ALLENTOWN, Pa. — The Allentown Symphony's after-school program El Sistema has expanded to a second site to grow its programming.
The program now will operate at Allentown School District's Sheridan Elementary, letting it serve 50 more pupils in grades 2-5 three days a week with two dedicated teachers.
The expansion opened Sept. 30.
“Last school year we served 160 K-12 students from 26 different schools across the Lehigh Valley. This expansion enables us to bring this wonderful program to even more students.”Allentown Symphony Association Executive Director Al Jacobsen
According to the announcement, the elementary school had limited music education opportunities when the program was proposed in 2021.
Increased Allentown Symphony Association funding, partly from a Garrigan Foundation sponsorship, made the expansion "possible and sustainable," according to an Allentown Symphony release.
Symphony staff say they hope to grow the location, increase participating grade levels and welcome students from other nearby schools over time.
El Sistema Lehigh Valley was started by the symphony in 2011 as a social empowerment program and a way to connect young people with music education.
Meeting for about two hours after school each day, the program is meant to support "social change through music."
It relies on a lot of group instruction on string instruments provided by the symphony, and choral performance, along with tutoring opportunities.
'I love your voice'
While the program offers different in- and out-of-school learning opportunities, the bulk of students attend Allentown's Roosevelt Elementary School.
“Last school year we served 160 K-12 students from 26 different schools across the Lehigh Valley," Allentown Symphony Association Executive Director Al Jacobsen said.
"This expansion enables us to bring this wonderful program to even more students.”
"Our goal is not to create or not to be a music conservatory, and we don't expect all of our students to pursue music after they graduate high school."El Sistema Program Manager Amanda Haag
The students are required to have good academic standing and keep regular attendance, while also being given many opportunities for leadership within the program.
It is offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
"Our goal is not to create or not to be a music conservatory, and we don't expect all of our students to pursue music after they graduate high school," El Sistema Program Manager Amanda Haag said this year.
"Our goal is to teach students how to be good citizens and productive citizens in society as to instill values such as discipline and respect and responsibility in them, to help them to overcome any challenge that may exist now in their lives, or may come up in the future."
El Sistema also will have other growth plans to share in the coming weeks, officials said.
A recent partnership with the non-profit Joshway will run a "Toastmasters" program for 15 El Sistema students to improve public speaking skills.
Earlier this year, a new musician-in-residence position was also announced for the program.
