SALT LAKE CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 12, 2007--Local public school students will have the opportunity to attend free concerts with Utah Symphony & Opera (US&O), thanks to a $15,000 donation announced today by the Qwest Foundation.

Qwest's grant supports US&O's educational outreach program, which introduces students to classical and opera music, as well as other forms of music.

"Utah Symphony & Opera is a delightful organization, and I personally enjoy the many contributions they make to our communities," said Jerry Fenn, Qwest president for Utah. "The Qwest Foundation is proud to open doors for children that can lead to a lifetime of music appreciation."

W. Glenn Lanham, US&O vice president of development, said, "The Qwest Foundation's sponsorship of Utah Symphony & Opera's Education and Community Outreach programs is vital to our organization. Qwest's funding helps ensure our offerings of quality symphonic and operatic performances to Utah students and the local community. It is because of generous donors like Qwest that the arts remain vibrant in Utah."

Utah Symphony & Opera is the largest performing arts organization offering music education outreach in the state of Utah. There are three program categories: Symphony-Focused Programs, Opera-Focused Programs, and Combined Symphony/Opera-Focused Programs. Its programs are designed to enhance the arts education curriculum for students throughout the Intermountain West. In some cases, these programs may be the only experience students may have with symphony or opera. US&O focuses its Education Outreach Programs on underserved populations, students with physical and mental disabilities, as well as those experiencing economic hardship.

About Qwest Foundation

The Qwest Foundation's core principle is that investing in people and communities provides lasting value for the future. The Qwest Foundation awards grants to community-based programs that generate high-impact and measurable results, focusing on pre-K through grade 12 education.

About Utah Symphony Opera

Founded in 1940, the Utah Symphony has become a vital presence on the American music scene through its distinctive performances worldwide and its well-known recording legacy. The Utah Symphony has its home in Maurice Abravanel Hall, which is acclaimed as one of the world's great concert halls - having won awards for both its architecture and its extraordinary acoustics. In addition to performing more than 70 subscription concerts in Abravanel Hall, the Symphony regularly travels around the Intermountain West serving communities in Utah, Wyoming, Nevada and Idaho. With its many subscription, educational, and outreach concerts and tours, the Utah Symphony is one of the most engaged orchestras in the nation.

Copyright Business Wire 2007

Qwest Communications International

Qwest Communications International

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