Annual children's concert returns to Lower Merion
“Maestro The Lion,” the annual children’s concert performed by students from Philadelphia, Lower Merion and Chester Upland school districts has been performed twice, and has two more performances left.
Those who have yet to see the annual Maestro the Lion children's concert at Lower Merion High School still have a chance with two remaining shows, one tomorrow, Feb. 21 and another on Wednesday, Feb. 22 at 10:30 a.m.
The concert series, which began in 1990, features performances by the Lower Merion Symphony Orchestra, student ballet dancers and a group of male student vocalists, Bullfrog Quartet.
Before each concert, high school students demonstrate their instruments for children in the audience in music mingle.
Afterwards, Maestro, a feline character developed by Lower Merion High School Orchestra Director Tom Elliott, acts as the director of each children's orchestra and commences the concert. The concert and characters are based on a series of children's books written and illustrated by former Lower Merion High School students Elizabeth Sher and Courtney Reeder.
The 12th annual concert series is based on the book The Adventures of Maestro the Lion: A Rat's Tale.
The non-profit organization Maestro's Friends funds the educational outreach program that helps to cover transportation costs for buses of students in underserved areas. The organization also funds full scholarships for music lessons for 10 second, third and fourth graders, as well as supports the after-school instrumental music instruction program at Ardmore's Bethel Academy.
The students in the scholarship program receive lessons from professional music educators, free violins and perform at several area concerts.
Lower Merion School Districts estimates that more than 2,000 students from Chester Upland, Lower Merion and Philadelphia school districts will attend the program this year.
Click here for more information about the Maestro programs and concerts.