Louisville Public Media in Kentucky has received a $100,000 grant from PNC Bank for developing classical music programming.
The grant will also help LPM’s WUOL Classical Louisville expand educational programs for children and diverse audiences, according to a press release. It will help fund The Music Box, a new podcast aiming to make classical music more accessible for children.
“Our goal is to invite and inspire kids to listen to and create classical music, making it relevant to their everyday lives,” says Sara Soltau, LPM’s education programs manager and host and producer of The Music Box, in a video about the podcast. The podcast tells stories of composers who “offer a more diverse portrayal of the classical canon,” according to Soltau, who plans to visit classrooms and engage with students for episodes.
Soltau says she believes the podcasts can be used to complement music curricula or serve as an introduction to music for students at schools lacking access to music education.
“We want to be able to reach schools that may not have music teachers or music programs and give them the resources they need to bring music into the classroom,” she says.