Twice a year, OSL invites New York City’s public-school students to outstanding classical music performances designed especially for young people. These OSL concerts—which incorporate other arts disciplines, such as dance, puppetry, or visual art—are presented free of charge and reach more than 11,000 children annually. For many, it is their first live concert experience.

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As part of OSL’s re-envisioned season and an effort to keep the arts alive in New York City schools, our School Concerts program will be offered virtually during 2020/2021 season. Our fall 2020 program featured the music of Florence Beatrice Price, the first black female composer to have a symphony performed by a major American orchestra. Students were taken on a virtual journey exploring Price’s life with playwright and performer Kirya Traber. The program featured works for String Quartet, as well as Price’s beloved vocal music with special guest soprano, Jasmine Muhammad.

This spring’s Free School Concert will feature the music of composer and flutist Valerie Coleman. These concerts are programmed in connection with OSL’s Music in Color initiative, dedicated to highlighting the lives and music of composers of color through narrative biographical experiences. Registration for April’s School Concert will open in early Spring 2021.

We will miss you and your students at our live in-person School Concerts, but we look forward to resuming in-person activity once it is deemed safe.