Growing Greenup APO performance

Growing Greenup

APO performance

Anne Stephens

For The Ashland Beacon

Through live and virtual performances in schools throughout the country, The American Pops Orchestra has reached more than 650,000 students and 3,250 elementary schools since the inception of its Children’s Outreach Tour programming.‍            During its 2023 spring and fall tours, APO reached approximately 4,200 students through in person performances in West Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky. More than 293,000 students were reached through virtual performances across all 50 states. https://www.theamericanpops.org/outreach

On Wednesday, March 19, 2025, all Greenup County Elementary School students had the opportunity to attend a Broadway-caliber production of the story “Around the World in 80 Days.”  This production was made possible by the American Pops Orchestra Children’s Outreach tour. Retired music teacher, Keith Simmons, connected with the APO during his last year of teaching and has continued his communications with the director to keep Greenup County on the APO tour schedule.

From Kentucky to Hawaii, they have students tune in live and virtually from across all 50 states.  All three performances on the 19th were live streamed worldwide and students participated in the performance.

Creating a space for students to engage in hands-on learning in the arts is as much about serving the communities as it is the pursuit of joy.  The tour began at The University of Pikeville, where the actors prepared the show.  Two days of performances were in Pike County Kentucky. Wednesday the 19th, was in Greenup County.  Thursday they were in Lawrence County Ohio, and Friday they were in Cabell County West Virginia.

This tour was totally free for the school districts involved.  The students love the show every year and can’t wait to see the next one.

These live music experiences provide the opportunity for students to interact with professional performers in a way that can’t be duplicated outside a school setting. The tour is curated for that purpose and with the intent of inspiring children to use their imagination and embrace the beauty of art.

Sometimes these activities are seen as “fluff” or “extra”. I believe that these activities are vital to child development because of the many ways they connect learning with understanding. Allowing a child the space to experience a story that reaches them via multiple senses will stick with them much longer and cause them to think more broadly. This is my opinion, but I believe that it is truth. A child can retell a story and imagine various outcomes when their interest has been piqued, and their attention is wrapped up in the progression of the story.

The APO is a perfect example of the connections that can be made through music and story. I appreciate Mr. Simmons for continuing this program for the Greenup County School District’s elementary students. I also wish the APO director and members broken legs and many continued student connections as they make their journey across the country!

One of the programs of the Greenup County Extension Arts Council is the Greenup Arts Professional Learning Community (PLC) for all arts teachers/instructors both public and private. This group shares resources and communication to work together to keep up on state arts standards, best practices, teacher support, parent connection, and community outreach.

For more information, contact Anne Stephens, Agent for Community Arts and Development in Greenup County. 606.836.0201 anne.stephens@uky.edu 35 Wurtland Avenue, Wurtland, KY 41144 The Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment is an Equal Opportunity Organization with respect to education and employment and authorization to provide research, education information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function without regard to economic or social status and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information, age, veteran status, physical or mental disability or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.  University of Kentucky, Kentucky State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Kentucky counties, cooperating.