The Lima Symphony Orchestra continues to spark an interest in music through its Symphony Storytime series. 

May 20, 2024, Press Release from the Lima Symphony Orchestra: Lima, OH (May 20, 2024) – The Lima Symphony Orchestra brings its popular Symphony Storytime to several libraries this June. The Lima Symphony hosts Symphony Storytime programs in Allen and surrounding counties extending the Symphony’s educational reach and impact. Children and their families are invited to these free, interactive programs, thanks to our generous sponsors.

It is never to early to foster young children’s love of music.  Fresh of his performance with the Lima Symphony Orchestra on Friday night, Cellist Henry Shapard entertained a different crowd at the Mornings with the Maestro hosted by the Lima Public Library.  During the event, he showed the kids just how fun and versatile the cello can be, by demonstrating how is reflect different emotions and even mimic some animal sounds.  Shapard started playing the Cello when he was three years old and says playing for children are his favorite performances.

Their final program of the year was at the historic Brumback Library in Van Wert Tuesday morning. The Symphony Storytime takes a group of musicians around to libraries in Allen County and the surrounding area to combine the love of reading and music into a program focused on a specific topic. In the final program of the year, the students were learning about opposites.

Lima City Schools hosted singer, song-writer, and cellist Ayanna Williams, also known by Yanna Cello this week. Williams spent time working with the students and performing for them. Williams shared her successful journey to inspire students to consider a career in music and to know how powerful music is in our lives. While Williams was trained as a classical cellist, she incorporates her love for hip-hop, trap, and R&B with her classically trained roots.