BY LOREEN BERLIN: The Music Masters and GATE Orchestra with its 350 string players will perform on April 25 at the Knott Avenue Christian Church, 315 Knott Ave. in Anaheim at 6:30 p.m.
Many of the students performing are Stanton residents, and the group is growing each year, with an additional 50 this year.
BY LOREEN BERLIN: The Music Masters and GATE Orchestra with its 350 string players will perform on April 25 at the Knott Avenue Christian Church, 315 Knott Ave. in Anaheim at 6:30 p.m.
Many of the students performing are Stanton residents, and the group is growing each year, with an additional 50 this year.
Julie Metz, program director, said among the 300-plus students in the Music Masters and GATE music programs, at least one-fourth are residents of the City of Stanton, which includes 20 Music Masters students, who attend Hansen Elementary School and of the 25 music students at Cerritos Elementary, half are from Stanton.
“We are so fortunate to have these music programs in our area,” said parent Tina Mikesell. “All four of my children learned a string instrument in elementary through high school. They grew up with these great music classes and now as adults, two of my children are still playing the string instruments.”
The programs have been taught by musician/performer/teacher Metz through the Savanna School District of Anaheim Union High School District for 24 years during a weekly afterschool 45-minute class September through April.
The GATE Orchestra, which is a private 501(c) 3 organization, provides beginning through advanced instruction on string instruments to public school students in grades 4 through 12 at Orangeview Junior High School.
The program allows students to have access to a musical education, preparing them to participate in school and community orchestras as well as public venues.
Metz said the mission of the programs is to instill a lifelong appreciation and enthusiasm for music by teaching students how to play a string instrument.
"Music education is important to the student's social, emotional, physical and intellectual development," she said. "In being provided this distinctive education, students keep music programs alive in their schools and communities and encourage the next generation of future musicians."
The concert is free; seating is limited, so being early assures seating.
For information about the concert or the string instrument classes, call Metz at 310-467-0564 or e-mail 2julie@fea.net.
