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EDUCATION FORUM
In reference to Brooks Peters's sadly true article ["Diminuendo," Dec.], there are a number of educational programs struggling valiantly to address the issue of a dwindling opera audience. The Metropolitan Opera, of course, has a fine program under [David] Dik. However, I wish you could mention the programs at New York City Opera (all explained and available at www.nycopera.com).
My particular program, New York City Opera Student Coalition, under the aegis of Lloyd Rigler, who also presents the Classic Arts Showcase on cable television, has actually had its best record so far this fall, reaching more than 1,000 students who attended performances at NYCO. This program has been growing steadily since it started about three years ago, mostly through word of mouth, but we certainly do need more help from teachers and education administrators.
Steven Heiblim
Coordinator, NYCO Student Coalition
New York City
All the cases Brooks Peters cites are right on the mark, especially the decimation of music programs here in the state of California. But there are additional examples of music education that he doesn't cite.
When I attended the Baltimore City Schools from 1933 to 1944, we were taken to the auditorium every other week to listen to the radio broadcasts of the Walter Damrosch concerts from New York City. I cannot say enough concerning the rich music deposit that his narrated programs left on many of us. One has only to look at a copy of...