Reach Out Kansas, Inc. (ROK, Inc.) increases cultural, musical, and educational awareness and exchange between individuals and groups in the United States and other countries with an emphasis on under served, rural, and minority populations and people. ROK, Inc. creates, supports, and presents extraordinary programs and performances using a combination of individuals that generates a common appreciation for music and one another’s cultural identities and practices.
Reach Out Kansas, Inc.
10886 Nieman Rd.
Overland Park, Kansas 66210
(913) 620-4880
Contact: Anissa Gardner Walz, Executive Director
anissa@reachoutkansas.org
Percussion Outreach
Percussion Outreach is a percussion-based story telling program developed by Cory Hills under the title “The Art of Percussive Storytelling.” Mr. Hills is the artist in charge of program development, and performs this program. On average, Mr. Hills presents this program approximately seven times a month in rural and under-served communities in Kansas. Presently, this program has been presented to more than 1,500 Kansans.
Return to TopPiano Outreach
Piano Outreach is in the final stages of development. This program will perform piano compositions, and present an interactive and informative question and answer session at elementary schools and high schools in rural and under served communities in the state of Kansas.
Return to TopVoice and Opera Outreach
Voice and Opera Outreach presents a forty minute modern day opera comedy to high school students in rural and under served communities in the state of Kansas. The performance is followed by an interactive question and answer session.
Return to TopThe Strings Education Program (“TSEP”)
TSEP is a grass-roots musical educational exchange that provides free instruction and instruments to any child in the Miami County community that is interested in learning how to play a stringed instrument, including the violin, cello or viola. Instruction is provided on a weekly basis. Presently, this program has 44 students from the state of Kansas.
Return to TopF.I.M.E.L - Festival International de la Musica Espanola y Latinoamericana
The Spanish and Latin American International Music Festival, also known as “FIMEL”, is a musical and cultural exchange between the U.S., Spain and Latin America organized around the music of these countries. During FIMEL, vocal and instrumental students from around the world, perfect their art while receiving instruction from domestic and international master teachers. In 2009, FIMEL hosted four free concerts to a total audience of over 1,400 Kansans.
Return to TopMusic Education Support Program
The Music Education Support Program is a devoted to supporting students pursuing a degree in vocal or instrumental music, and the faculty who teach them. Funds from this program have supported the following initiatives: (a) scholarships to the Midwestern Music Academy, for students with exceptional high school music credentials, who lack the financial means to attend the event, (b) Accompanist Program, provides financial support for the necessary instrument or voice accompanying for student recitals and juries. (c) University of Kansas Pedagogy Program which provides financial support to secure high quality pedagogy programs for the University of Kansas School of Music.
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