classical “eat your broccoli” concert for kids. Instead, it’s an original program with a fresh approach to listening and learning, and kids love it! It starts with a visit by four of our musicians to your school, where your students learn about the instrument families of the orchestra. Next, you and your students come to Cary Hall to hear the whole orchestra led by conductor Jonathan McPhee, winner of the Gabriel Award for his work with kids. The one-hour dramatic concert takes the audience on a tour of the orchestra from its very beginnings 500 years ago through present-day Star Wars, with many creative flourishes along the way.
The excitement of live performance is at the core of Orchestrating Kids. Designed specifically for third- and fourth-graders, but open to all ages, the program’s goal is to demystify and personalize the classical concert experience while introducing the diverse sounds of an orchestra in an engaging way. By showing how orchestral sound has radically changed over time, the program encourages active listening, the development of a critical approach to new information and ideas, and participation and appreciation of a wide range of musical styles.
“Sitting there, I can tell you the kids were totally engaged. The program was so well orchestrated to grab them at the beginning and take them on a journey through time. I hope this can continue in the future, as it is a phenomenal program for all involved. I loved it myself!”
Click here to see video of the event.
Click here to see photos of the event.
Click here to learn more about how this event came about.