Grants and Advocacy

Music Advocacy Letters to School Districts

In November 2020, the Eugene Symphony Board of Directors sent a letter to Eugene and Springfield School District leadership thanking them for making music education a priority in their districts during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read the full letters below to hear accounts of how local music educators are pivoting to create meaningful and engaging socially distanced (in person) and virtual (from home) opportunities for their students during this unprecedented time:

Eugene 4J School District Letter

Springfield School District Letter

Music Education Pathways/Advocacy Subcommittee

In January 2020, Eugene Symphony established the Music Education Pathways/Advocacy Subcommittee to:

• Ensure music education advocacy is a role for everyone in the orchestra family: Board members, musicians, staff, volunteers, and audiences.
• Advocate for policies which ensure that in-school music educator positions are a consistent and high priority across area school districts, which are filled by qualified music educators, so as to demonstrably improve equitable access to high-quality music education for all students, and particularly in low-income and underfunded schools.
• Proactively form sustainable advocacy relationships with school partners, policy leaders, and community stakeholders to secure the success of every child’s music education.
• Participate in forums where local, state, and national education policies are determined by listening to community needs and communicating the benefits of systemic K-12 music education.

(Source: League of American Orchestra’s Statement of Common Cause: Orchestras Support In-School Music Education)