illustrate ‘Peter and Wolf’ for the Philharmonic
The New Hampshire Philharmonic is inviting schoolchildren from across New Hampshire to participate in a state-wide collaboration bringing together story-telling, music and drawing.

The plan is to create an original, illustrated version of the classic children’s story “Peter and the Wolf.” The student illustrations will be featured on display and in the program book at February concerts at The Music Hall Portsmouth and the Capitol Center for the Arts Concord. The illustrated program book will provide a permanent record of the collaboration. Selected illustrations also will be posted on the Philharmonic Web site at www.nhphil.org.

The music and story for “Peter and the Wolf” were written by Sergei Prokofiev in 1936 for a children’s theater in Moscow. The work, one of the most popular pieces of classical music written expressly for children, has been narrated by a wide range of significant performers, including Sting, David Bowie, Patrick Stewart, Dudley Moore, Jack Lemmon, John Gielgud and Leonard Bernstein, to name just a few of the existing recordings. The February performances of “Peter and the Wolf” will be narrated by Laura Knoy of New Hampshire Public Radio and conducted by music director Anthony Princiotti.

The collaboration is open to schoolchildren from kindergarten through grade 6. Seven selected scenes from Peter and the Wolf are listed below and on the Philharmonic’s Web site, and it’s suggested that children may find it helpful to listen to a recording of “Peter and the Wolf” while he or she draws. Parents and educators are asked to send in their child’s color drawing on a white sheet of paper 8.5 inches tall by 11 inches wide. Artwork is due at the Philharmonic offices by noon on Jan. 16. The Philharmonic notes that it will not be possible to return artwork, except for those selected for the program book.

It is the intention of the Philharmonic to select at least one illustration from every grade level submitted. Children whose drawings are selected for the program book will receive two complimentary tickets to the Philharmonic’s family concert.

The Philharmonic performs “Peter and the Wolf” on Sunday, Feb. 11, at Capitol Center for the Arts Concord and Sunday, Feb. 18, at The Music Hall Portsmouth. The concerts will be narrated by Laura Knoy of New Hampshire Public Radio, and conducted by Music Director Anthony Princiotti.

The Philharmonic’s Peter and the Wolf Project is being underwritten by the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts, with the substantial printing costs donated by the RAM Companies.

For more information about this project, please visit the New Hampshire Philharmonic Web site or call the Philharmonic at 603-647-6476.

choose a scene to illustrate
“Peter and the Wolf” is about a young boy who catches a wolf with the help of his animal friends and safely takes the wolf to the zoo.

Scene 1: Peter sets off. Early one morning a young boy named Peter opens the gate of his yard and goes out into the big green meadow. On a branch of a big tree sits a little bird, Peter’s friend. “All is quiet,” chirps the bird happily.

Scene 2: The cat on velvet paws. Peter notices a cat crawling through the grass. Stealthily the cat creeps towards the bird on her velvet paws.

Scene 3: After the cat chases the bird into a tree, a big gray wolf comes out of the forest.

Scene 4: The stand-off. The wolf walks round and round the tree looking with greedy eyes at the bird and the cat sitting in the tree.

Scene 5: The bird flies around the wolf. Peter asks the little bird to divert the wolf’s attention, and so the little bird flies round and round the wolf’s head. Peter is able to catch the wolf.

Scene 6: The hunters arrive. Just then a group of hunters comes out of the woods, following the wolf’s trail and firing their guns as they go.

Scene 7: Peter leads the wolf to the zoo. At the head of a triumphant procession, Peter leads the wolf to the zoo.

On the back of the drawing, list the child’s name, scene number, school, grade level, art teacher, music teacher, parent, address, phone and e-mail. Children are encouraged to submit illustrations for more than one scene.