On my day off in Tokyo I went to perform a children’s outreach concert at the American School in Tokyo.  This school is filled with the sons  and daughters of diplomats and businessmen of over 40 countries who are finding themselves temporarily in Tokyo on assignment.  My plan for this fourth grade class was to talk about classical music and  introduce the various instruments in the orchestra.  I was in for a  shock and amazed to  see all of the children’s hands shoot up in the  air when I had asked the kids if they had ever heard an orchestra  play.

“My parents have a subscription to the Esplande Hall in  Singapore,”  answered a very articulate half-asian boy.

“Esplande?!?!”  shouted an American girl.

“The Esplande is the Boston  Pops Orchestra!”  and then  “Live from Lincoln Center!!!”  exclaimed another voice.

In just seconds- as so often it does- the classroom  turned into a  room full of 9 year olds exuberantly shouting out  their  knowledge of the orchestra world in one of the most impressive displays of elementary school one-upmanship that I have have ever  witnessed.   This expression of their knowledge continued as THEY told  me ALL of the instruments in the orchestra.  (oh yes, one young lady even said bassoon)

I left the American School on a high after  performing Rossini, Debussy and “Happy Birthday” for a room full of  critical listeners.  I am STILL on cloud nine from this school visit-  as I am filled with with a renewed faith in the future of our  orchestral audiences and of classical music.

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Richie Hawley is the Principal Clarinet of the Cincinnati Symphony and Pops Orchestras.