SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA— Six
San Luis Obispo performing arts organizations have come together in a bold
collaboration to expose young performing arts students to diverse art forms. Festival Mozaic, the San Luis Obispo Symphony, Cal Poly Arts, Arts Obispo, Opera San Luis Obispo and the San Luis Obispo Little Theatre are
offering free tickets to seven performances during the 2012-2013 season. More
than 300 tickets will be donated by all participating organizations through
this program.

The Passport to the Arts
program began during the 2011-2012 season and has been refined in its second
year. The program is designed to educate young artists about the diverse
performing arts, all being produced at a high level. “If a young person plays an
instrument in the Symphony’s Strings in the Schools program, it’s highly
beneficial for her to experience the best in chamber music, choir, theater,
dance and opera. We believe that holistic arts education is the best way to
promote interdisciplinary arts learning, and research shows that young people
who participate in a diverse range of arts activities do better in school,
score better on tests, and face fewer challenges,” said Festival Mozaic
Executive Director Bettina Swigger. “It’s also a wonderful way for us to build
our audiences, both in the present day – because students are required to bring
an adult family member with them – and for the future.”

Tickets will be distributed for
performances from Festival Mozaic’s WinterMezzo November and March chamber
music series, the Little Theatre’s production of It’s A Wonderful Life, The
African Children’s Choir presented by Cal Poly Arts, the San Luis Obispo
Symphony’s Apex for Kids Family Concert, Opera SLO’s production of The Magic
Flute and Circa! presented by Cal Poly Arts.

San Luis Obispo Symphony Music
Education Director Andrea Castillo said: “We are thrilled to partner with
local arts organizations to bring this program to our students.  We hope
the Passport to the Arts encourages families across the county to experience
many of the great performances taking place their own backyard.”

To be eligible for free
tickets, students must have participated in at least one of the following
programs:

·
SLO Symphony Strings in the Schools

·
SLO Little Theatre Academy of Creative Theatre

·
Opera SLO Children’s Summer Opera Camp

·
Cal Poly Arts Outreach Programs

·
Festival Mozaic Master Classes

The Passport to the Arts
program is underwritten by the Performing Arts organizations mentioned
previously, as well as with generous funding from the MOCA Foundation.

For more information, please
contact San Luis Obispo Symphony Music Education Director Andrea Castillo at
(805) 543-3533, ext.#13 or email [email protected].