Community Educational Programming a Big Part of The McKnight Center for the Performing Arts' Inaugural Season
Monday, October 28, 2019
In a partnership with Stillwater Public Schools, The McKnight Center offers a myriad of educational opportunities for students
The McKnight Center for the Performing Arts on Oklahoma State University's campus has prioritized educational programming as part of its Inaugural Season. In a partnership with Stillwater Public Schools, the Center will provide various opportunities for local students to experience unique performances from some of the world's most accomplished performers and gain a hands-on understanding of the performing arts industry.
“We are thrilled that students all across Stillwater have the opportunity to experience art and music with world-class musicians and performers,” said The McKnight Center’s Marilyn and Carl Thoma Executive Director Mark Blakeman. “Now students can listen, learn and participate in numerous enriching activities and gain once-in-a-lifetime experiences which will help the performing arts in our community flourish for years to come.”
Superintendent of Stillwater Public Schools, Dr. Marc Moore said the district’s administration and teachers appreciate being a part of a community that celebrates the arts.
“We have music and art education in every school in the district, and we’re very fortunate to have community partners such as The McKnight Center that value and support arts education," Moore said. "This partnership allows our students access to world class performances. You can’t get that just anywhere.”
The McKnight Center is the result of a unified vision to create a new cultural epicenter in Stillwater. In 2016, Oklahoma State University alums Billie and Ross McKnight gave $25 million to establish an endowment which would support world-class programming and educational opportunities that would benefit not only the immediate community, but also the entire region.
A full list of the Stillwater Public Schools programming opportunities for The McKnight Center's Inaugural Season are listed below.
Oct. 14, 2019 – New York Philharmonic: Brass Quintet
To wrap up New York Philharmonic’s residency in Stillwater the New York Philharmonic's
Brass Quintet, featuring principal musicians from the orchestra, created a Very Young
People’s Concert experience for Stillwater Public Schools' first and second grade
students. Students from OSU’s Percussion Studio were also present to provide pre-
and post-concert entertainment and give the elementary students hands-on experience
playing instruments like the marimba.
Nov. 6, 2019 – Chamber Music Festival Experience
As a part of their residency at OSU, Anne-Marie McDermott, Edgar Meyer, Joshua Roman
and the St. Lawrence String Quartet will share a performance experience with the sixth
graders of Stillwater. These world-renowned artists will play a variety of chamber
music pieces to inspire and intrigue their student listeners.
Nov. 22, 2019 – Cirque Mechanics: 42ft - A Menagerie of Mechanical Marvels
Stillwater seventh and eighth graders can witness the grandeur that is Cirque Mechanics:
42ft. with an abbreviated performance that will highlight impactful moments of the
show and remain true to the storyline. Following the performance, students will be
privy to a Q & A session with the performing artists. The nature of Cirque Mechanics
will put STEAM objectives into action right before the students’ eyes.
Feb. 5, 2020 – Carnegie Hall Link Up: The Orchestra Sings
Stillwater’s third, fourth and fifth graders will attend the culminating performance
after preparing in their music classrooms for months in advance. Guided by the expertise
of Stillwater elementary music teachers, these students will learn to actively listen,
sing, dance and play a repertoire of classic and new material. The McKnight Center
will bring the skills of the Enid Symphony Orchestra to Stillwater to further enrich
this integrated learning opportunity.
To learn more about The McKnight Center's educational initiatives, visit mcknightcenter.org.
MEDIA CONTACT: Jessica Novak | Director of Marketing | McKnight Center for the Performing
Arts | 405-385-5167 | jnovak@mcknightcenter.org