Vision Net and the Great Falls Symphony Team up to Broadcast Youth Matinee to Students in Rural Areas.

The Great Falls Symphony and Vision Net are teaming up in a new endeavor to broadcast the Symphony’s opening concert in its Youth Matinee Series to students throughout the state.

Each year, the Symphony presents two concerts for students from Great Falls public, private and home schools in the region which are created specifically with young people in mind. On Tuesday, November 20, this same opportunity will be available to students from as far away as Twin Bridges, Montana. Post-concert, those watching via video will participate in a Q&A session with Music Director Gordon Johnson and selected members of the orchestra.

This year’s program will feature Camille Saint-Saens- "Carnival of the Animals," a favorite of children and adults alike. During this lively program, kids will hear the instruments of the orchestra come to life as lions, donkeys, hens, an elephant and more accented by the clever text of Ogden Nash. Concert time is 1 p.m. Q&A will begin at 1:55 p.m.

The new opportunity offered through this videoconferencing effort seems to be well received. As of Thursday, November 15, Vision Net had 14 schools (for more than 500 students) registered to participate. This is in addition to the 800 students expected to attend in person.

Symphony Executive Director Carolyn Valacich notes the importance of such an undertaking. "This really increases the size of the playing field, ensuring that students in rural areas which are too far away for travel to cities such as Great Falls, have access to the same opportunities as kids in or near the city. It’s one thing to listen to recorded music, quite another to actually see the musicians in action. We’re thrilled to be able to bring this concert to so many students."

Vision Net CEO Rob Ferris says the partnership with the Symphony is a natural extension of the company’s existing K-12 and Higher Education outreach efforts. "Videoconferencing is a cost-effective means of having face-to-face time with clients, colleagues, and educators," he says. "We’re pleased to now add the Great Falls Symphony and its Youth Matinee concert to our videoconferencing network."

Statewide, Vision Net has more than 180 videoconferencing locations, many of which facilitate distance-learning opportunities. Via the videoconference network, students and teachers are able to access to thousands of educational programs ranging from local to global content.

The Student Matinees are made possible in part through the sponsorship of Farmers Union Insurance and Cogswell Agency. For more information about attending the Youth Matinee, email [email protected] or visit http://www.gfsymphony.org.

For more information on Vision Net, visit http://www.vision.net

Vision Net offers a full range of data, voice and video networking applications: broadband network transport via SONET,, MPLS, IP and Ethernet;, worldwide videoconferencing; direct Internet access and customized wide-area network management. The company also manages a 24/7 network operations call center that provides end-user Internet support and network monitoring nationwide.

Other examples of Vision Net’s videoconferencing in action include healthcare, the state legislature and the Missoula Fire Department. The company is also a regular participant in the national "Freedom Calls" program, connecting Montanans with family members and loved ones stationed in Iraq and other overseas locations.