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.

As you can see our website is back up and operating. For now you can find us at: musicop.weebly.com. Soon we will be back home at www.musicop.org!

School closings will be announced on our Facebook page so check there to see if your class is canceled today.

Auditions for the 2013-14 youth orchestras will be held May 20-25. Email Mr. Merryman at merrymanp@gmail.com for a registration form or audition requirements. Audition times are on a first-come, first-served basis so don't wait to schedule your audition!

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 2013 All State Orchestra Festival has begun! The annual event, hosted by the Alabama Orchestra Association, brings students from across the state together to rehearse and perform orchestral literature.

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!

The MOP offices will close on December 21st. We will reopen on January 3rd. 

Rehearsals and string classes will resume the week of January 6th.

This week two of MOP's youth orchestras are on the road! 

The Birmingham String Orchestra (BSO) and Birmingham Prelude Strings (BPS) are going out on School Concert Tours. BSO will travel on Wednesday, December 5th to Gardendale Elementary School, Bryan Elementary School, and Mount Olive Elementary School to perform for other students in an assembly setting. BPS will visit Greystone Elementary School, Gresham Elementary School, and Inverness Elementary on Friday, December 7th. 

These performances are educational for our audiences and a delight for our musicians!

The Music Opportunity Program is excited to partner with Children's Hospital to present an orchestra performance this holiday season!

The Birmingham Prelude Strings and Birmingham String Orchestra will perform at Children's Hospital on Monday, December 10th at 6:00 p.m. This performance will include classical and holiday music.

MOP looks forward to bringing the gift of music to more children this holiday season!