ACE Elements

AN UPDATE ON THE 2020-21 SEASON

Your health, safety, and well-being—and that of our musicians, staff, and community—is our top priority. We are committed to providing you with a safe and welcoming environment to experience thrilling musical moments. And we promise to be your trusted partner as we navigate the future together.

When the pandemic began, we made the necessary—but difficult—decision to cancel the remainder of our 2019.20 season. Our hope was that by taking that essential step, enough time would pass to allow the community and country to weather this crisis with us all staying as healthy and safe as possible. When we cancelled the remainder of the 2019.20 season, we intended to return to performance in October 2020.

As you may have heard through the media, the basement of the Bradley Symphony Center sustained significant flood damage following an intense rainstorm and steam tunnel failure on May 18. Over the summer, C.D. Smith and partners have been repairing the damage while still working to complete the facility. Unfortunately, this caused a delay and pushed back our occupancy date until January 2021. In addition, the world still struggles to react to the uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and it has become clear that large-scale gatherings will likely not be a possibility when the building opens in January.

We appreciate the continued support and patience of our patrons and community during this time and we remain committed to keeping you informed and serving you with flexibility and  empathy as we navigate these changes together. You can contact us any time at info@mso.org.

A well-rounded program of enrichment throughout the school year.

Four distinct ways of integrating the arts and education.

Ensembles of MSO musicians and our cultural partners come to your school.

• Three visits per grade annually (four for K5), 30-45 minutes each
• Students meet artists in-person and close-up
• Includes all art forms: dance, drama, music, visual arts, and all genres
• Energizes ACE themes and classroom learning

ACE supports teachers in successfully implementing arts integration.

• Arts integration in-service trainings
• Access to resource handbooks, online materials, mentors, and sample lesson plans
• Networking opportunities with other ACE teachers
• Sharing of student learning through annual arts integrated lessons

“The integration of curriculum, music, art, and physical education has given our school and community a masterful opportunity to learn, grow, and belong!”

-Michelle Aprahamian, Associate Principal, Brookfield Elementary School

Students venture to the new Bradley Symphony Center in downtown Milwaukee and see the MSO live in concert.

• Grade-specific concerts tailored to each grade’s theme:
  • K = Family
  • 1 = Storytellers
  • 2 = Detectives
  • 3 = Architects
  • 4 = Explorers
  • 5 = Inventors
• Concerts begin with theme songs followed by musical selections that reinforce each theme

ACE isn’t just for students!

• Free family night featuring an ACE ensemble, held at each participating school
• An entertaining evening that will appeal to the whole school community
• Newsletter distributed to keep parents/guardians informed
• Parents/guardians/community members invited to attend the culminating events