New West Symphony names director of Harmony Project

Anne Case has been named director of the New West Symphony Harmony Project of Ventura County.

The Harmony Project is a tuition-free after school program that provides quality music instruction to children from low-income families who would not otherwise have access to music education. It serves 150 students from Title I schools from third grade through their high school graduation.

“We look to Anne to help guide the vision and further development of the Harmony Project with a clear eye towards social and musical outcomes and impact,” said Natalia Staneva, executive director of New West Symphony. “Through this program we hope to use music to bridge the social and academic inequities in our community and fulfill our dream is that all children can learn and play together.”

Most recently, Case coordinated and taught in Charlotte Symphony’s El Sistema-inspired program, paving the way for the program’s expansion. Founded in Venezuela in 1975, El Sistema is a global movement designed to transform the lives of children through music. Case also previously served as program director for Valley Vibes Orchestra in Sonoma and has had engagements in a number of initiatives across the country, including Play on Philly, MYCincinnati, Indiana University’s Fairview Violin Project, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra’s Metropolitan Youth Orchestra and the YOURS project.

Case holds a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from Oberlin Conservatory and also studied music education and string pedagogy at Indiana University, Bloomington.

Founded in 1995, the New West Symphony is the resident company of the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, the Oxnard Performing Arts Center and Barnum Hall in Santa Monica.