WELCOME TO THE PVS EDUCATION PROGRAMS
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In 2022, the Pioneer Valley Symphony (PVS) was approached by Artspace Community Arts Center of Greenfield to take on stewardship of its music education programs including Strings for Kids (a collaboration with Greenfield Public Schools), private lessons, and group music instruction so that Artspace could refocus its mission on visual arts. In keeping with our mission, the PVS took on the management and development of these programs in complement to our existing educational programming: Youth Orchestra (est. 2013) and Education Concert (est. 1994). We also starting offering a two-week summer performing arts workshop in recent years.
​Since the PVS doesn't have its own building (yet!), we hold our private lessons and workshops at Temple Israel Greenfield on Pierce St in Greenfield and our other ed programs at other Franklin County locations. The PVS is happy to increase our deep investment in the local music ecosystem, and provide the foundation for a healthy future for these vital programs ensuring accessible music instruction to our community.
​​​The Pioneer Valley Symphony's mission is to connect, inspire and enhance our community by providing opportunities to make, appreciate, and learn about music.
IN MEMORIAM: MARY KAY HOFFMAN
The PVS Youth Orchestra, Strings for Kids, and Artspace Community Arts Center were established in whole or in part by Mary Kay Hoffman, an inimitable champion for youth music education, who passed away in February 2023. You can read a beautiful obituary by Mary Kay's family here. Mary Kay's legacy lives on through the hundreds of students who have passed through these music education programs and will do so in the future. In collaboration with Mary Kay's family, we are honored to manage the Mary Kay Hoffman Fund for youth musicians. The vision for this fund is to provide financial assistance to musicians up through age 18 who live in Franklin County. The Fund helps students whose families couldn't otherwise afford all of the expenses involved in studying an instrument with assistance for private lesson tuition through the PVS's music school, Youth Orchestra fees, and instrument rental or repair. You can contribute to the Mary Kay Hoffman Fund with a tax-deductible charitable gift using the button below.