Education and Community Programs
Through in-person and virtual presentations of period instruments, performance, and culture, we strive to demystify the music of the Renaissance, Baroque, and Classical periods while addressing key subject areas such as social-emotional learning, language arts, math, science, social studies, and ESL. Interactive programs that utilize both presentation and inquiry-based learning can be used in class, as take-home assignments, or as group projects. For more information, please email Ars Lyrica Houston at info@arslyricahouston.org
Ars Lyrica Houston partners with Arts Connect Houston to bring its programming to Houston schools and communities.
Upcoming Performances
Storybook Opera: Maria’s Magical Music Adventure
When: November 16, 2024 at 11AM
Where: Levy Park
In collaboration with HGO
Click here for more information
Orígenes: Voice and percussion through the ages
When: January 14-16, 2025
Where: The Hobby Center (800 Bagby St, Google Maps)
Click here for more information
Orígenes: Voice and percussion through the ages
When: February 9, 2025 at 1PM
Where: The Hobby Center (800 Bagby St, Google Maps)
Click here for more information
Storybook Opera: Maria’s Magical Music Adventure
When: March 14, 2025 (time TBD)
Where: Levy Park
In collaboration with HGO
Click here for more information
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April 6, 2024
Performance of children’s play at Rothko ChapelMarch 23, 2024
Performance of children’s play at Heights Kids’ Day of MusicMarch 3, 2024
Performance of children’s play and violin masterclass at Campbell Learning CenterJune 8, 2023 & October 19, 2023
Performances of children’s play at Miller Outdoor TheaterMay 27, 2023
First public performance of children’s play at Houston Metropolitan Dance CenterApril 12, 2023
String quartet concert at Houston Methodist Hospital.April 1, 2023
Bilingual reading of Maria’s Magical Music Adventure at Rothko Chapel with live string quartet for Menil Neighborhood Day.March 25, 2023
A sneak peak of the children’s play version of our children’s book, Maria's Magical Music Adventure at Heights Kids’ Day of MusicMarch 18, 2023
Bilingual Maria’s Magical Music Adventure reading with string trio at Brazos Bookstore.March 14, 2023
Heights Kids’ Day of Music Warm-Up Event with a reading of Maria’s Magical Music Adventure with live viola.March 12, 2023
Well-Tempered Clavier 300th Anniversary Celebration on Zoom.March 4, 2023
Bilingual Maria’s Magical Music Adventure reading with live violin at Children’s Museum Houston.February 25, 2023
Heights Kids’ Day of Music Warm-Up Event with a reading of Maria’s Magical Music Adventure with live viola.October 13, 2022
Bilingual Maria’s Magical Music Adventure reading with live viola at Children’s Museum Houston.
ALH Outreach in the News
Ars Lyrica music group finds new rhythm in kids’ literature
-Lawrence Elizabeth Knox, Houston Chronicle
Houston artists to perform for Uvalde children on eve of deadly shooting's one-year anniversary
-Jef Rouner, Houston Chronicle
Children’s book and play:
“Maria’s Magical Music Adventure”
"Maria's Magical Music Adventure” is a children’s book written by Emma Kent Wine about a girl named Maria who travels back in time to meet Antonio Vivaldi, who has just written The Four Seasons. With breathtaking illustrations, a story full of adventure and excitement, and accompanying classical music, the book delights and inspires audiences of all ages. Learn more about the book.
The play adaptation by Tim Fried-Fiori of Express Children’s Theatre and Emma Kent Wine features a talented cast of eight multi-talented actors and musicians. A fusion of hilarious, heart-warming storytelling and live classical music create an entertaining, inspiring, and joyous experience for children and adults alike. Learn more about the play.
Community Outreach
In addition to its subscription series in Zilkha Hall and school outreach activities, Ars Lyrica provides performances throughout the Houston community. Ars Lyrica's outreach initiative is aligned with its mission to revive important musical works and practices. Through presentations of period instruments and demonstrations of historical performance practices, we strive to demystify the music of the Renaissance, Baroque, and Classical periods.
An ongoing partnership with the Museum of Fine Arts has led to performances and lectures at MFAH facilities (including Bayou Bend, Rienzi, and MFAH main galleries) that complement visual art exhibitions.
Through joint events and cross-promotion with partners including Harmony in the Air, Houston Methodist Hospital's Center for Performing Arts Medicine, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston Early Music Festival, Theater District Open House, Discovery Green, Foreign Consulates, and Heights Kids’ Day of Music, Ars Lyrica continues to reach out to new and diverse audiences and make a significant impact on the community. For more information on community outreach, please contact Ars Lyrica Houston at info@arslyricahouston.org.
Virtual Programs
Musical Detectives
Explore the connection between emotions and music with Musical Detectives. This suite of lessons provides a comprehensive general music experience that includes singing, movement, listening, playing instruments, iconic rhythm reading, and basic composition. Using a range of activities, students will express, classify, and create musical experiences to demonstrate the four emotions of happiness, sadness, anger, and fear. Teachers can use these lessons as they are presented or pull individual activities creating a “plug and play” bank of activities to embed social-emotional learning into their curriculum all year long. Downloadable content includes lesson plans, accompanying projectable visuals, and the professionally-recorded virtual field trip.
