Classics in the Classroom Educational & Entertainment Programs

Educational, Theme, & Entertainment Programs
(for private events, corporate, community, universities, fund raising, hospitals, schools, churches, orchestras, & opera companies). Experience and enjoy American history through songs of the day. (No textbooks, no exams!)

    
The Classics in the Classroom Series presents History Through Song
with Songs of the Civil War, Great Depression, or World War II
with PPT, Voice, and Piano)

                a) Goober Peas (Songs of the Civil War) (<URL)

                b) O’er the Ramparts We Watched (Songs of WW II) (<URL)

                c) Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? (<URL)  (1920s & 1930s songs of the Great Depression)  

Children's Programs available for performing in area schools,
concerts, museums, libraries and festivals.  

a) "Meet Mr. Twink: A Musical Fairy Tale".
Read the description on the video to find more about this
historical radio play, performers, and all involved in creating the production. 

 b) The beloved story of "Ferdinand the Bull"
arranged for string quartet and narrator
with PPT performed for the U of I 2024 Literacy Festival 

3) "I Bought Me a Cat" -
A January 13, 2023 sample sing-a - long from one of our
pre-school and elementary school programs with
pianist Sarah Schwartz, Baritone Ronald Hedlund, and Cellist Barbara Hedlund.

                                              (Sample programs are available upon request.) (View Sample Sound & Video files here)
   
Program History: Celebrated Bass-baritone Ronald Hedlund, well known for his sonorous voice and portrayals of villainous, comedic, and distinguished opera roles, presents history through songs with PPT in concert, schools, hospitals, adult living centers, museums, & for public or private events. While enjoying songs and PPT images, students and audiences discover song origins, what happened in people’s lives during historic eras, and how the songs became popular.

The Classics in the Classroom Series began in 2008 as a Danville (IL) Symphony educational outreach event, then expanded due to popular demand, and also serves the CU Symphony Guild's Music Education Mission. The series helps fulfill music educational missions and encourage audiences to learn more about history and music, while enjoying an accessible, affordable, entertaining cultural event. 

Programs receive continuous acclaim throughout Central Illinois in regional schools, public libraries, at the Veteran’s Administration Hospital, Civil War Round Table Association, Teacher Association meetings, the Mills Breast Cancer institute Music Series, Windsor of Savoy Adult Living Center, Springer Cultural Center, on WDWS Radio, for private events, an Arts in the Parks Concert, and fundraising events. 

More Educational Theme Programs                                                             

Programs with quartet or quintet & narrator Ronald Hedlund  (presented by Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra small ensembles)

** Vintage Disney (string quartet music from early and recent Disney films with PPT)

** Read it Again Mommy - (string quartet music with narration & PPT) -  (UPTV6 Video)
Little Red Riding Hood, Ferdinand the Bull, & Charles Chaplin's Great Dictator Shaving Scene” 

** Peter & the Wolf (<< video link with puppets) also without puppets - (woodwind quintet, narrator, & PPT)

** Broadway show music for String Quartet or Cello Quartet
(Cello Quartet video samples > (https://youtu.be/mjq0kygTJRg & https://youtu.be/Nm0ZGiIGRF0)

** American music and composers - String Quartet

** European favorites - String Quartet

** The Beatles - String Quartet

Trios

** Willie Was Different - Norman Rockwell's story with music by Seymour Barab with flute, clarinet, piano and narrator & PPT

** Musical Critters (animal songs for pre-school and elementary students) for voice, cello, and piano & PPT in 3 languages

** Babar the Elephant  for oboe or violin, cello, and piano, narrator, & PPT in English and French

Entertainment Programs & Narration with Orchestra

To plan a program for your special event: contact
1st Choice Music Services, Tel 217-384-0874, vcello1@comcast.net, www.barbarahedlund.com