The Alexandria Symphony Orchestra’s Sympatico Receives $50,000 Grant from Genesis Inspiration Foundation; Will Expand to Hammond Middle School

Posted Sep 03, 2025 | ASO News, Press Releases, 

The Alexandria Symphony Orchestra’s music education initiative, Sympatico, is thrilled to announce an extraordinary gift from the Genesis Inspiration Foundation in the amount of $50,000 in support of ASO’s music education programs for children. This generous grant comes through the advocacy and support of Kevin Reilly, Owner and President of Alexandria Hyundai and Genesis of Alexandria.

“This gift is a tremendous vote of confidence in the work we’re doing to bring high-quality out-of-school-time opportunities to our community’s children,” said ASO Board Trustee Melynda Wilcox. “We are deeply grateful to Kevin Reilly and the Genesis Inspiration Foundation for their generous investment in our mission.”

Sympatico, an El Sistema-inspired program, provides students with high-quality music instruction at no cost, using music as a catalyst for social change. Since 2012, the program has been offered before and after school at John Adams Elementary School, engaging students through five different ensembles. Sympatico ensembles include: Cantamos (chorus), Fiddle Factory (mixed strings), Mallet Machine (intermediate mallets), Percussion Discussion (bucket band), and Basic Beats and Beyond (K-2).

Thanks to the generous support of the Genesis Inspiration Foundation, Sympatico will expand to Francis C. Hammond Middle School starting September 2025 and will offer a mixed percussion ensemble, Rhythm and Grooves. This group will introduce full ensemble music to students in grades 6-8. This Orff-inspired program allows students to explore music from diverse cultures and genres while developing creativity, movement, and ensemble skills. Students will gain and build upon a strong foundation in music reading, rhythmic fluency, and proper playing technique.

For more information about ASO’s Sympatico program, please visit: www.alexsym.org/education/sympatico