Education & Community Engagement
WASO takes its commitment to Education & Community Engagement very seriously and our Education & Community Engagement fund supports programs that bring the joy of music to Western Australians that may otherwise not have access to it. Many of our programs are the first or only of their kind in Western Australia, and all donations to this fund help us achieve our mission to touch souls and enrich lives through music.
Many people’s first musical experiences do not happen at a concert hall but rather in a community hall, at school or even on the radio. These first musical memories are powerful and WASO plays an integral role in helping foster a love for music that shapes and defines lives. Whether for a family in a regional town, a child in hospital, a first-time ticket buyer or a seasoned WASO subscriber, each experience can create moments of musical magic.
Harmony Music
Our Harmony Music Program visits students with Special Educational Needs, providing young people and their carers with the opportunity to interact with musicians and enjoy a performance in the comfort of their school environment. This program sees small WASO ensembles perform informal classroom presentations, share stories about life as a professional musician and introduce students to the instruments of the orchestra through performances of popular repertoire and interactive have-a-go sessions.
A tax-deductible contribution towards Harmony Music of $2,500 enables us to commit to a school visit for students with Special Educational Needs. We are hoping to commit to six (6) visits in 2019. For further information on how to donate, please see below.
Hospital Orchestra Project (HOP)
Our Hospital Orchestra Project (HOP) brings moments of joy to the lives of unwell children and their families at Perth Children's Hospital. WASO musicians present a broad range of performances and participatory programs for children, as well as visit children on the wards six times a year. HOP has been running since 2008 in partnership with the School of Special Educational Needs: Medical and Mental Health with support from Starlight Foundation, who broadcast all performances on Starlight TV, helping us reach children who are unable to join us in the theatre.
A tax-deductible contribution of $2,500 towards a HOP concert enables us to perform at Perth Children's Hospital. We are hoping to commit to six (6) performances in 2019. For further information on how to donate, please see below.
Regional Arts Program (ReAP)
ReAP is supported by Department of Education through School of Isolated and Distance Education and the Royalties for Regions E-Learning Project.
Our Regional Arts Program enables music students in public schools across the Pilbara Education Region to access WASO musicians and programs through video conferencing. Students studying instrumental music through the Instrumental Music School Services (IMSS) have the opportunity to participate in WASO musician Masterclasses, while Primary and Remote Community Schools can access our EChO in Schools and Chamber Music programs. As James Crocker, TIC Karratha SHS and IMSS teacher in Karratha-Dampier recently said: “I still find it quite remarkable and feel very privileged that music students in Karratha, where there is no town band, no private instrumental teachers, few performances other than contemporary music at night time venues, and where most of the primary schools do not even have a music teacher, can access lessons from no less than WASO musicians!”
A tax-deductible contribution of $1,500 enables us to provide a Masterclass with our musicians or broadcast an EChO or Chamber music program across the video conferencing platform. For further information on how to donate, please see below.
Musical Moves - Transport Subsidy
WASO is committed to helping teachers provide their students with live performing arts experiences through our bus sponsorship initiative, Musical Moves. Schools can apply for financial support to cover the transportation costs to attend WASO concerts. Costs start at $10 per student with schools needing to be no more than 100 kilometres from the Perth CBD and needing to address how attendance will support access to, and delivery of, music as part of the school curriculum.
A tax-deductible donation of $500 towards Musical Moves enables us to provide a school bus free of charge, transporting students to a WASO performance at Perth Concert Hall.
Music for the Ages
Music for the Ages has been designed to reach individuals who are unable to attend a symphony orchestra concert or rehearsal. It provides engaging chamber ensemble performances across the Aged Care and Healthcare sectors and encourages a lifelong journey with WASO's music and musicians.
A tax-deductible contribution of $2,500 towards a Music for the Ages performance enables us to commit to a performance at an Aged Care facility in 2019. We are hoping to commit to four (4) performances in 2019. For further information on how to donate, please see below.
If you would like to help us create magical musical moments for children and families across the State by making a donation to our Education & Community Engagement fund, please contact the Philanthropy Team on 08 9326 0014, email philanthropy@waso.com.au or make a donation via the button above.
The above programs represent only a small selection of WASO’s Education & Community Engagement activities. For more information please also see here.
All contributions greater than $2.00 are fully tax deductible and every gift makes a difference.