In the Spotlight!

Welcome to The Fine Arts Association’s newsletter on-line!  On this page you will find the latest in student success stories, exciting new projects and special features for your information and your enjoyment. We hope that “In the Spotlight” will keep you personally connected to the magic created by your support of Your Center for Arts Education. Enjoy!

Outstanding Junior and Senior Scholarships Awarded by Fine Arts

      The Fine Arts Association (FAA) in Willoughby has awarded two Outstanding Senior Scholarships and three Outstanding Junior Scholarships in 2010.

     The awards are made possible by a generous donation from the Susan and John Turben Foundation. They are bestowed upon current Fine Arts' students, performers or technicians who have participated or studied an arts discipline at The Fine Arts Association for a minimum of three years. The Senior Scholarships are awarded to students who intend to pursue artistic studies at an accredited college, university, or arts institute upon graduation.

     Kelsey Bowens, a Willoughby South High School graduate received one of the 2010 Outstanding Senior Scholarships. Senior Scholarship recipients receive monies for related expenses towards their freshman year of college. Kelsey has studied in each of the arts disciplines of visual arts, dance, theatre and music over the past fifteen years at Fine Arts.  She has also appeared in several theater productions at Fine Arts including "Scrooge!," "The Jungle Book," "Willy Wonka Jr.," "Beauty & the Beast" and most recently "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe."  Kelsey plans to attend Ashland University in the fall majoring in Musical Theater with a minor in Music.

    Ian LeRoy also received a $500 Outstanding Senior Scholarship Award to assist with his pursuit of a double major in Piano Performance and Music Education at the Conservatory of Baldwin Wallace College. Ian has studied Piano at The Fine Arts Association with Dr. Timothy Minnis for the past three years.  He is a graduate of Grand Valley High School.  An accomplished pianist, Ian has proudly represented The Fine Arts Association by performing at various community and organization functions, most recently at the reception following FAA alumni and Metropolitan Opera soprano Heidi Skok's benefit concert this past April.

     The 2010 Outstanding Junior Scholarships were awarded to Matthew Armelli (student of Charles Baker), Emily Totedo (student of Louise Savage) and Ellen Olivia Jones (student of Phyllis Speirs). Junior Scholarship recipients receive full funding for their senior year of study at Fine Arts.

     All awards recipients have exhibited skill, dedication and a high level of achievement in their discipline in addition to personal involvement with The Fine Arts Association.

The Fine Arts Association and Lakeland Community College

Form Partnership for Arts Learning

WILLOUGHBY —The Fine Arts Association and Lakeland Community College announce the formation of the Partnership for Arts Learning (PAL). The mission of the partnership is to advance educational opportunities in the arts for Lake County and surrounding communities.

     Dr. Morris Beverage, Jr., President of Lakeland Community College stated, “By efficiently pooling our resources in this partnership, people of all ages in Northeast Ohio will have the chance to take part in a full range of arts and cultural programs inside and outside the classroom; from lessons and instruction in music, dance, and art, to events in visual and performing arts such as theater, concerts, and gallery exhibitions.”

     Several objectives have been identified which include building awareness and understanding of the importance of arts education; providing quality lifelong arts education and performance programming that contribute to the vitality of the community; and improving access to arts education through scholarship assistance.

      Both organizations believe that this partnership will move their organizations - and the arts – significantly beyond what can be accomplished separately. Over the next several months, the organizations will look at opportunities for developing joint programming and sharing resources which might include offering classes at one another’s facilities, developing new programs, or leveraging existing resources – all with the intent of making the arts more accessible in Northeast Ohio .

      Collaboration between the organizations is not a new concept. For many years Lakeland students could earn college credit by taking private music lessons at Fine Arts. Alfredo Guerrieri, a guitar and bass instructor at Fine Arts began his relationship with the organization when he was seventeen, the summer after he graduated from high school.

“I had always heard great things about Fine Arts,” he says, “but when I walked into the building, I could tell it was the place for me.” He studied electric bass with Denny Carleton.

Guerrieri’s experience at Fine Arts reaffirmed his desire to explore music further so he enrolled in Music Theory and other music classes at Lakeland . He credits Lakeland instructors with nurturing his love for music and his decision to pursue music degrees from the Musician’s Institute in Hollywood and Berklee College of Music in Boston. Willoughby born and bred, Guerrieri returned to the home that inspires him to play music. Today he teaches guitar and bass students at The Fine Arts Association, performs around the Northeast Ohio , is applying to grad school and would like to teach at the collegiate level.

      Matt Brown of Willoughby is a current Lakeland student earning college credit by taking piano, guitar and voice at The Fine Arts Association. Matt heard about the program through Lakeland ’s catalog. He also dreams of transferring to the Musician's Institute in California to further his studies.

      Lisa Kubiak is a PSEO (Post Secondary Enrollment Options Program) student from Willoughby South attending Lakeland in her junior year. In addition to taking several Liberal Arts courses at Lakeland , she also takes a computer graphic arts class at Fine Arts. Lisa said her Fine Arts experience confirmed her interest in computers and inspired her to further pursue her education in computer arts. She hopes to earn her Associate of Arts degree from Lakeland by the time she graduates from high school and then pursue a major in CG Animation.

      This strong connection between The Fine Arts Association and Lakeland Community College has already impacted the lives of these and many more students of the arts. In addition, the organizations are engaging in collaborative marketing efforts and scholarship fundraising efforts, such as Joshua's Jam which recently raised $16,000 for scholarships to Fine Arts and Lakeland .

      Fine Arts CEO Linda Wise is optimistic about the future of the partnership. “The Fine Arts Association is thrilled to be working with Lakeland Community College to enhance arts education in Lake County and the surrounding areas. By combining resources we will be able to reach beyond our current offerings to provide new programming and performance opportunities that engage students of all ages. We are grateful to the Lake-Geauga Fund of the Cleveland Foundation for its support of this regional cultural initiative.”

      The organizations will continue to engage key stakeholders in the process of identifying further opportunities and encourage community members to offer ideas and suggestions.

Society for the Arts – Sharing Vision and Passion
The Fine Arts Association is pleased to announce the creation of the Society for the Arts! This legacy group recognizes our strongest arts advocates for their vision and passion in making legacy gifts to The Fine Arts Association. Friends who have made a deferred gift, through a will, trust, or other legacy opportunity, become members of the Society for the Arts and are invited to meet annually with the executive director for briefings on key issues. Members are also recognized with distinction in our annual report and enjoy special access to selected events. For more information, contact the Development Office at 440.951.7500, ext. 112.

2010 Outstanding Senior Scholarship recipient Kelsey Bowens in her portrayal of the White Witch in FAA's production of "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe."

2010 Outstanding Senior Scholarship recipient Ian LeRoy performing at Metropolitan Opera soprano and Fine Arts alumni Heidi Skok's benefit performance reception.