Itzhak Perlman Will Lead the Juilliard Orchestra at their Harris Theater Debut

CHICAGO, Jan. 6, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Ten young string players at British International School of Chicago are about to learn the true meaning of inspiration. On January 6, these students who are benefitting from The Juilliard-Nord Anglia Performing Arts Programme will have a thrilling opportunity to meet the Grammy-Award-winning violinist following afternoon rehearsals of three well-known works by Tchaikovsky at the Harris Theater. This will be the Juilliard Orchestra's first Chicago appearance in 10 years.

Dr. Joseph W. Polisi, President at The Juilliard School, and violinists from the orchestra will visit BISC Lincoln Park & BISC South Loop, which will include a student showcase of dance, instruments, and singing. Prior to his upcoming tour, Dr. Polisi shared the importance of his school's collaboration with Nord Anglia Education.

"In collaborating with Nord Anglia, we have a unique opportunity to share our expertise, offering those studying at Nord Anglia schools the chance to learn from the best that our two institutions can offer," said Polisi. "We believe that the performing arts should have a significant role within today's global educational environment. By working with Nord Anglia, we can reach students from around the world to cultivate their skills and help guide them in their future growth."

Nord Anglia Education and The Juilliard School announced their global collaboration in September 2015 at 10 inaugural schools, including BISC, which has two campuses in Lincoln Park and South Loop. Since launching, The Juilliard-Nord Anglia Performing Arts Programme has been well-received in Chicago, and Principals Mel Curtis, BISC Lincoln Park, and Michael Horton, BISC South Loop, have noted the program's significance.

"Music ignites all areas of child development: intellectual, social, emotional, motor, language, and overall literacy," they said. "It helps the body and mind work together. The program's a great enrichment for our schools' approach to highest-quality learning."

Music plays a transformational role for children and teens benefiting from the program, as the embedded arts curriculum promotes cultural literacy, creativity, critical thinking and collaboration. For the 10 BISC students attending rehearsals, meeting Perlman, Polisi, and Juilliard violinists might not only further ignite their passion for the performing arts, but also encourage them—as well as their peers—to excel in areas like strings instruments, music education, and beyond.

To learn more about The Juilliard-Nord Anglia Performing Arts Programme, please visit www.naejuilliard.school/bisc.

Founded in 2001, British International School of Chicago is a prestigious private school with two locations in the Lincoln Park and South Loop neighborhoods. The school's mission is to provide personalized, international education to inspire children to be ambitious in all endeavors. BISC recognizes the uniqueness of each child through learning that promotes challenge and differentiation at all levels. To learn more about BISC's unique, international private school experience, please visit: www.bischicago.org.

The Juilliard School, founded in 1905, is a world leader in performing arts education. Juilliard's mission is to provide the highest caliber of artistic education for gifted musicians, dancers, and actors from around the world so that they may achieve their fullest potential as artists, leaders, and global citizens. Located at Lincoln Center in New York City, Juilliard offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in dance, drama, and music (classical, jazz, historical performance, and vocal arts). Currently more than 800 artists from 44 states and 42 countries are enrolled at The Juilliard School. Beyond its New York campus, Juilliard is defining new directions in global performing arts education for a range of learners and enthusiasts through The Tianjin Juilliard School, K-12 educational curricula, and an increasing array of digital education products through its Juilliard/Digital brand. For more information about the Juilliard-Nord Anglia Performing Arts Programme, please visit www.naejuilliard.school.

British International School of Chicago, Lincoln Park
James Haenes
Director of Communications
Tel: (773) 506-2097
E-mail: communications@bischicagolp.org

British International School of Chicago, South Loop
Courtney Cebula
Director of Communications
Tel: (773) 599-2472
E-mail: communications@bischicagosl.org

The Juilliard School
Alexandra Day
Director of Communications and Marketing Strategy
Tel: (212) 721-0965
Email: news@juilliard.edu