Peer to Peer
SLSO IN UNISON and the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra teamed up in 2015 to introduce SLSO Peer to Peer. This unique mentoring program pairs musicians of the YO with dedicated Black and Latinx music students from Gateway Music Outreach (GMO), an organization that provides access to quality instrumental music programming for underserved youth in the St. Louis area.
A Glimpse into Peer to Peer
The SLSO began Peer to Peer six years ago as a small mentorship program for young string musicians throughout the St. Louis region. The program arose from conversations with participants in the SLSO IN UNISON Program about how the SLSO could support young musicians whose families may not have access to private musical instruction.
How It Works
Student pairs meet weekly in person or online. SLSO musicians serve as coaches for each student pair during regular meetings throughout the school year. Student pairs attend SLSO and YO concerts together throughout the season and perform as part of IN UNISON Program concerts held each spring.
Once accepted into Peer to Peer, students are invited to remain in the program until they graduate from high school. Space in this program is limited.
Eligibility
To be eligible for Peer to Peer, students must participate in their middle or high school band or orchestra program and currently be enrolled in and have participated for a minimum of one school year in a GMO program. To learn more about applying to Peer to Peer, please contact GMO.
Impact
Peer to Peer is about much more than music lessons. “It’s also about building relationships, connecting, and trusting in the process,” said Dana Myers, former SLSO violinist and Peer to Peer mentor.
One student's success storySLSO education programs are presented by:
Peer to Peer is sponsored by:
Witness the Power of Music
From season tickets to Concerts for Kids and free events, there are several ways to experience the excitement of music with the SLSO.