Ronnie Segev, Founder and Artistic director of the classical music ensemble, the Ten O’clock Classics announced today the launch of the Ten O’clock Classics newest website, www.directionsmusic.com. This informative website will outline the benefits and theories behind the Directions Program, the Ten O’clock Classics’ charitable music education program.
Working in cooperation with the Education through Music program sponsored by the Richards Institute of Education and Research, the Directions Program aims to provide highly promising and dedicated inner city students with free one-on-one musical instruction. Students are given free expert instruction and mentorship by Juilliard graduates who must pass both an audition and a background test. Students also receive free instruments as well as opportunities to play live with the Ten O’clock Classics at many of their performances throughout the year.
Programs such as the Directions Program have become crucial in today’s climate of school budget cuts and standardized testing, as music education programs are usually among the first classes to be eliminated. Music education is often deemed ‘frivolous’
Segev, a Juilliard graduate himself, created both the Ten O’clock Classics and the Directions program as a means to attract a younger audience to the classical music genre. Since their inception in 2000, the Ten O’clock Classics have offered free concerts at many young-adult friendly locations throughout NYC and the country, at diverse locations ranging from Crunch Fitness to Studio 54. Ten O’clock Classics performances eschew the traditional 7pm performance times frequented by older generations by starting at 10pm (hence their name), when younger crowds tend to go out.
Much like the Ten O’clock Classics, The Directions Program works to attract an even younger audience to the classical genre. In addition to the free lessons and instruments, the Directions Program also provides free Ten O’clock Classics concerts to various schools throughout the school year.
Performances by the Ten O’clock Classics and funding for the Directions Program are made possible thanks to funding from Gotham Organization President and TOC chair David Picket. The Ten O’clock Classics and Directions Program are governed by a 10-member board of advisors and a 22 member board of directors.
