According to Dallas Symphony Orchestra Executive Board Member Quincy Roberts
“The Dallas Symphony Orchestra is changing lives throughout our city, particularly in Southern Dallas where I grew up. Countless studies have shown the relationship between music education and academic achievement. Students who study music are more likely to find school engaging, attend college and earn a degree. Despite these results, access to music education is decreasing – especially in communities like my hometown of Southern Dallas.
“As a member of the DSO’s Board of Governors, I am proud of the work the organization is doing to address this through its Young Musicians program, which provides free instruments and eight hours of weekly music instruction to children in Southern Dallas. Throughout the pandemic, the 150 students who are active in the program have received one-on-one lessons with DSO musicians and have remained engaged, performing online and in socially-distanced outdoor performances.
“I grew up in Southern Dallas and had the opportunity to study music as a child. I trained to be an opera singer at Booker T. Washington High School and Indiana University. I performed professionally for 10 years until I had the opportunity to return to South Oak Cliff to grow the business that my grandfather started, Roberts Trucking Inc. Throughout my life, I have seen that music and the arts open doors for young students, and I attribute much of my success as a business leader to the skills and lessons I learned while studying music. Music re-enforces the importance of teamwork – listening, interpreting and building on each other’s contributions. My wish this holiday season is to offer free instruments and lessons to as many children as possible because I know it will change their lives for the better.
“The long-term benefits that children receive from music education – emotional awareness, heightened nonverbal reasoning skills, greater cognition, increased leadership and cooperation and perseverance – have the potential to change the outlook of an entire generation.
“For just $75 you can provide one week of instrument instruction and music lessons to a student in the DSO’s Young Musicians program. I hope that you will join us in providing the transformative power of music to a child in our community this season. Please contact Tanner Garrett ([email protected]) to change the life of a student this season.”
* Photo provided by Dallas Symphony Orchestra
