Community Outreach and Education
The Arlington Philharmonic offers Arlington a local professional orchestra with members that provide concerts, classes, and demonstrations for the public and its schools. Our goal is to increase access to and enjoyment of classical music.
We are passionate about our music education initiatives and look forward to expanding our work as we present "Link Up," an educational partnership with Carnegie Hall, in 2019-2020. Please stay tuned for further details! Our public calendar can be accessed here.
Strings Day
Now in its eighth year, "Strings Day” is an annual collaboration that bring together musicians of the Philharmonic with sixth grade string players from all five of Arlington’s public middle schools. Maestro Wood conducts the Philharmonic players in a performance representing the range of music that is accessible to string musicians. The professionals then shift into “workshop” mode, working side-by-side with the young musicians, offering tips and suggestions as they practice individual pieces. As a finale to the sessions, the Philharmonic musicians perform with the students.
Encore Learning
Music Director A. Scott Wood presents entertaining and informative lectures through Arlington’s “Encore Learning” program. These college-level, noncredit courses on music appreciation are offered for adults age 50 and older. He has been teaching courses on music topics through Encore Learning since 2013. Mr. Wood's Encore class presentations can be accessed here.
Support for School Music Programs
Philharmonic professional musicians and staff support school music programs year round, including coaching sectionals in Arlington Public Schools, providing guest artists for special events, and serving as adjudicators for school music events. Maestro Wood often serves as a judge at the Virginia District XI Orchestra Festival. In his role as judge, he provides graded scores and constructive criticism for performances by Arlington and Fairfax County middle and high school orchestras performing a program of required and elective selections.