The Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra is pleased to announce a new education initiative serving children of refugee families recently resettled in Kalamazoo. Orchestra Rouh offers regular, ongoing music instruction to children of Syrian and other refugee families. Rouh means both “hope” and “spirit” in Arabic, and the program is designed to nurture the emotional wellbeing of children through music instruction, led by teachers who are bilingual in English and Arabic, and including music from Arabic traditions.

String instruments for the program have been generously provided by Meyer Music of Kalamazoo, and Suzuki Academy of Kalamazoo is donating rehearsal space. The Irving S. Gilmore Foundation has provided start-up funding, and additional grant applications are pending.

Click here for more information about this program or to learn about how you can help.