WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A new partnership between the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra and DREAMS Center for Arts Education will expand access to music education for young students across the region through singer-songwriter Ben Folds’ charitable initiative, Keys for Kids.
The collaboration, announced this week, connects Keys for Kids–founded by North Carolina native Ben Folds–with local arts organizations to create a structured pathway for students to grow from beginner instruction to advanced ensemble performance.
Under the program, students will begin their musical training at DREAMS, where they will receive foundational instruction in an afterschool setting. As they progress, they will transition into programming with the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra, gaining expanded instruction and performance opportunities.
Participants will also have access to the Wilmington Symphony Youth Orchestras (WSYO) chamber ensembles, offering additional ensemble experience and performance development. In addition, students and their families will receive free tickets to Wilmington Symphony Orchestra and WSYO concerts.
“This partnership represents a shared commitment to making music education accessible, inclusive, and inspiring,” said Liz Scanlon, Executive Director of the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra. “By working together, we are creating meaningful opportunities for students to grow both musically and personally.”
Folds said the initiative reflects his own early experiences with arts education. “My middle school field trips to museums and the symphony, as well as having a chance to perform in the youth orchestra, greatly influenced my own creative journey,” he said.
The program is supported in partnership with the North Carolina Arts Council and the North Carolina Arts Foundation.
Community members are also invited to attend a May 30 performance by Ben Folds at the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts in Raleigh, where a portion of ticket sales will benefit Keys for Kids.
For more information, visit the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra or DREAMS Center for Arts Education websites.
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