University of Iowa Orchestra performs for Fourth graders in Iowa City Schools

For the first time in three years, the tradition of having local elementary schoolers watch a UI Orchestra performance continues.
Friday, November 4, 2022

By Charlotte Brookins  

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many longstanding traditions at the University of Iowa were forced into hiatus, including the School of Music’s annual performance for all fourth graders in the Iowa City Community School District. But in October, Voxmann Music Building opened its doors to these young students for the first time in two years.  

Professor Mélisse Brunet, Director of Orchestral Studies at the School of Music, says she and her students have been looking forward to the return of this opportunity for local youth as they benefit from coming and hearing the music.  

“Learning about the arts really helps kids with their development and for helping them to be happier later in life,” she explains.  

4th grade students from Iowa City Schools enjoying an orchestra performance.
Photo credit: Iowa City Schools

Brunet led the UI Orchestra during their performance for a crowd of eager young students, and for some, providing a reminder to the performers just how far they have come in their journey with the arts. 

These annual performances assert that the college’s orchestra is not only important to the university, but also holds great significance to the surrounding area.  

“A university needs to be relevant in their community,” says Brunet. “We are performers; we perform not only for the students but for the community. One of the main goals for me is to share classical music with our community.” 

The opportunity to share these experiences wouldn’t be possible without generous donations and support beyond the university.   

“We have generous patrons in the community who care about funding these performances,” Brunet adds. “So, it is both the community giving to the university and the university giving back to the community.” 

For more information on the School of Music and its upcoming events, visit its website and events calendar.

The University of Iowa College of Liberal Arts and Sciences offers about 70 majors across the humanities; fine, performing and literary arts; natural and mathematical sciences; social and behavioral sciences; and communication disciplines. About 15,000 undergraduate and nearly 2,000 graduate students study each year in the college’s 37 departments, led by faculty at the forefront of teaching and research in their disciplines. The college teaches all Iowa undergraduates through the college's general education program, CLAS CORE. About 80 percent of all Iowa undergraduates begin their academic journey in CLAS. The college confers about 60 percent of the university's bachelor's degrees each academic year.