SLSO’s Extra Credit Program Celebrates Music Educators in Inspiring Powell Hall Concert

By Eric Dundon

At the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra’s April 24 Extra Credit concert, the spotlight turned from seasoned professionals to the educators who sustain music in classrooms every day. Held at Powell Hall, the free event brought more than 100 K–12 music teachers onto the stage, performing side by side with SLSO musicians in a powerful display of collaboration and shared purpose.

Led by SLSO Assistant Conductor Samuel Hollister, the hour-long Extra Credit program offered both energy and emotional sweep. Highlights included “Mars” from The Planets by Gustav Holst, selections from L’Arlésienne Suite by Georges Bizet, and Die Moldau by Bedřich Smetana. These vivid works allowed the combined ensemble to showcase both precision and passion, blurring the line between educator and performer.

More than a concert, the Extra Credit served as a tribute to music teachers as lifelong artists. By stepping into the professional spotlight, they modeled the very dedication they inspire in students. The result was both celebratory and deeply meaningful—a reminder that the future of orchestral music depends as much on the classroom as the concert hall.

Photos by Jon Gitchoff.

Eric Dundon is the SLSO’s Public Relations Director.