A young Long Beach girl tries her hands at the cymbals during an Instrument Petting Zoo event hosted by the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra. Photo courtesy of Long Beach Symphony Orchestra.
11:05am | The Long Beach Symphony Orchestra kicks off its “Instrument Petting Zoo” summer program a the Mark Twain LIbrary this afternoon, where youth will be exposed to orchestra instruments.
Following today’s event at the library branch located at 1401 E. Anaheim St. from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.. the petting zoo will travel to six additional locations on various dates
The zoo consists of volunteers from OVATION!, the orchestra’s support volunteer group, leading a short presentation that explains the different string, woodwind, brass and percussion instruments prior to the little ones being let loose to touch and try as many instruments as they so choose.
Spokesman Christopher Trela said the goal of the petting zoo i to introduce children to musical instruments and hopefully generate an interest in the instruments early on, prior to their reaching the second and third grades, when an LBSO ensemble will visit their classrooms.
The additional dates, locations and times of the petting zoo library visits are:
- Tuesday, June 28: Bret Harte Library, 1595 W. Willow St., 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.; 562-570-1044.
- Wednesday, July 6: El Dorado Library, 2900 Studebaker Rd., 2 to 3 p.m.; 562-570-3136.
- Thursday, July 21: Dana Library, 3680 Atlantic Ave., 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.; 562-570-1042.
- Wednesday, July 27: Brewitt Library, 4036 E. Anaheim St., 4 to 5 p.m.; 562-570-1040.
- Friday, July 29: Ruth Bach Library, 4055 Bellflower Blvd., 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.; 562-570-1038.
- Tuesday, August 2: Cerritos Library, 18025 Bloomfield Ave, Cerritos, 3 to 4 p.m.; 562- 916-1350.
Additional information can be obtained by contacting the children’s librarian at each branch.
Disclosure: Long Beach Post publisher Shaun Lumachi is a Long Beach Symphony Orchestra Board member.