RCCM: Community Connections

Educational Programming
Community Connections

Community Connections is about bringing music to underserved populations when and where they normally meet. Red Cedar Chamber Music's educational programming is presented in partnership with the Marion Chamber of Commerce and the Marion Public Library.

Funds are provided by Chamber Music America with support from the Helen F. Whitaker Fund and the Chamber Music America Residency Endowment Fund. Red Cedar Chamber Music is a member of Chamber Music America and the James and Norma Jean Rosborough Foundation. Additional funding comes from the Iowa Arts Council, the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, Target Stores, Rockwell Collins, Cedar Rapids Bank, Farmers State Bank, the City of Marion, William P. Whipple, and Nancy Miller.

Production Floor Performances	for workers in offices & factories
Music in Libraries	for extended families in Eastern Iowa libraries
Music for Seniors	when and where they normally congregate
Chamber Music Now!	for exceptionally talented young musicians (to work in concert with professionals)
Music for Kids	educational events for grades K-12
Gifts of Music	donated musical events to help other not-for-profits

Music for Kids

brings events into classrooms K-12.

Projects are tied to existing curriculum in an interdiscliplinary fashion.

Student violist, Renee Rapier, joins professional musicians Jan Boland (flute) and John Dowdall (guitar) in an event for 7th-graders in Fuff Renfer's art classroom in the Linn Mar Community School District. Student performers mentor young isteners, and also learn chamber music skills.

Production Floor Performances

are held annually at Rockwell Collins in Cedar Rapids.

Workers gather in the lobby for a noon- time concert, or simply
leave the doors of their offices open to let the sound waft up three stories.

Chamber Music Now!

gives talented high school and college students the opportunity to make music as peers with professional musicians.

After a series of intense rehearsals, performances are given in libraries and schools

Past student participants include Brooke Lyons (flute) Will Hansen (clarinet), Liz Zelnick (viola), Thad Sentman (cello), Catherina Miller (violin), Emily Broere (piano), Joe Lynch (double bass), Elizabeth Klaus (viola), Leah Bergman (cello), Stephanie Michalicek (narrator), Ranee Rapier (viola), Chris Hanson (viola), JoAnna Cochenet (viola), Andrew Stern (cello).

Pictured here are Chamber Music Now!
young musicians Thad Sentman and
Liz Zelnick playing a concert in the
Cedar Rapids Library with professional
guitarist John Dowdall (not pictured).

Music for Seniors

brings interactive music events to senior citizens when and where they normally meet. Senior citizens often cannot go out at night to a traditional concert setting, so we go to them during the daytime hours, often at senior residential facilities like Meth-Wick Manor or Kingston Hill Retirement Community.

What is the public response?

FROM TEENAGERS. . .
. . .This is only my second non-rock concert, but I really enjoyed it!

FROM KIDS. . .. . .
. . .I learned to pluck, pick and strum. Thanks for coming to my school.
. . .Thank you for your little musical. I have heard of Mozart.
. . .I enjoyed the concert. Me and my friend was laughen at the love song.

FROM PARENTS: FAMILY CONCERTS. . .
. . . My 3-year old loved it and her attention "drift" was almost zero. Excellent!
. . . They did a wonderful job of making the instruments�come alive for the children.