Monthly Archives: January 2012

Arts & Culture Events for Preschoolers, Kid Friendly Restaurants

Baby Got Bach: February 18 performance

Baby Got Bach is back for another entertaining and free performance in St. Louis on February 18, 2012 at 10:30 am, Centene Plaza, 7700 Forsyth Road. Baby Got Bach is an engaging classical music interactive event for 3 to 6 year olds founded by internationally known pianist Orli Shaham. During the nearly two hour program, kids can explore real instruments, meet musicians from the St. Louis Symphony, sing familiar songs, play rhythm sticks and castanets, and hear a chamber music concert featuring works by Saint-Saens, Rimsky-Korsakov, Schubert, Bartok, and more.

Tickets

The community performance is free of charge thanks to the generosity of The Centene Charitable Foundation. Currently, the organization is accepting reservations from people who signed up for their mailing list last Fall. Online reservations will be open to the general public starting on February 6, 2012. All the spots for the November 2011 performance were filled within two days last Fall, so be sure to make advance reservations on the Baby Got Bach web site. There is a limit of approximately 80 children for the event and there will be a wait list available. Walk-ins without reservations may be admitted, space permitting.

Tips

* Parking is available for $2 per hour at the Centene Plaza garage. Street parking is free on Saturdays.
* The St. Louis Symphony, The Centene Charitable Foundation, and many individuals donate their time and funds to the nonprofit, Baby Got Bach. If you are able, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to Baby Got Bach.
* The program may be a bit long for some 3 and 4 year olds, but the format is casual, so feel free to take your child out to the lobby for a break or snack if she/he needs it.
* There will be short intermission before the chamber music concert portion of the event.
* Make a morning/day of your outing and eat at the nearby, delicious, and family friendly restaurant, Half and Half. Be sure to try the veggie hash and fresh donuts! Half and Half is open 8 am to 2 pm on Saturdays.
* Questions? Contact Baby Got Bach through their web site.

About Orli Shaham, Artistic Director, Host, and Pianist

Orli Shaham got an early start in her music career. She began playing piano at age four, and got her first music scholarship when she was five. Just a couple years later, she began her studies at The Juilliard School with Herbert Stessin. That was the beginning of a flood of prestigious performances and awards, launching her international career. Ms. Shaham has performed with many of the world’s great orchestras and has been lauded for her recitals at Carnegie Hall, the 92nd Street Y, and Lincoln Center, as well as many other renowned concert halls around the globe. Ms. Shaham has preschool twins Nathan and Alex and college-age stepsons Peter and Jonathan. She lives in St. Louis and New York with her husband, St. Louis Symphony music director David Robertson.

Photo: Ali Winberry
Arts & Culture Events for Preschoolers, Community

Free vocal recital featuring local high school students

23 students from 16 St. Louis high schools in Opera Theatre of St. Louis’s Monsanto Artists-in-Training program will perform opera arias this Sunday, January 29 at 3 pm, Graham Chapel on the campus of Washington University. The event is free and open to the public. Highly regarded mezzo-soprano Pamela Dillard, who has been coaching the students during a recent artist residency, will also perform at the concert. This is a wonderful opportunity to share classical music with your family and for your school aged kids to see high school students really excel at something that they love.

Currently in its 23rd year, Opera Theatre of St. Louis’s Monsanto Artists-in-Training Program has consistently identified, coached, and encouraged talented singers in St. Louis urban and suburban high schools. Students receive individual weekly coaching and voice lessons by Opera Theatre of St. Louis’s professional staff; two artist residencies conducted by visiting guest artists; numerous chances to attend performing arts events; and a three-day college retreat where they learn about college life and academics. Each spring, the students perform in a free public recital at the Sheldon Concert Hall. To date, more than 170 students have completed the program and Opera Theatre of St. Louis has awarded these graduates more than $335,000 in scholarships to support their college educations. Many graduates have continued to pursue academic degrees and professional careers in music. Artists-in-Training is generously supported by the Monsanto Fund, the philanthropic arm of Monsanto Company, who has been the principal underwriter since the program’s inception.

Photo: Opera Theatre of St. Louis
Arts & Culture Events for Preschoolers, Community

“Grow St. Louis” Grants

Agricultural giant Monsanto is an amazing supporter of nonprofits throughout the world and especially here in St. Louis where the company is based. As part of Monsanto’s public relations campaign, “Grow St. Louis,” the company created a contest to challenge local nonprofits to improve our region. The three winning organizations who receive the most votes from the general public will receive grants of $15,000, $10,000, or $5,000. There is a long list of worthy projects, but here are a few arts related recommendations.

CAM (Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis)
St. Louis Symphony
Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Arts and Education Council
Circus Harmony

Voting ends January 29 and you can vote once each day. The first time you vote, you will be asked to validate your email address. This validation request is emailed to you and may end up in your junk folder, so be sure to check or your vote won’t count.

Vote for your favorite project here and help support the arts in St. Louis.

Photo: CAM
Arts & Culture Events for Preschoolers

Mozart’s The Magic Flute for Families

The St. Louis Symphony performs a 45 minute condensed version of Mozart’s final opera, The Magic Flute, on Sunday, January 15 at 3 pm, Powell Hall (718 North Grand Boulevard), with Ward Stare conducting. Filled with imaginative settings, a bird seller, a captured princess, an evil queen of the night, colorful costumes, an eight foot long stuffed dragon, and of course beautiful and unforgettable music, this abbreviated version of The Magic Flute is a great introduction to opera for mature preschoolers and up (even adults who are not fond of sitting through 3 hours of a full length opera).

The performance features baritone Ian Greenlaw, several artists from the prestigious Opera Theatre of St. Louis Young Artists program, and local singers. The opera is presented in English with projected titles. Tickets start at an incredibly reasonable $7 each and are available online or by calling 314.534.1700.

Additional tips:

* There is no intermission so be sure to make a restroom stop before the show.
* Kids hungry before the performance? Family friendly treats such as candy, Billy Goat potato chips, cookies, beverages, and more are available for sale in the lobby.
* Current best seating availability is in the rear top balcony section and the rear main level areas. You may want to bring binoculars for your children if you sit in these areas so that they can see more costume or facial details of the performers. In terms of sound, I would recommend the balcony seating area over the rear main floor area.
* Metered street parking is free on Sundays, so if you want to secure one of these spots, try to arrive a little early to the performance. Otherwise, there are paid parking lots adjacent to Powell Hall.
* At various stations throughout the lobby areas prior to the performance, kids can try out a flute, a violin, and other instruments. Any instruments with mouth pieces are cleaned of course before each use!
* The Arizona Opera produced a nice study guide about The Magic Flute geared towards school age children and adults who are new to the opera.
* Visit the blog “Playing by the Book” for wonderful children’s books about The Magic Flute.

A taste of the music from the Metropolitan Opera’s famous 2006 Julie Taymor production:

Photo: Ken Howard, Metropolitan Opera