Syracuse Symphony Orchestra

SYRACUSE, NY – The 20^th annual Syracuse Symphony Association (SSA) Practice Marathon kicks off on February 28 and lasts through March 27, 2010. The SSA invites students grades K-12 and teachers to participate as part of Music in our Schools Month.

The goal of the program is two-fold: the program instills the importance of practice in students and all proceeds help support the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra.

Students will choose one week to record practice times in half-hour increments and ask sponsors to pledge a given amount per half-hour practiced. Then, the student will fill out the student tally sheet, which can be found online at www.syracusesymphony.org. Finally, students collect money from sponsors and mail in checks (no cash) made out to Syracuse Symphony Association and mailed to:

Mrs. Deborah Pritts

13 Railroad Street

Tully, NY 13159

Entries must be postmarked on or before April 9, 2010 to be eligible for prizes and to receive an invitation to the closing celebration and music fair.

Student participant, Bradley Phelps, participated in the practice marathon last year and he “really enjoyed the fact that it wasn't just a fundraiser where you fundraised and it was over, those who participated actually got to see the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra perform!”

Eligible entries my receive the following:

-         All participants receive a “Certificate of Participation” and an invitation to the closing celebration and music fair.
-         Every participant raising $15 (and an accompanying adult) will receive a ticket to an SSO concert for the 2010-11 season.
-         All participating teachers will receive two free tickets to a Syracuse Symphony Orchestra performance.
-         The three schools with the highest number of student participants will win a Syracuse Symphony Orchestra chamber ensemble performance.

For more information and digital tally forms, please visit www.syracusesymphony.org and click on “Support the SSO” then “Practice Marathon.”

Contact Deborah Pritts, Practice Marathon Chairperson, at dpritts@pobox.com for additional information.

About the SSO

During its 39-week season, the 80-member Syracuse Symphony Orchestra performs for more than 237,000 audience members through 213 full-orchestra and ensemble concerts in 17 counties throughout New York State. Founded in 1961, the Syracuse Symphony, led by a conducting staff of international caliber, has performed five concerts at Carnegie Hall, most recently on April 5, 2003, and was presented with the NYS Governor's Arts Award in 1999. For more information, visit us at www.syracusesymphony.org.