Since 1971, the Delaware County Symphony (DCS) has been an integral part of the arts community in greater Delaware County. Under the direction of Sebastian Grand, we provide outstanding musical experiences, performing four full symphony concerts and four, more intimate, chamber concerts each season at Neumann University. We have also performed at various regional venues, including the Kimmel Center Perelman Theater, Wilmington Grand Opera House, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Media Theatre, and Rose Tree Park. The DCS also provides a number of outreach opportunities including small ensemble performances at community events and programs for young children and school students. Incorporated as a non-profit in 1988, the DCS is governed by a Board of Directors whose members are elected from both within and outside of the symphony orchestra. Find out more at DCSMusic.org.
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Community Outreach
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ts Guild at Neumann University: As a charter member of the Arts Guild, the Delaware County Symphony has performed on various occasions, both on and off campus, in support of Arts Guild activities. This collaboration has helped the Arts Guild create a broader cultural presence at the University and has provided members of the DCS greater opportunities to perform for diverse audiences at different venues.De l
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ware County Arts Consortium: The Delaware County Symphony is an active member of the Delaware County Arts Consortium, a collaborative association of cultural groups in Delaware County working to advance the economic vitality of the nonprofit arts and cultural community. The Consortium strives to promote the value of cultural resources to the local community, and to share information, ideas, and resources to better serve Delaware County. Comm u
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ity Events: Delaware County Symphony ensembles engage with the community by providing musical entertainment for community activities, store openings and social gatherings. Speakers and musicians from the DCS give presentations at schools, community centers, libraries, places of worship, and retirement centers.Educat i
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nal OutreachDCS Inst
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ment Discovery: Young children are delighted with Delaware County Symphony’s Instrument Discovery! Conducted at regional educational and cultural centers, a small group of symphony musicians present individual instrument demonstrations showing the different tones and sounds from across the sections of the orchestra. The small ensemble will then demonstrate how all the different tones work together in harmony by performing Simple Gifts. Afterwards, the children are invited up to each instrument for a closer look and listen, and to interact with the musicians. Each child will receive an “Instrument Discovery Trail Map” and be able to collect a musical sticker from each performer for their map as a reminder of all they heard and experienced.DCS Sympho n
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Explorers: DCS Symphony Explorers is a free introduction to symphonic music for school age children accompanied by a parent or guardian. At each event, the children will learn about a specific orchestral instrument and have the opportunity to experience part of a rehearsal. The children are invited to sit as part of the orchestra on stage to observe the interactions between the conductor and the musicians. DCS Symphony Explorers takes place on select Monday evenings in the McNichol Art Gallery in the Thomas A. Bruder Life Center Building at Neuman University.DCS Youth Co n
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erto Competition: The Delaware County Symphony offers high school musicians of outstanding talent the opportunity to audition for its annual Youth Concerto Competition. The winner of the competition is awarded prize money and performs a work for solo instrument and orchestra during the May Symphony Series concert. The winner’s photo and biography are also featured on the DCS website.Annual Brochur e
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Artwork: Working with Neumann University Art Professor, Glenn Holmstrom, Neumann University art students have the opportunity to design the artwork for the Delaware County Symphony Annual Brochure. This artwork is also used on the cover for the symphony concert programs, the DCS profile on Ticket Leap, and in the Season Ad posted on social media. The student’s photo and biography are also featured on the DCS website.Meet the Music: M
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et the Music is an informative introduction to the music being performed in the Delaware County Symphony concert. Neumann University Music Professor, Dr. Richard Sayers presents a short talk before each concert so concert goers can more fully appreciate the performance of our DCS musicians and guest soloists. Meet the Music takes place in the McNichol Art Gallery in the Thomas A. Bruder Life Center Building at Neuman University from 2:00 to 2:30 PM before the Sunday Symphony Concert.Visual Program Not e
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: By scanning a QR code, audience members can be connected to Visual Program Notes, a supplement to the written notes in the concert program. For both symphony and chamber concerts, …