Milwaukee Public Schools
Press Release

2,500+ Milwaukee children set to perform together at 45th MPS’ Biennial Music Festival, celebrating 90 years of student musicians

Final rehearsals begin Tuesday for Wednesday event at U.S. Cellular Arena; comes as MPS continues to increase number of art, music and physical education teachers

By - May 6th, 2014 10:59 am

MILWAUKEE (May 5, 2014) — More than 2,500 children from schools across Milwaukee will join together Wednesday in a musical celebration 90 years in the making: the 45th Milwaukee Public Schools Biennial Music Festival!140502_old_music_festival1
The students represent 80 schools in the city, including 73 MPS schools and 7 schools not affiliated with the district.

All 2,500+ students will sing and perform the festival’s finale piece, “Let There Be Peace on Earth,” a song that was long a staple at the festival.

“This is a wonderful celebration of music at a time when Milwaukee Public Schools is looking to add music teachers back into our classrooms,” MPS Superintendent Gregory Thornton said. “A love of music can encourage students to come to school every day. Music is a critical part of a well-rounded education and can help students excel in other subjects.”

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The Superintendent’s 2014-15 budget proposal would bring 50 additional art, music and physical education teachers into schools, building on 92 such positions over the past two years.

The festival will take place in Wednesday, May 7 at 6:30 p.m. at the U.S. Cellular Arena, 400 W. Kilbourn Avenue, Milwaukee 53203. Media are welcome and invited to attend.

Media are also welcome to preview the event by attending rehearsals on Tuesday, May 6 or Wednesday, May 7, both from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Those interested in attending a rehearsal should contact MPS media manager Tony Tagliavia.140502 music rehearsal2

Photos: The 1933 MPS Biennial Music Festival; rehearsal photos for the 2014 MPS Biennial Music Festival

This news is available online:  http://www5.milwaukee.k12.wi.us/dept/superintendent/2014/05/2500-milwaukee-children-set-to-perform-together-at-45th-mps-biennial-music-festival/

About Milwaukee Public Schools
Milwaukee Public Schools, Wisconsin’s largest school district, is expanding college and career readiness efforts and continuing to implement innovative reforms that give every student the opportunity to succeed. MPS’ high-quality school options for 3-year-olds to high school seniors feature school climates in which positive behavior is reinforced; certified, highly-trained teachers; 21st-century learning technology for students; and curriculum aligned to the rigorous Common Core State Standards, which set a clear, high bar for the topics students must master at each grade level. MPS’ Class of 2013 earned $24 million in scholarships and the district is home to some of the state’s best high schools according to the Washington Post and U.S. News and World Report. More MPS news is available at http://mpsmke.com/news.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.

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