MARTINSVILLE, Va. (Nov. 24, 2025) — Piedmont Arts brought two educational outreach programs to area students on Nov. 19-20. The programs served more than 590 students in Martinsville-Henry County.
Preschool in the Galleries hit a high note with a performance by the Martinsville High School Jazz Band on Nov. 19 at Piedmont Arts. Band director Brian Joyce led the jazz band as they introduced their audience to the rhythms, melodies and instruments of jazz. Around 110 pre-K students from eight local schools jumped, jived and wailed to the performance.
Preschool in the Galleries is a series of programs designed to foster a love of the performing and visual arts in young children. The programs are free of charge to students and schools and feature performances presented by local organizations and school groups. A full schedule of events is available here.
Brass 5 performed the program “Why Music?” for 480 students at Mt. Olivet and Sanville elementary schools on Nov. 20. The quintet’s lively and interactive performance taught students about the power of music and why it is an integral part of our everyday lives.
Brass 5’s performance was funded in part by a grant from the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Piedmont Arts’ educational outreach programs are presented free of charge to students and schools. The museum reaches nearly 7,000 students each year through its programming.
To support the museum’s educational outreach initiatives, donations may be made to the Kay Smith Arts Education Fund.