“I am certain that after the dust of centuries has passed over our cities, we, too, will be remembered not for our victories or defeats in battle or in politics, but for our contribution to the human spirit.”

— John F. Kennedy, 1971.

The former president’s words provided not only inspiration, but a foundation on which the world-renowned Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts was built.

Year-round, Washington D.C.’s Kennedy Center works to give patrons a sweet taste of America’s best, in the form of theater, music, dance and any other kind of cutting-edge performance style possible.

In order to keep its annual audience of 2 million interested, the Kennedy Center has made progress in its seat-warming strategy.

Over the past 28 years, the Kennedy Center has co-produced more than 100 new works of theater, including Tony-winning shows such as “Annie,” “Guys & Dolls,” “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,” “The King and I” and “Titanic.”

In addition to its strong theater program, the Center reaches millions of people every year through television shows such as the annual CBS special, “The Kennedy Center Honors,” and the series, “Kennedy Center Presents.”

More recently, the performing arts mecca has directed its search for progress to the area of education, dramatically expanding its programs to educate aspiring musicians, dancers and actors throughout the nation.

This week, Iowa State is going to get a piece of the pie when the Center’s artistic affiliate, the National Symphony Orchestra, travels to Ames for a concert and a slew of master classes.

ISU Director of Orchestral Activities Mark Laycock said members from the National Symphony Orchestra will conduct master classes on Wednesday morning for violin, flute, oboe, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, percussion and cello students.

“It’s part of a larger series of educational events that are administered through the Iowa State Center,” Laycock explained.

In keeping with the Kennedy Center’s tradition of furthering the cause of arts education, Laycock, who conducted a “pre-concert talk” before the St. Petersburg Philharmonic last fall, will be giving a pre-show presentation for this concert.

“I talk about anything that I can say to help prepare the audience for what they’re about to hear,” he said.

At the end of Laycock’s presentation, the ISU Wind Ensemble will perform for 10 minutes.

“They asked us if we would play a few fanfares in the lobby prior to the concert,” said Michael Golemo, director of bands. “We said we would do it as long as we could get some complimentary tickets for the students to see the concert.”

The actual performance, which will be led by the orchestra’s esteemed music director, Leonard Slatkin, will feature the kind of music the National Symphony Orchestra is famous for playing.

“[The National Symphony Orchestra] has always had a bit of an eye on promoting and perpetuating the American repertoire,” Golemo said.

Included on the program are a collection of American-composed favorites such as Samuel Barber’s sultry “Adagio for Strings,” George Gershwin’s playful “An American in Paris” and Aaron Copland’s “Symphony No. 3.”

After the orchestra finishes its stay in Ames, it will give the remaining six concerts of its eight-date tour, which includes stops in places such as Seattle and San Francisco.

And then they’ll go back home to the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., where they will continue to contribute to what John F. Kennedy defined as the “human spirit.”