24-04-2025
Hunt Elementary students compose music with Sioux City Symphony
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) — Musicians from the Sioux City Symphony Orchestra gave a special concert Wednesday. The music they played was not from a well-known movie or musical, but was instead composed by students from Hunt A+ Arts Elementary School in Sioux City.
The concert was the final event for the 'Composers in the Classroom' program that paired fifth graders with musicians to learn how to put together a piece of music. This was the program's inaugural year, and the aim is not only to give students hands-on experience, but also to show the importance of arts and music in school.
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'Sometimes it's easy to just check a box and say 'yeah, arts are important'. This goes deeper,' Sioux City Symphony Director Ryan Haskins said. 'This brings to the front a significant conversation that should be had every single year. This is what changes lives. This is what impacts young people to grow up to be incredible human beings.'
The professional musicians also got to learn from the students and experience music in a new way.
'Seeing them sit back, close their eyes, seeing what they can create through music without having to study formally (through) 20 years of conservatory, being able to create from their heart and from their soul, and hearing those creations come to life is what it's all about,' Haskins said.
The event closed with an awards ceremony to recognize the students with certificates and medals. Family members and school staff were invited to attend.
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