Melmark New England Hosts New England Premiere of Music for Autism’s Highly Acclaimed Interactive Concert Series

ANDOVER, MA (February 28, 2011) – Melmark New Englandwas proud to present the first in a series of acclaimed autism-friendly interactive concerts designed for individuals with autism and their families. The first concert, celebrating the partnership between Music for Autism, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and Melmark New England was held on Sunday, February 20, 2011 with over 250 people in attendance at two concerts during this inaugural event with Classical Tangent, a classical and folk group of musicians from the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Berklee College of Music faculty and other professional organizations.

Music for Autism offers professionally performed, enriching musical experiences in an environment where individual differences are celebrated. The 60-minute interactive concerts are broken out into three portions to include “concert time”, “conducting time” and “percussion time” where event participants are invited to join the experience with their movement and provided instruments. Concertgoers are encouraged to participate and allow the music to move them.

“The performing arts are often inaccessible to families and their children with autism. That’s why we’re so grateful to Music for Autism for establishing this bridge to the arts. Classical Tangent’s performance was flawless and was a moving experience for Melmark New England staff, guests and their families as well as many community guests,” said Rita Gardner. “At one point, the calming and engaging effect the music had on participants with autism overwhelmed the families, leaving no dry eye in the house.”

Robert Accordino, US Founder and Executive Director of Music for Autism said, “We’re thrilled to expand our reach to New England. Our signature is the outstanding quality of our musical programs with exceptional volunteers in a wonderful setting. We are thus so lucky to have the perfect collaborators to bring our programs to serve those with autism and their families in the greater Boston area–Melmark New England and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. In the worlds of autism and music, it does not get any better than that!”

“We are delighted to partner with Music for Autism to present BSO chamber concerts in the greater Boston area for individuals with autism and their families. The concert on Sunday not only was a moving experience for the families who came, but also for our musicians who performed. We are looking forward to more concerts in the future.” Sarah Glenn, Assistant Manager of Education and Community Programs, Boston Symphony Orchestra.

Melmark New England, located in Andover, Massachusetts, is a service division of Melmark, Inc. in Berwyn, Pennsylvania. We provide educational, residential, clinical vocational, therapeutic and healthcare services, personally designed for each individual in an environment of warmth, care and respect. We are committed to science-based, best practices as they relate to the individuals we serve. The student is always our first priority and we strive to ensure that our students have services that are evidence-based and effective. While all services provided by Melmark New England are based on a model of Applied Behavior Analysis and other evidence-based interventions, we rely on data to inform and guide the design of service delivery. Our overriding goal is to help each individual reach his/her greatest level of independence in all skill areas and living environments. Melmark New England seeks to partner with families and collaborate in the design of services that best meet the individual student’s and family’s needs. We are committed to educational excellence for every child, every day.

www.melmarkne.org

About Music for AutismMusic for Autism is raising public awareness and enriching lives through autism-friendly, interactive concerts developed specifically for individuals with autism and their families. The concerts held in the United States and United Kingdom feature professional musicians. To ensure equal access for all, every Music for Autism concert is fully subsidized. Families note that the concerts fill a major psychosocial void, enabling them to enjoy enriching activities that are inclusive of children with autism.

www.musicforautism.org

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About Boston Symphony OrchestraNow in its 130th season, the Boston Symphony Orchestra gave its inaugural concert on October 22, 1881, and has continued to uphold the vision of its founder, the businessman, philanthropist, Civil War veteran, and amateur musician Henry Lee Higginson, for well over a century. The Boston Symphony Orchestra has performed throughout the United States, as well as in Europe, Japan, Hong Kong, South America, and China; in addition, it reaches audiences numbering in the millions through its performances on radio, television, and recordings. It plays an active role in commissioning new works from today’s most important composers; its summer season at Tanglewood is regarded as one of the world’s most important music festivals; it helps develop the audience of the future through BSO Youth Concerts and through a variety of outreach programs involving the entire Boston community; and, during the Tanglewood season, it sponsors the Tanglewood Music Center, one of the world’s most important training grounds for young composers, conductors, instrumentalists, and vocalists. The orchestra’s virtuosity is reflected in the concert and recording activities of the Boston Symphony Chamber Players, one of the world’s most distinguished chamber ensembles made up of a major symphony orchestra’s principal players, and the activities of the Boston Pops Orchestra have established an international standard for the performance of lighter kinds of music. Overall, the mission of the Boston Symphony Orchestra is to foster and maintain an organization dedicated to the making of music consonant with the highest aspirations of musical art, creating performances and providing educational and training programs at the highest level of excellence. This is accomplished with the continued support of its audiences, governmental assistance on both the federal and local levels, and through the generosity of many foundations, businesses, and individuals.

Today the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Inc., presents more than 250 concerts annually. It is an ensemble that has richly fulfilled Henry Lee Higginson’s vision of a great and permanent orchestra in Boston.

www.bso.org