The Canberra Symphony Orchestra ensures that everyone can share in the joy of music through its Community and Regional Engagement programs. Connections are made and stories revealed through the program. Throughout the year, CSO ensembles perform over 65 free concerts in specialist education centres, aged care facilities, community centres, the National Botanic Gardens and the Canberra Hospital. Recognising the power of music to improve social, emotional and physical wellbeing, the CSO is committed to providing programs that are inclusive and accessible to people who might not otherwise attend a concert in Llewellyn Hall. The response is a wonderful reminder that the CSO Community and Regional Engagement programs are just as important as the sell-out performances we put on stage. There is compelling research that links children’s educational outcomes with exposure to music; it has been proven that learning potential and social development are significantly improved with regular musical engagement. The Canberra Symphony Orchestra’s education program draws on this research to create a unique musical education experience for school-aged children. Since 2007, over 60,000 school students in the ACT and region have participated in CSO education activities that are designed to support the Australian Curriculum and include comprehensive teaching materials to support and enhance students’ musical experiences. CSO delivers our education programs free of charge to children and their teachers from the ACT and surrounding region. www.cso.org.au