Community Outreach

2024-2025

Schools visited Fall 2024

  • Derby Ridge Elementary

  • Fairview Elementary

  • Gentry Middle

  • Jefferson Middle

  • Karis Church (homeschool event)

  • Lady of Lourdes Interparish

  • Locust Street Elementary

  • Parkade Elementary

  • Paxton Keeley Elementary

  • West Boulevard Elementary

  • Oakland Middle School*

Schools visited Spring 2025

  • Fairview Elementary

  • Gentry Middle*

  • Parkade Elementary

  • Capital City High School

  • Lange Middle School

*multiple visits in one semester

New Collaborations

  • Adventure Club (afterschool program for students in Elementary school) — 3 events ~ 150 students.

  • Daniel Boone Regional Library — 1 event ~ 200 students

  • MU Music Theory Dept – performances of a forgotten work in area schools — 3 events ~ 100 people

  • MU Coffee and Connections – petting zoos for MU faculty and staff — 1 event ~ 50 people

  • State Music Festival – Instrument Petting Zoo for performer families — 1 event ~ 200 people

  • MAC Academy | Summer 2025 – for rising 10th grade students for the MAC Scholars Summer Honors Academy at MU — 1 event ~ 30 people

Partnerships Continued from Past Years

  • Compass Inc. | Fall ‘24 and Spring ’25 – Instrument Petting Zoos — 2 events ~ 300 people

  • Education Conference | Spring 2025 – Instrument Petting Zoo for educators in Columbia — 1 event ~ 30 people

  • Odyssey Music Series | Spring 2025 - Instrument Petting zoo for the Odyssey Children’s Concert — 1 event ~ 100 people

Photos from 2024-2025

2023-2024

Events of Fall 23' included:

  • Petting Zoo at The Children’s School at Stephens College ~30 students

  • Petting Zoo at Children's House Montessori ~60 students

Events of Spring 23' included:

  • Violin and Tuba sectionals/performances at Oakland Middle School ~50 students

  • Clarinet Sections at Gentry Middle ~20 students

  • Performances at Paxton Keeley Elementary in March for “Make Music Month” ~100 students.

Total instrument petting zoos: 15!

Photos from 2023-2024

2022-2023

34 events total

  • At least 29 different schools/groups

  • Elementary, Middle, and High Schools

  • Columbia organizations and community events

  • Over 1,000 students reached

Fall 2022: 20 events including:

  • Petting zoo at Locust Street Elementary Fall Festival, ~150 students

  • Cello/Tuba at Parkade Elementary, ~50 students

  • Percussion at Hickman, Alton, Bloomington, Camdenton High Schools, and Holman and Saeger Middle Schools, ~500 students

  • Choir at Rock Bridge High School, ~50 students

  • Viola at Children’s School at Stephens College, ~30 students

Spring 2023: 14 events including:

  • Cello and Tuba at Jefferson Middle, ~40 students

  • Percussion at Poplar Bluff High and Elliot Battle Elementary, ~80 students

  • Jazz assembly and trombone at Gentry Middle, ~150 students

  • Violin at Children’s House Montessori, ~50 students

  • Cello and Flute at La Petite Ecole, ~40 students

  • Jazz ensemble at Gentry Middle School ~100 students

  • Petting Zoo in collaboration with Compass Inc., ~100 participants

Photos from 2022-2023

2021-2022

16 events total

Fall 2021: 4 events, ~100 students

  • Guitarist at Jefferson Middle and Douglass High School

  • Choir class at West Middle School

Spring 2022: 12 events , ~300 students

  • Smithton Middle School vocal performance

  • Trumpet at the Children’s School at Stephens College

  • Clarinet at La Petite Ecole

  • Piano at City Garden School

  • Percussion at Paxton Keeley Elementary School’s Culture Night

  • Saxophone Quartet and Jazz Assembly at Gentry Middle School

  • Cello at Jefferson Middle and Douglass High School

  • Percussion at Locust Street Expressive Arts Academy

  • Percussion at Grant Elementary School

  • Glee Club at West Middle School

2020-2021

9 virtual outreach events at 8 schools:

  • Smithton Middle School

  • Beulah Ralph Elementary School

  • Rock Bridge Elementary School

  • La Petite Ecole

  • Boys and Girls Club of Columbia

  • Locust Street Expressive Arts School

  • Eliot Battle Elementary School

  • Lewis and Clark Middle School