The Music Education Programme of the
Pharos Arts Foundation presents concerts for the benefit of students of
state and private schools from different ethnic, religious and cultural
backgrounds. Over the past few years, over 30.000 students and hundreds of
teachers from all over the island have participated in the Programme, which
consists of educational concerts, master-classes and workshops. Promoting
music as a non-verbal expression vehicle that transcends the boundaries of
language, the Music Education Programme is developed in association with the
Ministry of Education and Culture, and comprises custom-made projects for
students of primary and secondary education. In 2008 alone, 3000 students,
including those with special needs, benefited from the Pharos Arts
Foundation's educational initiatives.
Objectives and philosophy
The objective of the programme is to encourage aesthetic development through
musical activity. Our philosophy is that music enhances the quality of life
and should be appreciated, learned and enjoyed for its intrinsic value.
Music can also form part of a healthy lifestyle which acts as a counterpoint
to self-destructive attitudes and habits. Through unique musical
experiences, adolescents can develop an appreciation of music as a means
non-verbal expression of feelings and thoughts, and can use this as a coping
mechanism in everyday life.
Young people are the future of a country. We believe that investing in
education and culture is an important aspect of the overall development of
the life of a country and its people. An investment in education of the
young in this field is therefore an investment in Cypriot society.
Further, one of the Pharos Arts Foundation's aims is to contribute to
dialogue across ethnic, religious or cultural boundaries, and we hope that
our educational programme can contribute to this end by engaging young
people from all Cypriot communities in cross-cultural communication,
promoting mutual tolerance and respect. We sincerely hope that our project
will help build bonds of Pharos Arts Foundation and better understanding and
help dissolve the prejudices that unfortunately still exist in many young
people's minds.
Main projects developed:
Educational Concerts (Attendance 300-400 students in 2 slots)
Audience consists exclusively of students. A concert dialogue follows. Each
concert develops a unique theme area and concentrates on a different
curriculum
Master-Classes (Attendance of 100-200 students)
Attended by music students, some of whom actively participate for
demonstration purposes. Technique issues are more thoroughly explored.
Workshops
Artist-student interaction. Music and its therapeutic dimension. Music is
applied as a means to self-expression.
The Pharos Arts Foundation is also the supporter of the Annual Pharos Music
Education Prize, which was inaugurated in 2007 with the collaboration of the
Ministry of Education and Culture. The Prize involves the participation of
students from a number of Nicosia-based secondary schools and comprises an
assortment of questions on musical topics, such as aural tests, music
history and morphology and music analysis of specific works that were
previously presented during the Foundation?s educational activities.
"It is a precious collaboration the one we have with the Pharos Arts
Foundation. This collaboration should expand even further because the future
of civilization belongs to the young. We must continue these educational
activities, which are essential in the evolution of culture and creativity
in Cyprus."
Andri Xatzigeorgiou-Limpouri / Inspector of Music (Secondary Education)
Ministry of Education and Culture
