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Trying out various musical instruments is part of the Fun in the Sun summer field trip. (Courtesy photo)
More than 250 elementary school students enrolled in United Way of Santa Barbara County’s Fun in the Sun summer learning program participated in an arts education experience this week with a live, bilingual performance of “Peter and the Wolf.”
The field trip was made possible by the Music Academy of the West and Santa Barbara Symphony, and sponsored by Montecito Bank & Trust and the Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation, all partners of Santa Barbara County’s arts and education programs.
“It’s so exciting to see young students light up as they experience a live performance which sparks their imagination,” said Shauna Quill, president /CEO of the Music Academy of the West.
“We’re pleased to partner with United Way and Montecito Bank & Trust to make music fun, accessible, and meaningful for kids throughout Santa Barbara,” she said. “Let the magic of music be what they remember this summer and for years to come.”
The production was designed to increase accessibility and engagement for multilingual audiences while introducing students to the fundamentals of orchestral music in an age-appropriate, interactive format.
“This event reflects our ongoing commitment to ensuring that all students, regardless of background, have access to high-quality learning experiences that support academic growth and creative exploration,” said Steve Ortiz, president/CEO of United Way of Santa Barbara County.
“We are proud to work alongside such outstanding community partners to deliver this kind of experience for local youth,” he said.
The event included a visit from the Santa Barbara Symphony’s Music Van. The interactive “musical petting zoo” allowed students to explore orchestral instruments firsthand — many of them for the first time in a move to foster early exposure to music education and performance arts.
Students rotated through stations of brass, string and percussion instruments alongside Music Van volunteers who helped students navigate how to hold and play each instrument.
Presented by the Music Academy of the West’s visiting fellows in the Chamber Orchestra program and conducted by returning teaching artist César Cañón, the program featured a bilingual adaptation developed in collaboration with the production company Really Inventive Stuff.
Now in its 28th year, Fun in the Sun is United Way of Santa Barbara County’s flagship summer learning initiative, serving low-income students and families across the region.
The free program is designed to mitigate learning loss that disproportionately affects students during the summer months, providing a comprehensive, research-based curriculum that integrates literacy and STEAM instruction with enrichment activities, field trips, mentorship, and social-emotional learning, United Way said.
Fun in the Sun will continues through Aug. 1 at local sites, and will return in 2026 to campuses countywide. To learn more or to get involved, visit www.unitedwaysb.org/FITS.
For more about United Way of Santa Barbara County, visit unitedwaysb.org.
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