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.

If your child is interested in learning to play a string instrument in a MOP class this year, it's not too late to register - visit the Register Now page and download the appropriate registration forms. 

You can mail forms directly to the MOP office or deliver to string class instructor. Contact the MOP Education Office with questions at (205) 231-9504 or email us.

After-school string classes will begin September 23rd. You can find the class schedule HERE.

This week MOP hosted two recitals for our after-school string classes. For many of these students, it was their first performance. The selections ranged from "Twinkle Twinkle" to Bach and Dvorak. Congratulations to all of these students on their hard work and success! We hope to see each of these youngsters back next year.

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.

September is a busy month at MOP each year... 
The fall registration period is brief but full of activity! Mr. Merryman and Mrs. Pipkin spent hours on the road recruiting at schools across town. We made thousands of flyers. We answered dozens of email and phone inquiries. We held five registration meetings for our after school classes. 
September is a busy month but it's probably our favorite month at MOP. We look forward to a new year of classes and we can't wait to hear our young musicians - your friends and family - enjoy the gift of music.

Our after school string classes began this week in locations all over Birmingham: Hoover, Vestavia, Trussville, Liberty Park, Greystone, Oak Mountain, Inverness, and Mountain Brook!

We will begin our classes in Jefferson County and Birmingham City schools next week - if you haven't sent in your registration form, please mail it to us asap! Contact us if you have any questions: 231-9504 or 231-9509.

Is your child interested in one of MOP's after school string classes? Attend a registration meeting to find out more and register on-site!

Hoover Public Library - Thursday, Sept. 13, 6:00 p.m.
North Shelby Library - Saturday, Sept. 15, 1:00 p.m.
Crestline Elementary School - Tuesday, Sept. 18, 7:00 p.m.
Paine Intermediate School - Thursday, Sept. 20, 6:00 p.m.
Vestavia Parks & Recreation - Thursday, Sept. 20, 7:00 p.m.