Community Outreach

The Daytona Beach Symphony Society reaches out to the community in many different ways.

Even though the Daytona Beach Symphony Society brings great music from around the world to Daytona Beach, it offers much more than a night of beautiful music. The Symphony Society supports an array of community outreach programs . . . from giving over 8,000 local students an introduction to classical music each year . . . to offering families, seniors and persons with special needs reduced prices to experience the power of 100 world-class musicians playing their hearts out on stage. We also encourage our young “rising stars” with music camp scholarships and recital opportunities.

Many statistics show the importance of the arts in student success. Here are just a few:
• According to the National Education Longitudinal Study, music and arts students receive more academic honors and awards than non-music and arts
students.

• The arts help close the achievement gap. Research described in Critical Links: Learning in the Arts and Student Academic and Social Development finds
learning in the arts may be uniquely able to increase learning and achievement for young children, students from economically disadvantaged
circumstances, and students needing remedial instruction.

• Students taking courses in music appreciation score higher on the SAT than students with no exposure to the arts. They score 61 points higher on the
verbal and 42 points higher on the math.

• Physician and biologist Lewis Thomas, in his studies, found music majors comprise the highest percentage of accepted medical students - a huge 66%.

Our community outreach programs include:

YES! (Youth Experiencing Symphony) targets at-risk students 6-18 years old, enrolled in Volusia County Title I schools, reaching over 3,000 students each year. A Title I school has at least 40% of its students at or below the national poverty level. The students experience 7-8 live performances each year. Immediately after the concert, opera or dance, students attend a personal question-and-answer period with the performers and have the opportunity to get autographs and personal encouragement. Teachers are supplied materials to prepare the students prior to the performance. In addition to providing complimentary tickets, the Symphony Society pays for bus transportation, school coordinators, and refreshments during intermission.

Music in the Schools is presented each fall by the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra. The program is a collaboration of the Symphony Society, Florida Power & Light and the Volusia County School System. All Volusia County 5th grade students – over 5,000 – attend each year.

Talks on Music. Informative talks are offered one hour before concert performances in the Rose Room of Peabody Auditorium free of charge. Given by the evening’s conductor, artistic director or a local music/opera/dance professional, the lectures provide background and key points of the evening’s performance. Over 1,000 people attend the lectures each year.

Music for Music/Arts Educators. All music/arts educators in Volusia County are offered two free tickets to each International Series concert in recognition of their leadership in the humanities.

Community Outreach. All United Way organizations received an invitation for free tickets to concerts. With the current economic conditions, things are especially challenging for those who work in the social services area. Although no there is no overnight solution, the Symphony Society offered the staffs and employees of the United Way agencies nights of beautiful and uplifting music. Partner organizations include Children’s Advocacy Center, Children’s Home Society, ARC, Early Learning Coalition, STAR Center, PACE Center for Girls, United Cerebral Palsy and The House Next Door. Residents of partner area assisted living facilities, such as Southland Suites of Ormond Beach, John Knox Village, The Riviera, Ormond in the Pines, and Bishop’s Glen were also given free tickets.

Outreach to Persons with Disabilities. The Symphony Society encourages persons with disabilities to attend concerts by providing complimentary tickets to performances in partnership with organizations serving those with disabilities. Partner organizations include SPARC of Volusia, United Cerebral Palsy, ARC and Very Special Arts of Volusia. Peabody Auditorium is ADA compliant.

Outreach to Minority/Ethnic Populations. Minority populations are especially encouraged to attend performances with soloists of the same heritage by offering discounted/free tickets.

Music for Volusia Educators. Every employee of the Volusia County School System receives a 50% discount on concert tickets.s

Family Discounts. Adults attending with children receive a 50% discount on adult tickets and pay $10 for their children. A family of four can attend any of our concerts for under $50.

Discounted Student Tickets. Area students, including college students, can attend any concert for only $10.

Discounted Transportation Service. Transportation to and from each concert, door-to-door, is provided a local transportation service that provides a significant discount to area residents.

Shuttle Service. The Symphony Society offers free shuttle service from the Ocean Center parking garage to Peabody Auditorium and back to the parking garage after each performance.

Encouragement of talented young student musicians – the Rising Star initiative. The Symphony Society encourages talented local music students in a variety of ways. They are invited to perform at fundraising events and are showcased in recitals.