Grades: K-5
Cost: $20/download
Orígenes: Exploring the Spanish and Latin-American Renaissance
Orígenes is a bilingual assembly program that introduces students to early vocal literature and period instruments with an emphasis on Spanish and Latin American cultures in the 15th-17th century. This program, curated by mezzo-soprano Cecilia Duarte and percussionist Jesús Pacheco, features impassioned vocal works accompanied by historical percussion and guitars. While examining the different roles in a classical music ensemble, Orígenes connects students to the musical heritage of Spain and Latin America.
Grades: K-12
Students: max 300/show
Cost: $675/show
Musical Storytime: Bilingual stories with music (free on YouTube)
Maria’s Magical Music Adventure (Bilingual)
Maria meets Matthew the musical magician, and the two travel back in time almost 300 years to meet Antonio Vivaldi. Next stop: Venice, Italy! Rooted in the music of Antonio Vivaldi, the story is accompanied by original music and arranged excerpts from The Four Seasons played by string quartet. The video includes optional subtitles in English and Spanish.
Want to read along with your own copy of Maria’s Magical Music Adventure? Purchase Maria’s Magical Music Adventure here.
A Boy Named Giotto
in Spanish & English
Listen in as singer Cecilia Duarte and percussionist Jesús Pacheco tell the story of A Boy Named Giotto, where a gifted shepherd boy learns how to paint magnificent frescoes during the Italian Renaissance. The book is read in both English and Spanish, and Cecy and Jesús accompany the story themselves with Renaissance pieces for voice and percussion.
The Pied Piper of Hamelin
in German & English
The Pied Piper of Hamelin, a folk tale with origins dating back to the Middle Ages, tells the story of the German town of Hamelin, which is infested with rats. The townspeople summon the Pied Piper to get rid of the rats, but the Piper finds their own rat-like nature revealed in their greed. Full of colorful illustrations, the story is accompanied by traditional German folk songs sung by narrator Clara Haymon. The video includes optional subtitles in English and German.
Virtual Education Suite
The ALH Virtual Education Suite includes interactive, engaging lessons that use music as the lens to learn history, language arts, science, movement and more. Experienced teaching artists amplify the emotional content of Baroque music to enhance social-emotional learning and encourage viewers to think critically and engage with the material in innovative ways.
Some lessons come with supplementary materials, while others tell stories, engage viewers to learn about historical music and culture, or present masterclasses with Ars Lyrica artists. Click below to be redirected to our Virtual Education Suite webpage, where you will find more than 15 free educational segments.
Testimonials
From patrons
“Jesús did a wonderful job of connecting the history to the music, and the songs were excellent choices. Jesús, Cecy, and Pedro were flexible with the crowd as it was a mix of young and old and I feel they gave everyone the attention they needed.”
“Ars Lyrica provided a professional, high quality performance featuring talent and creative content unlike anyhting else that could be found in the area. As an organization, Ars Lyrica was easy to work with, and the program participants provided an excellent experience for the museum’s guests. Thanks for providing a fantastic program!”
“Pure genius! I was DREADING my layover experience here. I couldn’t find a good restaurant I liked. Then I stumbled on this group at noon and I was overjoyed! What soothing, beautiful music! I felt very productive and less anxious. Makes me want to come back to Houston to explore the art scene! Thank you for such a great program and I hope it continues! Makes me want to fly through Houston again between the hours of 12-3pm. Please keep this program! It’s brilliant and I hope other airports start this as well! What a great way to motivate more people to fly through this airport, to support the arts and to support the mental health of both passengers and workers alike. Looooooved it!!!! Such talented musicians!!!!”
“The quality of the experience was enhanced by the performers and their obvious commitment to the music and their joy in sharing what they played so emotively.”
“We’re so pleased for Ars Lyrica and its growing success under your direction and Matthew’s phenomenal talent. It’s a joy to see and hear!”
From teachers
“The musicians were fantastic! Great music, instruments and interaction. Many thanks for coming! Look forward to seeing you again.”
“I love that the kids have the opportunity to move and dance to the music. The kids really enjoy being able to touch the instruments. The use of “period” vocabulary is great! I wish we had more time! I can’t imagine a better presentation. ”
“The presentation was interactive and engaged the kids with questions and songs, and the connections made between music and the imagination was great. How you connected modern music to older music and how you encouraged appreciate for different kinds of music was really nice. ”
“The musicians were not only knowledgeable about the subjeect, but were able to relate to the students very well. I enjoyed the fact that they broke up the speaking sections with performances & also took turns describing their role in the ensemble. The best part of the exposure the students are getting to that type of music.”
“It was very interactive which kept the student interest level the entire time. The story telling component was fabulous.”