A new study (http://www.chorusamerica.org/about_choralsinging.cfm) has research to support that participation in a chorus - regardless of age - yields much more than artistic benefits alone. Citing improved academic performance for students as well as higher volunteer rates, better leadership skills, greater philanthropic involvement and increased patronage of the other arts, the study's implicit conclusion is that musical skills are directly translatable into everyday, non-musical life.

Today's review is from Chicago Tribune writer, Michael Cameron.

Given the sterling reputation he’s earned in music education circles, it’s no wonder Midwest Young Artist’s director Allan Dennis occasionally submits evidence of the value of his program and methodology through the accomplishments of former students.  Saturday night at Pick-Staiger Concert Hall he presented exhibit A: his daughter and violist extraordinaire, Carrie Dennis.

Last Saturday (April 5) marked the premiere of Introductions, a brand-new weekly program on 98.7 WFMT (Saturdays from 11:00am-12:00pm) which features Chicago-area pre-collegiate musicians doing what they love most; playing classical music.

"It's important to reach out specifically to this younger audience which is enthusiastic about classical music, that we hadn't tried to explicitly attract until now," said David Polk, the show's producer. "I'm excited that I get to expand WFMT's reach and pioneer new ways to connect with audiences via the airwaves and also the internet."

Read more about Introductions and Polk in this article in the recent TimeOut! Magazine.

A good friend of mine who goes by the alias "Drex Drexler" sent me this article from today's New York Times, which provides evidence that Thomas Edison was by no means the first to lay down a track (a recording recently discovered by researchers looks to have beaten Edison to the punch by 20 years). Check it out: here's the article with audio of the findings.

There has been some nice coverage of a few events that relate to diversity in classical music recently. Last week John von Rhein of the Chicago Tribune wrote an article about a Chicago Sinfonietta diversity initiative entitled Project Inclusion that we launched on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. day. There has been further coverage of this important new initiative in the Chicago Sun-Times and The Strad Magazine will soon print an article, as well.

The Sphinx Organization, headquartered in Detroit, also made an announcement about a consortium of orchestras they have pulled together (including the Chicago Sinfonietta) that will award a major commission each year to a composer of color. Check out this article from Crain’s Detroit Business for more details.

I see both of these initiatives as really positive steps towards bringing more diversity and inclusiveness to our field. As always, your thoughts and opinions are welcomed!