Huntingdale primary school was treated to a rare performance when the West Australian symphony orchestra (WASO) visited recently.
The school was one of just four in the state that received a visit as part of WASO’s echo in schools project.
It included a performance from the education chamber orchestra as well as an interactive session with students.
WASO education coordinator Fiona Taylor said the program allowed the orchestra to support schools’ musical programs without having to fund an excursion.
“It’s a lovely opportunity for students to get up close and personal with the orchestra in a smaller format,” she said.
She said music programs like echo were important because it encouraged students’ music abilities and helped them in other learning areas.
“It’s well proven that music engages children when they’re learning because they can interact with it and we know that it hits on other arts areas as well as literacy,” she said.
“A school like Huntingdale has a great music program and what things like echo does is show these kids who are learning instruments through a school program that they can make a career out of music.
“We’re really grateful to the schools for making the time available for us because we have two concerts and we hit kindergarten right through to year six.”
Ms Taylor said the 15-piece orchestra included one of each instrument as well as a harp.
