Become a Utah Symphony Docent

Do you remember when you were a 5th grader and attended your first Utah Symphony concert with your elementary school class? If you grew up elsewhere, were you lucky enough to have had a field trip to hear a symphony orchestra?

If you have a love of music and would like to share that excitement with 5th graders, you’re a prime candidate to be a Utah Symphony Docent. Every year, virtually every 5th grader in the Canyons, Davis, Granite, Jordan and Salt Lake City school districts has the thrill of coming to Abravanel Hall to hear the Utah Symphony. In addition, we regularly get students from the Alpine, South Summit and Tooele districts. Most of these students arrive at Abravanel Hall excited about the adventure because they have been visited by a Utah Symphony docent who has introduced them to the concert.

The Utah Symphony Guild has sponsored our docent program for years and we couldn’t manage this program without them. Docents receive complete lesson plans for their school visit and attend a training session before going out to the schools. If you would like to learn more about our docent program, here’s a handy two-step process.

1. Call or email Beverly Hawkins at 801-869-9092 or bhawkins@usuo.org . She can answer your questions and put you in touch with the chairperson of the district in which you’d like to serve.

2. In addition to the regular concert-specific training in early February, docents are invited to attend a Listening 101 Workshop given by Symphony Education Manager Beverly Hawkins. This workshop is designed to help you gain a greater understanding of music. We will review the elements of music and practice listening for them. We will talk about the ways in which they are used by different composers and discover how this attentive listening can enrich our enjoyment and appreciation of music. Please join us on Friday, November 11, from 10 am to noon to spend some time exploring and enjoying music with others who share that joy. To rsvp, call or email Beverly Hawkins at 801-869-9092 or bhawkins@usuo.org .