“This collaboration really opened my eyes to making music outside of the typical music setting and completely changed my perspective on what qualifies as music, compositions, and singing.”
– A. Grade 12

Live Online Music Education

Faced with a pandemic and stoppage of in-person ensembles, the BCO helped over 60 high school musicians share new music live over the internet. From schools across Broome County, NY, they played and learned together in a weekend virtual festival called Music Outside the Box. The project featured live online ensemble performances and exploration of vocal technique through graphic scores.

“It was wonderful to give young kids the opportunity to explore music in a different way, that many of them otherwise would never have had."
– Joel Smales, Binghamton High School Band Director”

“It was fun to watch. It was great to see everybody else’s performances and all of their great creative ideas. Even with zoom delays we still made great music.”
– S. Grade 9

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Creative Connections

Music Director Evan Meccarello, the BCO, and Broome County Music Educators' Association created this program to provide a live instrumental ensemble experience for music students in Broome County. Music Outside the Box gave some students who missed out on traditional BCMEA festival opportunities the chance to perform music together online. Meccarello connected the students with artists and composers on the cutting edge of today’s creative musical community. The music, which did not rely on synchronized beats, took advantage of the delays normal for internet communications. Embracing the lag made for unique musical effects and special textures. Participating students were able to perform, and BCO clinicians enjoyed an opportunity to mentor these students, all to the benefit of the community.

“It felt more like an actual group rather than isolated boxes on a screen.”
– S. Grade 11

The Program

Instrumental students participated in three groups of different sizes under the guidance of Maestro Meccarello. Binghamton Community Orchestra members shared their passion and expertise in instrumental clinics, collectively exploring with students. Students performed works by Angélica Negrón, Dai Fujikura , and Xenia St. Charles Gilbert. Vocal students worked with members of the professional contemporary vocal group, Quince Ensemble. With the guidance of Dr. Liz Pearse and Dr. Amanda DeBoer Bartlett, the singers created their own graphic scores using many different vocal techniques. The students vocalized stories in sound, sang the smells of nearby objects, offered vocal meditations, and more.

Students had three hours of rehearsal/coaching, and one hour of instrumental clinic/voice masterclass for this event.

“This was incredible to be able to watch students from separate schools collaborate on one project even in the midst of a pandemic!”
– Lexi Bryant, Chenango Forks Chorus Director

“Amazing! So inspiring to see everyone perform in this way!”
– Kurtis Parker, Maine-Endwell High School Orchestra Director

View the Full Performance

Learn More

To read more about Music Outside the Box, click here !

Marejada by Angélica Negrón was commissioned for Fifty for the Future: The Kronos Learning Repertoire, a project of the Kronos Performing Arts Association. The score and parts are available for free online. kronosquartet.org

The BCO Says Thank You to the Sponsors of This Project

This event is made possible with public funds from the Decentralization Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature, and administered by The Earlville Opera House.

<Additional support for the Broome DEC Program graciously provided by the Stewart W. and Willma C. Hoyt Foundation, Inc.

Additional support for "Music Outside the Box" is provided by S.E.E.D. Planning Group, LLC