While many local families come each year to participate in an afternoon of music, science and visual art as part of the Orchestra of Southern Utah’s Children’s Jubilee, efforts are currently underway to increase participation across the entire region. This year’s theme is “Aloha Jubilee” and will include the premiere of a commissioned piece by Jacob Lee called “Polynesian Rhapsody” as well as an excerpt from Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Scheherazade” and dancers from New Zealand. Jubilee admission is just $5 per person, and babies are admitted free. The majority of events will take place on Feb. 12 and 13.
For the 2016 installment of the Children’s Jubilee, the orchestra has partnered with the SUU Center for STEM Teaching and Learning, the Iron County School District, Cedar City Library in the Park, and Southern Utah’s Sustainable Operations Partnership to turn the afternoon event into two full days of engaged learning.
SUU and community volunteers help the children make art projects and perform science experiments that complement the theme of the season. SUU Animal Ambassadors, under the direction of Dr. Bill Heyborne, are a family favorite with live lizards, snakes, and other critters. It is an afternoon of exploration and excitement. Photos from the most recent jubilee are at osucedarcity.blogspot.com/2015_03_01_archive.html.
“At a time when STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) jobs are rapidly increasing, the numbers of students pursuing STEM training is not,” said SUU biology professor Bill Heyborne. “This is resulting in a national problem. Even here is Utah, there are literally hundreds of STEM jobs which go unfilled each year because of a shortage of qualified applicants. We hope to help remedy this national shortage by keeping children engaged with, and excited about, STEM learning. Combining STEM with the arts is a perfect fit, as kids naturally gravitate toward the creative interface of the arts and the STEM disciplines — hence the STEAM nature of our event.”
On Friday, Feb. 12, a student-friendly concert, “Pathways Between Shores,” will be presented featuring film composer Chad Cannon and international musicians, and 5th and 6th grade students from across the Iron County School district are scheduled to spend a few hours at the Heritage Center for hands-on science and art.
Cedar City’s Heritage Center will be transformed into a children’s museum for the Orchestra of Southern Utah’s Children’s Jubilee.
“On Saturday, Feb. 13, OSU creates an interactive music, science, and art museum for the Jubilee,” said OSU manager Emily Hepworth. “Children have a chance to try instruments, hear the full symphony, pet a python, explore science with SUU faculty and students, and have a wonderful learning afternoon.” The hands-on science and art activities are designed for children of all ages.
Doors open at 1 p.m. for the lobby displays. An orchestra concert is at 2 p.m., and art and science activities follow until 4 p.m.
“We are working to engage sponsors to help keep admission affordable for local families, so they can share an exciting afternoon exploring music, art, and science,” Hepworth said. Families may also have one free admission with three cans of food as part of a food drive for Iron County Care and Share.
Confirmed educational partners already include the Discovery Gateway Center and Leonardo from Salt Lake City, Thanksgiving Point Museum, Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, the Cedar Mountain Science Center, SWATC, Aerospace with Col. Al Matheson, SUU’s Animal Ambassadors, and many more. A special session for teachers is on Saturday morning, Feb. 13, between 9 a.m. and noon so they can visit the exhibits to gather educational ideas. This portion of the event is reserved for adult educators only.
The first jubilee in 2005 garnered a national award for Education at the League of American Orchestras Conference in Washington, D.C. Other awards followed for commissioned pieces “Spanish Trail Suite” and “Africa” by Marshall McDonald and Steven Sharp Nelson. Laura Cotts presented at the 2013 League Conference in Dallas on the value of including hands-on science and art with musical performances for an exhilarating family afternoon.
“We have used the Jubilee to explore the world,” said Sara Penny, past OSU president. “We have celebrated Chinese New Year, painted miniature planets, and made African masks. We have projected images from the Hubble telescope choreographed to the music of Holst when we performed The Planets. The annual Jubilees have been a great joy for both the musicians and the families.”
Those who would like to be a financial supporter of this event can contact Emily Hepworth at emilyosucedarcity@gmail.com.
In addition, a seminar with Cannon on film composition is set for Thursday, Feb. 11, at 2 p.m. in the SUU music building. This event is free and open to the public. Cannon is originally from Utah and has worked on orchestrations and compositions in the film industry, including “The Hobbit” with Howard Shore and “Godzilla” with Alexandre Desplat.
For more information on these OSU community events, contact Emily Hepworth at (435) 233-8213 or osucedarcity@gmail.com.
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