The Perlman Music Program/Suncoast (formerly of Sarasota), with the support and cooperation of The Juilliard School, Columbia University's Teacher College, Toby & Itzhak Perlman and the faculty of The Perlman Music Program, has announced plans to launch education outreach programs for the Sarasota and Manatee county schools.  This Board-initiated effort was led by long time music educator and Board member Barbara Staton.  Cindy Balistreri, recently retired Sarasota County Fine arts Program Specialist for the School Board of Sarasota County, is serving as PMP/Suncoast's consultant for developing the curriculum-based programming which will serve a total of four middle schools in both Sarasota and Manatee counties as well as the feeder elementary schools in the initial year. 

The pilot project commencing in October 2009 is scheduled to include the LK Quartet in residence.  Laura Seay, violist of the quartet, graduate of The Juilliard School and currently a graduate student at Teacher's College, Columbia University, will work in close collaboration with Cindy Balistreri and thus combine both the latest methods and research in music education with over a decade of hands-on, management-level curriculum development experience.

 Now commencing its sixth year, the PMP Winter Residency in Sarasota has been providing free admission to diverse audiences of about 13,000 each year for rehearsals, performances and master classes both out in the community and on the USF-Sarasota/Manatee campus.

 "We've drawn our audience north from St. Pete down to Punta Gorda and Fort Myers," says PMP/Suncoast Board Member Barbara Staton. "Now that our name reflects our area of activity, we can reach out to provide more and encourage participation and support from the entire Suncoast."

 "In this second phase of growth, PMP/Suncoast plans to add this curriculum-based outreach program to bring the personal experience of PMP music-making directly to the schoolchildren in Florida's west coast," adds PMP/Suncoast Executive Director Elizabeth Power.

  The Perlman Music Program/Suncoast encourages artistic development and camaraderie among young international string musicians via a nurturing non-competitive world renowned music education program.  PMP/Suncoast ensures its continued growth and viability through cultivating regional and national participation and support by offering premier cultural and educational outreach programs, world-class performances, and events in Sarasota and its surrounding communities. Funding is being solicited for support of all of PMP/Suncoast's educational efforts.