A Successful First Flight: Piloting “Symphony Storytime” with the Philharmonic Guild
Fresh off our behind-the-scenes planning sessions, the Center for Future Audiences recently put our brand-new pilot program to the test! On July 28th, the Colorado Springs Philharmonic Guild hosted their monthly member gathering from 5:00 to 7:00 PM, giving us the perfect audience to debut Symphony Storytime—our upcoming in-school program designed specifically for kindergarten through 2nd-grade students.
Setting the Stage
The evening kicked off with mingling, food, and drinks. As the clock rolled toward 6:00 PM, Stacy Bahn and Abbey Nelson of the Colorado Springs Youth Symphony took the stage to gracefully signal the start of the program, followed by a lively rendition of “Cooley’s Reel” performed by fellow CSYSA member Helena Puhek.
Guild President Herman Tiemens warmly welcomed the crowd and introduced Dr. Susan Rae Jensen, Guild Vice President and Program Chair, before passing the mic to Joye Levy and the Center for Future Audiences.
Turning Adults into Kindergartners
To set the mood, Joye used a little “magic” to temporarily turn the entire room of Philharmonic Guild members into a group of 5-, 6-, and 7-year-olds. She then introduced our musical accompanists for the evening: Philharmonic violists Matt “Diek” Diekman and Erin Napier.
The interactive storytelling began with Mo Willems’ Because, a tale about a young girl inspired by a concert who eventually grows up to be a conductor and composer. As Joye read, Diek and Erin brought the pages to life with live musical excerpts. Along the way, Erin paused to teach the audience about the four instrument families of the orchestra, while Diek led the room in conducting with imaginary batons using just their fingers!
Next up was Julia Cook’s high-energy book, My Mouth is a Volcano! The adult “kindergartners” fully embraced the interactive movements. Every time Joye reached the refrain—complete with rumbling tummies, wiggling words, and a massive eruption—the audience joined in with stomping feet, clapping hands, shaking arms, and exploding gestures, all underscored by a custom musical leitmotif from our violists.
Music, Mentorship, and Memories
Following enthusiastic applause, Erin shared her personal story of how she first picked up the viola. Joye then returned the audience to their “normal ages” for a quick Q&A. Joye, Erin, and Diek discussed the creative process behind Symphony Storytime, how they match music to literature, and what lies ahead for the program—including upcoming K–2 opportunities like the Philharmonic Kids Concert: The Carnival of the Animals and pre-concert lessons.
To close out the night, Stacy, Abbey, and Helena returned to the stage to perform Dvořák’s Humoresque, answering a few questions about their own musical journeys before sending the crowd home on a high note.
Looking Ahead
The very first pilot of Symphony Storytime was an overwhelming success, drawing glowing praise from our Guild members. As Dr. Susan Rae Jensen happily remarked after the event, “I’ve never had that much fun in kindergarten!” She added, “It’s so important for our members to appreciate all the dimensions of musical talent and growth—more than just the concert stage.”
With such encouraging feedback and wonderful notes from the audience, we are more energized than ever to refine the program. Stay tuned as we continue developing Symphony Storytime—it just might be coming to a school near you soon!
Storytime programming is made possible, in part, by generous funding from the Lane Foundation.Â
