Equity and Diversity Statement
ONS Arts Education Programs
The Orchestra of New Spain has served:
From 2011 to 2019, pausing for COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021, and returning in 2023...
10 DISD orchestra programs with 2200 student lessons taught by our own musicians
12 DISD dance programs involving 600 dance students
900 Summer Strings Camp students
2 student productions of Misa Flamenca and 2 Love Conquers Impossible Love with 2000 students and teachers in attendance
Since 1996, ONS has impacted local arts education through its youth initiatives in conjunction with Dallas ISD.
Through this ongoing partnership, we are able to offer unique musical opportunities and engaging arts experiences to
schools that lack access otherwise.
Support the Orchestra's educational efforts by donating or becoming a sponsor today!
DISD Educational Concerts
The Orchestra extends its reach to thousands of DISD students each year by providing an opportunity to attend the specially edited
45-minute student performances of our annual productions for free, thanks to our underwriting sponsors. This is often the first live experience of any kind these students have both in the Arts District and with musical theatre, bringing the intersecting worlds of music, history, drama, dance, and languages to life onstage.
Summer Strings Camp
In 2011 the Orchestra of New Spain was asked to create a week long Summer Strings Camp, at which students receive 30 hours of orchestral and sectional rehearsals, theory and musicianship. Bused from five neighborhoods to Emmett T. Conrad High School the Summer Strings Camp has grown from 95 students in 2011 to over 250 students before COVID-19. The camp had to be put on hold in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19, but it resumed in 2022 at 150 students.
Artistic Residencies
Starting in 2017, Orchestra of New Spain has collaborated with Yjastros Flamenco to provide Dallas ISD students with the opportunity to immerse themselves in the art of Flamenco. Seeing burgeoning popularity within DISD arts education, this program has taught in schools such as Booker T. Washington, Greiner Arts Academy, Woodrow Wilson High School, Sunset High School, and W. T. White. During COVID-19, the program had to be cancelled, but the students were given 1.5 hours of video instructions to flamenco dances, which were viewed by 8,000 students.
In 2023, the residency worked with Rumbarroco, providing extensive workshops to over 450 students in Booker T. Washington and Greiner Arts Academy. These workshops sought to expose students to IberAmerican baroque music and have them tap their feet to the rhythmic backbone of Latin percussion. They even got to listen to Laury Gutierrez, playing the viola de gamba, talk about the history of music and associated instruments.
On the Road Concerts
An example of the Orchestra's chamber music capabilities and touring capacity, "Music for the Dance" involves 8 musicians (including a castanets player!) performing varieties of 18th century fandango and folia music. In the 2022-23 season, we toured in Palestine, TX along with the Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth and the Dallas International School.