The Musical Offering is dedicated to reaching out to families throughout our local community. Due to budget cuts that have forced many public schools to scale back or eliminate music and arts programs, students in the Evanston school system have a substantial need for arts exposure. Committed to preserving music in the classroom, the MO has in the past conducted outreach programs with the Y.O.U. Foundation, Evanston Township High School, and Nichols Middle School.

In 2003, the Musical Offering forged a longstanding outreach partnership with nearby Oakton Elementary School. For five years, the MO has provided monthly curriculum-based music presentations for K-5 students during the school year. These interactive concerts, which include such wide-ranging topics as the Harlem Renaissance, Irish music composition, and jazz style, offer students an invaluable connection to the arts that would otherwise be limited by inadequate funding.

Please visit our special web section on our May 2008 musical collaboration with Oakton Elementary - The Song of Roland: A Music Mural, for an example of one of our highly successful outreach efforts this past spring.

Check back for our exciting presentation topics for the coming 2009-10 academic year!

The 2008-2009 academic session marked the sixth year of monthly concert presentations by Musical Offering faculty and guests and Oakton Elementary School in Evanston. Through a generous grant from the Evanston Arts Council the MO sponsored presentations of Latin-American chamber music, including newly-composed music by Chicago composer Elbio Barilari, at Dawes, Oakton and Washington Elementary Schools to coincide with Hispanic Awareness Month.

The themes of new music and important classical composer anniversaries ran throughout the year (with major celebrations of the music of Henry Purcell, GF Handel, FJ Haydn and Felix Mendelssohn). From 17th-Century recorder music to contemporary jazz, The Musical Offering outreach calendar motivated and inspired local elementary students and supported District 65 music specialists.

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During each academic year the Musical Offering hosts its afternoon "Sunday Series."  This is a series of free events held most Sunday afternoons - ranging from MO faculty and student recitals to guest lectures/presentations/workshops and musicianship classes.  The core of the MO's teaching philosophy is the creation of community through music study.  As teachers, we wish to create a community-oriented context for the individual work done by students in their private lessons, thereby avoiding an isolated experience.  We believe that musical training is most effective as a shared activity.  This leads to a life-long love of music and musical expression.

The Musical Offering is committed to sharing its talents and passion for music with the community.  We are presently seeking funding for the 2007/2008 academic year.  It is our belief that the role of non-for-profit arts organizations will become increasingly important in the public schools as arts programs continue to be cut.  We intend to do our share and welcome all sponsors to share in our endeavors.

This is truly an investment in our society's future.  Call 847-866-6260 if you would like to become an outreach sponsor or for more information about the Evanston Children’s Choir.

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Musical Offering programs are supported in part by the Dr. Scholl Foundation, the Illinois Arts Council (a state agency), the Evanston Arts Council (a city agency), First Chiropractic, the John Buck Company Foundation, Victoria Holland and Michael Low, Lora and Kent Swanson and the generosity of many individual donors.
Thank you!

The Musical Offering is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to creating and nurturing community through music study, performance and outreach. Students of all ages, backgrounds and circumstances are welcome. Music is for everyone!