In the school year 2003-2004, the Columbus School embarked on building a new music program that includes both General Music and Performing Ensembles. At the Elementary School, each child now receives General Music classes each week. Lower elementary grades focus on music exploration and having a positive experience with music while upper elementary grades focus on music reading skills. Each child in 4th and 5th grades learns to read music on the recorder, or flauta dulce. Right now, over 200 children in our Elementary are able to read music! We also have a 4th Grade Chorus made up of 30 of our top singers in the grade, and our 5th Grade Recorder Ensemble plays for Assemblies and Flag Ceremonies as well.

In the Middle School, we started our Symphonic Band program. We have a 6th grade Beginning Band made up of 49 students—6 flutes, 19 clarinets, 12 trumpets, and 12 trombones. We made our debut at La Noche de las Velitas on December 3rd, 2003 where we were met with a wildly enthusiastic audience of students and parents. Also in December 2003 we performed a special concert for the 4th and 5th grades that was televised by Tele-Antioquia on December 22.

In 2004 - 2005, our 6th Grade Beginning Band will become our 7th Grade Intermediate Band and we will add another 6th grade band until the Middle School is represented musically in every grade.

We plan to have a number of concerts of our ensembles in Medellín so that we can bring our new program to the community as well!