Check out THIS awesome program the Little Theatre is participating in. Thanks to our friends at the SYMPHONY for making it happen!

PERFORMING ARTS ORGANIZATIONS PARTNER TO OFFER
FREE TICKETS TO SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY YOUTH

New Passport to the Arts Program Offers Interdisciplinary Arts Experiences to Eligible Students

SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA— Six San Luis Obispo performing arts organizations have come together in a bold collaboration to expose young performing arts students to diverse art forms. Festival Mozaic, the San Luis Obispo Symphony, Cal Poly Arts, Arts Obispo, Opera San Luis Obispo and the San Luis Obispo Little Theatre are offering free tickets to seven performances during the 2012-2013 season. More than 300 tickets will be donated by all participating organizations through this program.

The Passport to the Arts program began during the 2011-2012 season and has been refined in its second year. The program is designed to educate young artists about the diverse performing arts, all being produced at a high level. “If a young person plays an instrument in the Symphony’s Strings in the Schools program, it’s highly beneficial for her to experience the best in chamber music, choir, theater, dance and opera. We believe that holistic arts education is the best way to promote interdisciplinary arts learning, and research shows that young people who participate in a diverse range of arts activities do better in school, score better on tests, and face fewer challenges,” said Festival Mozaic Executive Director Bettina Swigger. “It’s also a wonderful way for us to build our audiences, both in the present day – because students are required to bring an adult family member with them – and for the future.”

Tickets will be distributed for performances from Festival Mozaic’s WinterMezzo November and March chamber music series, the Little Theatre’s production of It’s A Wonderful Life, The African Children’s Choir presented by Cal Poly Arts, the San Luis Obispo Symphony’s Apex for Kids Family Concert, Opera SLO’s production of The Magic Flute and Circa! presented by Cal Poly Arts.

San Luis Obispo Symphony Music Education Director Andrea Castillo said: "We are thrilled to partner with local arts organizations to bring this program to our students.  We hope the Passport to the Arts encourages families across the county to experience many of the great performances taking place their own backyard."

To be eligible for free tickets, students must have participated in at least one of the following programs:

·         SLO Symphony Strings in the Schools

·         SLO Little Theatre Academy of Creative Theatre

·         Opera SLO Children’s Summer Opera Camp

·         Cal Poly Arts Outreach Programs

·         Festival Mozaic Master Classes

The Passport to the Arts program is underwritten by the Performing Arts organizations mentioned previously, as well as with generous funding from the MOCA Foundation.

For more information, please contact San Luis Obispo Symphony Music Education Director Andrea Castillo at (805) 543-3533, ext.#13 or email andrea@slosymphony.com.