SHEPHERD SCHOOL INREACH CONCERT FOR STUDENTS FROM
ATHERTON ELEMENTARY AND THE BRANCH SCHOOL
OCTOBER 9, 2003 - DUNCAN RECITAL HALL

Janet Rarick, an artist teacher in wind ensembles, is one of the Shepherd School faculty members who help oversee this outreach program. She explains that the program grew out of a discussion by the wind chamber ensemble in fall 1998. Several students suggested using outreach as a way to increase performance opportunities and potentially increase audience size at regularly scheduled wind chamber music concerts. Leone Buyse, professor of flute and chamber music, subsequently created an independent study program for students who wished to connect with the Houston community by coordinating outreach concerts. Her husband, Michael Webster, an associate professor of clarinet and ensembles, also plays an active role in overseeing and encouraging outreach participation.

Rarick observes that a major benefit of the program is the great satisfaction that comes from reaching out to others. "We have found that our concerts are a great way to get children exposed to a college campus at an early age. Who knows what dreams may come from these experiences? If even one or two children can be inspired to go to college, it will be worth it."