SANDPOINT — In addition to school performances throughout Bonner and Boundary counties next week, The Festival at Sandpoint will present a public concert of their musical outreach program at Luther Park at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, May 30. Anyone who loves music is also cordially invited to enjoy this free 45-minute concert featuring excerpts from the Festival’s upcoming summer symphonic programs.

The Festival’s educational mission hits on the road this week with performances for all Bonner and Boundary County public, private and home-schooled fifth-grade students.

The goal of this community-oriented, educational outreach is to entertain, educate and foster an interest in listening to and learning to play music at a pivotal time before most of the students have the opportunity participate in band during sixth grade, said Festival at Sandpoint Executive Director Dyno Wahl.

Wahl said another goal of the outreach program is to promote the enjoyment of music as a family activity. Toward that end, each student and their parents will receive three free tickets to attend either The Festival’s Grand Finale Concert on August 12 at Memorial Field with Maestro Gary Sheldon and The Spokane Symphony or The Festival’s Family Concert with the Festival’s Community Orchestra on Aug. 5.

The Festival’s 5th Grade Outreach Program was founded in 1999 when the non-profit arts organization’s educational mission took on a community focus. The outreach was an instant hit with students and teachers and continues to grow every year. Now, in its 20th year, the ensemble consists of local and regional musicians, led this year by Verne Wind-ham, Program Director at Spokane Public Radio. It has expanded to benefit every public, private and home schooled 5th grader in Bonner and Boun-dary Counties. An impressive ensemble of 15 musicians, including seasoned professionals and some of the area’s best student musicians are performing: Gloria Bojilov, Sadie Dignan, Sophie Dignan, Larry Hanna, Cynthia Horton, Jeff McLagan, Elisa Osborn, Kiersti Osborn, Katelyn Osborn, Lindy Osborn, David Taylor, Tom Walton, and Beth Weber. Karen Dignan and Maestro Gary Sheldon coordinated this year’s program in conjunction with local music teachers and The Festival at Sandpoint’s Educational Committee headed up by Molly Rickard.

A study guide for the students and their parents will be sent home with each child explaining the workshop and inviting the kids and their families to attend The Festival this summer with a voucher for three complimentary tickets and a one-time opportunity to purchase additional tickets for other family members at the discounted price of $5 each.

This outreach program will reach over 600 students this year and The Festival will provide the free concert tickets to all these students and their families.

This program is offered at no cost to the schools and is made possible by the Festival’s Maestro Circle of donors and specific grants and contributions that benefit the Festival’s educational programs including the Instrumental Assistance Program, Youth Strings Orchestra, Music and Arts Scholarships, and Family Concert: Community Assistance League, Confidence Foundation, Idaho Commission on the Arts/National Endowment for the Arts, Idaho Community Foundation/Gretchen Hellar Bonner County Arts Enchancement Fund, and the Festival’s Maestro Circle of Donors.

“It is our mission to inspire and enable the young people in our community to learn to play and to enjoy music,” said Wahl. “Our 5th Grade Outreach Program gets these students revved up about the musical opportunities available to them right here in Sandpoint and we are happy to include a public performance for music fans of all ages this year.”