PSO Announces KinderKonzert Percussion Program, May 9-16

Introducing young children to instrument families and musical concepts

PORTLAND, Maine ’Äì The Portland Symphony Orchestra (PSO) percussion ensemble will take students on an around-the-world adventure with "KinderKonzert Percussion: Cowboy Ed Rides Again!" Students will hear a variety of new rhythms and beats throughout the tale, which will be presented May 9-16 in Windham, Portland, Brunswick, South Portland, Lewiston and Saco, Maine.

In Cowboy Ed Rides Again, Ed is lost and keeps ending up in different parts of the world. At each stop, Ed learns about the various cultures, instruments and dance traditions and then brings home a new song from each land. Narrated by Jerry and Lisa Leake, audiences will hear a range of global rhythms and beats, and see dances from Spain, China, India, Brazil and other countries. Kids will learn dances from the African Dagomba to the tango and will learn to sing the African song "Na Yella Bo," in addition to much more.

KinderKonzerts are fun, interactive programs with Portland Symphony musicians where kids ages 3 - 7 can sing, dance, wiggle, clap, and have fun listening and learning about music and instruments. School systems can coordinate the KinderKonzert visit with Science and English Language Arts instruction in addition to Visual and Performing Arts. Specially prepared worksheets designed to support Maine's Learning Results are available online or by contacting the PSO.

KinderKonzerts are sponsored by Time Warner Cable, with the following local businesses providing underwriting support of Cowboy Ed: CBRE/The Boulos Company for the May 12^th Portland performances, Saco & Biddeford Savings Institution for the May 14^th South Portland shows, and Casella Waste Systems, Inc. for the May 16^th programs in Saco.

All tickets for the PSO's KinderKonzerts are $3. For additional information and reservations visit www.portlandsymphony.com or call (207) 773-6128. For school reservations, please contact the PSO Reservation Coordinator at (207) 773-6128, Ext. 306 or education@portlandsymphony.com.