Link Up – A Program of the Weill Music Institute at Carnegie Hall

Students in grades 3–5 are given the opportunity to join orchestras throughout Mississippi. Students learn to sing and play an instrument in the classroom and perform with a professional orchestra from their seats at a culminating concert.

About The Program

Link Up, a Carnegie Hall Weill Music Institute music education program, now in its ninth season, pairs orchestras with students in grades three through five to explore orchestral repertoire through a hands-on music curriculum. Students explore core musical concepts in specific symphonic works through listening, singing, playing the recorder, and composing. The year-long program culminates with an interactive orchestra concert in which student perform prepared vocal and instrumental repertoire selections and share some of their creative work.

Who Is Linking Up?

This unique collaboration between MAC, Carnegie Hall, and orchestras across Mississippi, provides standards-based curriculum to the school district and enables orchestras to expand their current education programs and strengthen relationships with their surrounding schools and community.

Participating Orchestras:

Mississippi Symphony Orchestra
North Mississippi Symphony Orchestra
Meridian Symphony Orchestra
Gulf Coast Symphony

Resources for Orchestras:

Resources for Teachers:

How Do We Link Up?

Schools receive at no cost:

  • Link Up curriculum guide for teachers
  • CD and DVD resources that accompany the curriculum
  • Link Up workbooks for each student
  • Professional development workshops for teachers provided by MAC or their local partner orchestra
  • Carnegie Hall’s professional development webinar for lead teachers
  • Access to online resources at Carnegie Hall’s website with additional lessons, resources, audio and video support

The orchestra provides:

  • An interactive Link Up Concert featuring the orchestra, conductor and participating Link Up students
  • Link Up teacher professional development workshop(s) and direct support for participating local teachers

Schools provide:

  • Transportation to and from the final concert
  • Instruction to students on recorder, violin and/or voice as outlined in the curriculum, and as preparation for the culminating concert

For information on how your school can participate and funding opportunities, contact Link Up Coordinator, Elaine Maisel at linkup@arts.ms.gov or MAC Arts in Education Director, Charlotte Smelser, at 601/359-6037