“WHERE THE ELEPHANTS ROAM”: This work by Lydia Keenan, a student at The Cambridge School, is featured in the 2019-2020 PSO BRAVO! “Listen Up!” virtual gallery at princetonsymphony.org. The exhibit features visual art and writings from 35 students from seven area middle schools.

Area student artists and writers participating in the Princeton Symphony Orchestra’s (PSO) 2019-2020 PSO BRAVO! Listen Up! program have created an array of visual art and writings in response to composer Saad Haddad’s Clarinet Concerto, a new work co-commissioned by the PSO with the Barlow Endowment for Music Composition at Brigham Young University.

The work received its world premiere at the PSO’s January 18-19 Scheherazade concerts and featured soloist Kinan Azmeh, to whom the work was dedicated. The results and range of responses to the music include colorful works in a variety of media, as well as thoughtfully worded poetry and prose. Viewing the works is possible with a few clicks through the PSO’s new online gallery, which offers a virtual walk-thru experience.

In January, the students attended a creativity workshop led by the Arts Council of Princeton instructor Susan Hoenig and the live performances of Haddad’s work by the orchestra under the direction of Edward T. Cone Music Director Rossen Milanov. At the workshop, Hoenig highlighted well-known visual artists who created works in response to music and guided the students in the process of artistic reflection. The composer provided the students with some background on the creation of his concerto, and Milanov talked about bringing a new work to life with a live orchestral performance.

“THE MYSTICAL LIGHTS OF EXPRESSION”: Sophie Yang, a student at Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart, created this painting featured in the 2019-2020 PSO BRAVO! “Listen Up!” virtual gallery at princetonsymphony.org.

Over the course of several weeks, the students gave form to their own creative ideas in writing and visual art. Rather than holding a formal gallery exhibition in Princeton as in previous seasons, the orchestra has constructed an online virtual exhibition of the students’ work for all to view through the PSO’s “At Home with the PSO” website tab at princetonsymphony.org. Visitors to the exhibition can click on virtual speakers to hear Haddad’s Clarinet Concerto and find out more about the exhibited works by clicking on each image. It’s a deeply immersive experience.

Thirty-five students from seven area middle schools make up this season’s Listen Up! artists and writers.

Now in its 13th year, Listen Up! is an art response program which encourages creativity through active listening. To date, it has engaged over 325 students. Online galleries featuring previous years’ student artwork can be accessed via princetonsymphony.org/education/responding-music.

All PSO BRAVO! programs are free to participating students and schools thanks to the support of generous sponsors who believe in the importance of the arts in education. For more information, call the symphony office at (609) 497-0020.