Link Up
Link Up 2026
In collaboration with Carnegie Hall, The Akron Symphony is participating in Link Up The Orchestra Rocks, a music education program provided by Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute (WMI), during the 2025–2026 season. The nearly 3500 students participating in the Link Up curriculum will attend a culminating concert on Wednesday, March 18, 2026 at E. J. Thomas Hall where they sing and play the recorder or the violin with the orchestra from their seats. This experience often serves as many students’ first concert and provides them with the opportunity to apply the musical concepts they have studied.
For over 40 years, Link Up has paired orchestras with students in grades 3–5 at schools in their local communities to explore orchestral repertoire and fundamental musical skills, including creative work and composition, through a hands-on music curriculum. Link Up addresses the urgent need for music instruction and resources by providing a free, high quality, year-long curriculum that teachers can implement, along with printed and digital classroom materials, online video and audio resources, and the professional development and support necessary to make the program an engaging experience for students.
The Akron Symphony Orchestra is one of over 100 national and international organizations chosen for this program. Since 2003, Carnegie Hall has partnered with professional, community, and university orchestras across the US and around the world to support their existing education programs and strengthen their partnerships with local schools. In 2025–2026, Link Up will partner with sites in the United States, as well as in Canada, China, Dominican Republic, Japan, Kenya, New Zealand, Nigeria, United Kingdom, and Vietnam to serve more than 300,000 students and teachers globally. Visit carnegiehall.org/LinkUp for a complete list of participants and further details.
Link Up 2025
LINK UP – THE ORCHESTRA SWINGS
ERIC BENJAMIN, CONDUCTOR
STEPHANIE CHILDERS & DANIEL SCHNECK, HOSTS
March 19, 2025 – 9:45 and 11:30 AM
The Akron Civic Theatre
Come to Play —Thomas Cabiniss
I Got Rhythm —George Gershwin
Maple Leaf Rag —Scott Joplin
Duke’s Place —Duke Ellington
Recorder Mae and the Giant Swing Machine —John Clayton
Danzon —Leonard Bernstein
It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing) —Duke Ellington
When the Saints Go Marching In —Traditional
2025 Participating School Districts
Akron Public Schools
Brunswick City Schools
Cuyahoga Falls City Schools
Mogadore Schools
Nordonia Schools
Stow-Munroe Falls City Schools
Wadsworth Schools
Woodridge Local Schools
Stephanie Childers-White
Stephanie Childers-White is a consummate praise and worship leader and accomplished musician. She is a career music professional and educator with over twenty-years of progressive experience as a music director, praise and worship leader, choral director, and mass choir director. Childers-White is skilled in music theory, composition, scoring, charting, and teaching at all grade levels. She is also adept in playing organ, keyboards, and piano while ministering, singing, and teaching Sacred Choral Music, Contemporary Choral Music, Contemporary Christian Music (CCM), Contemporary Gospel, Traditional Gospel, Opera, and Vocal Jazz. She is experienced in developing and leading worship ministries, building teams, and empowering volunteers, and is skilled in the design, production, and execution of seasonal and liturgical ceremonies, celebrations, commemorations, and special events. Stephanie is an ordained worship minister, vocal coach, and music instructor with undergraduate and post-graduate education. For eleven years, she has taught in the Akron Public School system as a music educator and community advocate.
Daniel Schneck
Daniel Schneck is a dedicated music educator with a commitment to fostering a love of music in young learners. Since 2017, he has been teaching K-4 General Music with Stow-Munroe Falls City Schools. Prior to this role, he served as a Middle School Choir Director in Brunswick City Schools from 2015-2016 Daniel earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from The University of Akron in 2013 and is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Music Education from Kent State University. He serves in various leadership roles within the district, including Art/Music K-6 Curriculum Facilitator and a member of the Building Leadership Team (BLT). He also contributes to various school initiatives, including the Sunshine Committee, PAWS (PBIS) Committee, Safety Committee, Right to Read Week Committee, District Facilities Master Planning Committee, and as a PTA Representative. Additionally, he supports student leadership as the Safety Patrol Advisor. He has been recognized with several honors, including being named a finalist for the Summit County All-Star Rookie of the Year Team, receiving the “Put the T in PTA” Award, and earning the “Bulldog Center Stage” Award.
