Classical Kids History

It all started with a $450 demo tape. That tape led series creator Susan Hammond to make the first Classical Kids recording, Mr. Bach Comes to Call, in 1988. Twenty years later, Classical Kids has grown to include best-selling and award-winning CDs, DVDs, educational resources, books and touring symphony productions.

Hard to believe that such a successful series started out from Susan Hammond's dining room table. "One day I was reading to my girls with some music on in the background," says Hammond. "I was struck by how they responded to the literature in a different way when enhanced by music. I though 'I can do this!'" Her work paid off when, after an appearance on CBC radio, more than 4,000 listeners called the station, as well as Hammond's home, to order Mr. Bach Comes to Call.

Since that time, Classical Kids has created new generations of classical music fans through its unique blend of dramatic stories based on historical fact and musical masterpieces by the world's best-loved composers. The audio series has achieved some impressive milestones:

More than 5 million units sold, including 5 Gold and 3 Platinum Records (Canada).
Ten Classical Kids CDs, including Beethoven Lives Upstairs, Mozart's Magnificent Voyage, and Tchaikovsky Discovers America. These CDs have earned 6 Juno Awards, several Parents' Choice Awards and over 75 more awards and honors.
Two Classical Kids films on DVD: the Emmy Award-winning Beethoven Lives Upstairs and Mr. Bach Come to Call, which earned 2 Emmy Award nominations.
The Classical Kids Teaching Edition, a 4-disc music-based comprehensive educational resource including 9 CDs, 2 DVDs, and 3 exclusive bonus discs featuring digital Teacher's Notes, CD scripts, and slideshows. Individual Teacher's Notes are also available for each of the Classical Kids CDs.
Five live symphony concert productions touring Canada and the US with professional symphony orchestras: over 1,000 performances to more than 2 million children, parents, grandparents, and teachers.
Classical Kids CDs are available in over 50 countries including the UK, Ireland, Australia, Spain and Hong Kong. Two CDs - Beethoven Lives Upstairs and Vivaldi's Ring of Mystery - are available in French language adaptations.
Four beautifully-illustrated books based on the CDs - two are available in Spanish.
Six instrumental-only Best of Classical Kids CDs.

The Classical Kids series is marketed by The Children's Group, the leading presenter of storytelling and classical music for children. The CDs, DVDs, and Teacher's Resources are distributed in the United States and Canada by True North Records.

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