I wanted it to become our dream and for them to realize the importance of what we re doing here. To see these visions realized, MSO conducts many educational programs. More than 13,000 children annually attend MSO Children s Concerts and KinderConcerts, while more children are enrolled in MSO s string instruction program and are members of one of three Youth Orchestras. And MSO, which consists of a pool of about 70 musicians with 30 serving as the core group, is currently in the midst of an African-American church tour. We want to reach people as early as we can, Velichkovski said.
Music is empowering, teaches creativity, discipline, team work and responsibility.
Maybe there will be more awareness of this since the Littleton shooting. Music gives kids self-worth and creates adults who want to give something back to the community. Funding comes mainly from grants from entities such as the Mississippi Arts Commission, the Arts Alliance of Jackson and Hinds County and private foundations. Velichkovski said MSO is in need of additional support, and felt that the business community should see MSO as the potential for economic development and as a marketing tool. A business can take out an advertisement that says, XYZ Company, We re a good business.