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On April 18, 2008, the San Francisco Symphony celebrated 20 years of Adventures in Music (AIM) with a concert and luncheon. AIM is the longest running community music education program of its kind among American orchestras. Through a unique partnership between the San Francisco Symphony and the San Francisco Unified School District, the AIM program reaches every student in grades one through five in every public elementary school in San Francisco. The program is provided free of charge to the schools, its teachers and students by the San Francisco Symphony.

Congratulations to Education Program Director, Ronald Gallman; Education Program Assistant Director, Sammi Madison; Education Program Manager, Andrea Yannone, the staff and AIM musicians on their incredible work and dedication. Over the last ten years, I have served as an AIM musician and experienced first-hand how much the program benefits the children throughout San Francisco communities.

Click here to listen to NEA Chairman Dana Gioia's inspiring April 18th Keynote address at the SFS's 20th Anniversary celebration for its Adventures in Music education program.

Dana Gioia (left), Chairman, National Endowment for the Arts, and pianist/AIM musician, Ken French

Ronald Gallman, Director Education/Youth Programs

Karen Gottlieb, harpist and fellow AIM musician

Benjamin Schwartz, conducted the San Francisco Symphony in a concert specially for AIM students

Expressing my excitement about the program with
Andrea Yannone, Manager
of Education Programs

Mr. Gioia sharing a poem
after the luncheon.