Oct 04, 2021
Three Arts Strategies For Incorporating Social-Emotional Learning Into Your Classroom
What does it mean to “meet students where they are”? In 2017, the Aurora Institute released a series of briefs1 that championed this concept, in which it called upon educators to look at students from a more holistic perspective: students could not truly thrive if they were academically competent, but were struggling in other areas, Aurora Institute advised. Teachers needed to gauge where their students...
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Aug 16, 2021
Catching Up With Latin Duo 123 Andrés, Rock Star Champions for Little Language Learners
It’s hard to be around Latin Grammy-winning duo Andrés and Christina and not smile. The positive energy they exude on stage, as 123 (Uno, Dos, Tres) Andrés, is infectious─and is a testament to their popularity in the children’s music industry. What their fans might not know is that Andrés and Christina are also Teaching Artists for Wolf Trap’s Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts....
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Aug 09, 2021
Children’s Music Creator and Afrofuturist Pierce Freelon Brings His Eclectic Sound and Dream For a Better World to Wolf Trap’s Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods
Children’s music artist Pierce Freelon is not slowing down. Fresh from the release of his second album, Black to the Future, Freelon also recently penned his first children’s picture book Daddy Daughter Day, set to be published in 2022. He is a City Council Member in his hometown of Durham, N.C. and has traveled the world teaching Hip Hop and music production to youth as...
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Jul 27, 2021
Soundmaking With Korean-American Children’s Folk Artist Elena Moon Park
First-generation Korean-American children’s performer Elena Moon Park, who will be performing as part of the 2021 summer season of Children Performances at Wolf Trap, believes that “everyone is a soundmaker,” to borrow a term from musician Mark Stewart. Born in East Tennessee to parents who immigrated to the United States from Korea, Park was surrounded by music early on. After taking a break to study...
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Jul 26, 2021
Grammy-Winning Performer Joanie Leeds Salutes “All The Ladies” with Songs Written to Empower
For all of its challenges, 2020 turned out to be a pretty good year professionally for singer/songwriter Joanie Leeds. Not only did she release a GRAMMY-winning album, All the Ladies, but she also found a way to make new music over Zoom in the middle of the pandemic, with a young child at home. Leeds’ creativity and ingenuity has followed her throughout her life and...
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Jul 20, 2021
Exploring the Language of Other Cultures Through Music With Award-Winning Musician and Children’s Performer Oran Etkin
From a young age, award-winning jazz musician Oran Etkin formed a deep love for music of all disciplines. As a professional musician, he has traveled the world, learning the music “language” of different cultures, and is dedicated to passing those rich musical traditions on to the next generation. This season, Oran Etkin will perform on the Filene Center stage as part of its 2021 Children’s...
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Jul 07, 2021
50 Years Together Anniversary Celebration
July 1, 2021 marked a historic moment with a star-studded evening at the Filene Center celebrating Wolf Trap's 50th anniversary and the legacy of Wolf Trap’s founder Catherine Filene Shouse. Thanks to all who joined us, including JoAnn Falletta, Christine Goerke, Joyce Yang, Cynthia Erivo, and the National Symphony Orchestra....
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Jul 02, 2021
50 Years of Community
Honoring Local Frontline Workers and Educators Wolf Trap and PNC came together to thank educators, healthcare professionals, and other frontline workers with a series of four free concerts last week performed by the National Orchestral Institute Philharmonic and “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band. Community heroes, along with their families and friends, were invited to attend and celebrate their incredible commitment with the sweet...
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Jun 30, 2021
Summer Sounds Even Better
Recently, Wolf Trap has taken extraordinary measures to ensure that this summer sounds its best by replacing the in-house sound system (PA) with state-of-the-art components. As the existing system was reaching the end of its useful life, Wolf Trap called upon experts in sound technology to recommend changes that would most enhance the concert experience. Based on acoustical measurements and a thorough analysis of the...
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Jun 30, 2021
“Failing” Upwards
Wolf Trap High School Grants Program Gives Centreville Students Permission to Fail, and Find Their Way Back Think back to high school and the pressure you experienced as a student. Today, students are expected to excel in academics, sports, and the arts, while serving in leadership positions and staying active in their communities and extracurricular organizations—all while looking Instagram-perfect. The pressure of expectations from their...
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May 13, 2021
Fostering a Greater Appreciation for Other Cultures Through Movement: Up Close with Wolf Trap Master Teaching Artist “Ms. T”
Wolf Trap Master Teaching Artist “Ms. T,” Terlene D. Terry-Todd, is the founding artistic director for the Reston Institute for the Arts and a retired certified dance and adapted physical education specialist for Fairfax County Public Schools. A national presenter on dance education, Ms. T has received numerous awards and accolades for her choreography, her contributions to the arts, and her work with special needs...
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May 13, 2021
The Making Of A Virtual Field Trip… and Advice for Teachers Who’d Like to Make Their Own!
Just over a year ago, Wolf Trap’s Cate Bechtold faced a problem. As Director of Internships and Community Programs for Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts, she typically spent the winter preparing to welcome hundreds of young students from all across the Washington, D.C. area to Wolf Trap Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods, where they could enjoy Field Trip performances at the 700-seat outdoor amphitheater. Her biggest...
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