The 2014 Showcase Recital will be Sunday, March 2nd at the Boutwell Auditorium. This is our biggest event of the year! 

This concert will feature MOP student ages 8-18. The program begins with students from our String Academy classes around the city. These first and second year string students have been working hard to learn tunes such as "Mary Had A Little Lamb" and "Aunt Rhody". 

Next up is the Birmingham String Orchestra (BSO) conducted by Paul Merryman. This is a beginner youth orchestra featuring students in grades 3-7. Then the Birmingham Prelude Strings (BPS) take the stage. This group, led by Dr. Rita Salzberg, is an intermediate youth orchestra for advancing students in grades 5-8. Finally the Alabama Youth Symphony (AYS) will perform under the director of Dr. Jon Remley. This is a full youth orchestra for advanced students in grades 7-12. In addition, one student from BPS and one from AYS were selected by competitive audition to perform solos at the Showcase Recital accompanied by the Alabama Youth Symphony.

This recital features students of all ages and levels of expertise. If you have ever had a question about "what MOP does" - here is your chance to find out in person and support young musicians from across central Alabama.

We hope you will join us for this free event. Get more details and RSVP on Facebook here.

2014 Showcase Recital
Sunday, March 2nd - 3:00 p.m.
Boutwell Auditorium, 1930 8th Avenue North, 35203.
Participating student musicians will have rehearsal on Saturday, March 1st. Details will be send directly to those students.

The Music Opportunity Program Summer Concert will be held on Friday, June 28th at Phillips Academy, 2316 7th Avenue North, 35203.

The concert will begin at 6:00 p.m. and feature chamber groups as well as the new members of the Birmingham String Orchestra. The event is free and open to the public so invite your friends and family!

Enjoy an afternoon of music at the Birmingham Museum of Art on Sunday, June 23rd. The concert will feature the Red Mountain Chamber Players playing music by classical black composers in conjunction with Birmingham's 50 Years Forward celebration. The music will be interspersed with readings from Sena Jeter Naslund's novel Four Spirits.

The concert begins at 3:00 p.m. in the Steiner Auditorium. Contact Suzanne Beaudry with questions.

May is easily the busiest month of the year at MOP. We finish out the school year with a bang. Classes end. Instruments are collected. We hold auditions for next year's youth orchestras. But the most exciting (and stressful) part of May? RECITALS.

We present 8 separate recitals in May: 
      1 - Birmingham String Orchestra and Birmingham Prelude Strings Spring Concert
      1 - Alabama Youth Symphony Spring Concert
      2 - String Academy recitals for students in our after-school string classes
      4 - Solo and Ensemble recitals open to ANY student musician

Are we gluttons for punishment? Maybe, but that's not why we hold so many events. We have these concerts for the students. We want as many people as possible to showcase their talents and savor their hard work paying off. We want audience members, old and young, to enjoy different kinds of music and tunes they have never heard before.

We know that music education is important - it's why we're here. But part of learning to play an instrument is having opportunities to perform. It gives students a goal to work towards and a sense of accomplishment when that goal is met. It teaches students how to deal with pressure and nerves. For many students - our recitals are the only opportunity they will have to perform in a nice recital hall with a qualified accompanist and an engaged audience. 

The receptions we hold after each event? Those aren't intended to help us stock up on potato chips for the summer. The receptions allow our performers and the audience to interact and engage. The receptions give student performers the opportunity to hear from their grandparents, teachers, friends, etc. about how wonderful they sounded. The brownies are just a bonus.

All of this to say.... we hope you will join us for a concert this year. You can find the full listing of our May events HERE. Come and enjoy an afternoon of music while supporting local students. Your attendance will have a greater impact than you can imagine.

~Jennifer Warren
Questions? Email me HERE.

Thanks to everyone for making the 2013 Showcase Recital a success! The students played beautifully! We had a great audience and a delicious reception following the concert. 

We will be posting pictures and videos - if you have something to share, please email it to us at [email protected]!

We hope to see you at the Showcase Recital this weekend! 

All rehearsals and the concert will be held in Boutwell Auditorium (1930 Reverend Abraham Woods Jr. Blvd, Birmingham, 35203). Parking is available on the street an in the adjacent parking deck. Please allow time to find parking and ensure that you are not late!

Here is the schedule for the Showcase Recital weekend:
Saturday, March 2nd:
8:45-11:00 Alabama Youth Symphony Rehearsal
11:00-11:45 Birmingham String Orchestra Rehearsal
11:45-12:15 BSO Honors Group Rehearsal
12:15-1:00 Birmingham Prelude Strings Rehearsal
1:00-3:00 String Academy Rehearsal (string class groups)

Sunday, March 3rd:
2:00 All students arrive to tune/warm up
3:00 SHOWCASE RECITAL BEGINS

The annual Showcase Recital will be Sunday, March 3rd at 3:00 p.m. The recital will be held at the Boutwell Auditorium, 1930 Reverend Abraham Woods Jr. Blvd., Birmingham, 35203.

This event, our largest annual concert, features students aged 8-18. Students from across the Music Opportunity Program and the Birmingham metropolitan area will come together to present an afternoon of music.

For some performers, this will be their first time in front of an audience. The three MOP youth orchestras will perform as well. One student from the Birmingham Prelude Strings orchestra and one from the Alabama Youth Symphony were selected by competitive audition to present solo works accompanied by the Alabama Youth Symphony. 

This FREE concert is brought to you by the Music Opportunity Program Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to bringing music education to children across the area. We hope to see you at the Showcase Recital this Sunday!

Congratulations, again, to all of the students that were selected and participated in All State Orchestra this weekend! The concert was a great success!

The AYS winter concert was a success! Thanks to everyone who came out and supported our young musicians. 

These students performed orchestral literature including Wagner's "Ride of the Valkyries" and Rossini's "Barber of Seville" overture.

If you have photos or videos of the concert you'd like share, head over to our Facebook page and post them on our wall!