Peer to Peer
This unique mentoring program pairs musicians of the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra with dedicated Black and Latiné music students from Gateway Music Outreach (GMO). SLSO musicians serve as coaches for each student pair during regular meetings throughout the school year.
Peer to Peer fosters a love of music by:
• Building community among SLSO musicians, YO members, and students from GMO.
• Offering students performance opportunities as soloists and in ensembles at the IN UNISON Showcase, the IN UNISON Community Concert, and at an annual Peer to Peer recital.
• Encouraging student pairs to share in the enjoyment of attending SLSO concerts together.
• Identifying and working towards personalized goals for each student, whether that be audition preparations, masterclass participation, or opportunities to learn from music professionals.
• Supporting students’ musical growth by offering financial assistance to enable students to participate in music camps, ensembles, or other learning opportunities.
• Investing in the long-term development of participants. Once accepted into Peer to Peer, students are invited to remain in the program until they graduate from high school.
Eligibility
To be eligible for Peer to Peer, students must participate in their middle or high school band or orchestra program and 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.
SLSO 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.