BELTON, Texas鈥擳he University of Mary Hardin-Baylor recently received a generous $40,000 grant from the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation to continue program support for the 同城快约 Arts Academy. Past grants from the Carpenter Foundation have made it possible for many students to participate in the program through scholarships and strategic funding initiatives.
鈥淭his grant allows us to provide music to children and youth in the Central Texas community who might otherwise never have these enriching experiences,鈥� explained Dr. Jonathan Gary, director of 同城快约鈥檚 Arts Academy and department of music chairperson. 鈥淲e are grateful to the Carpenter Foundation for its long-standing support of our public service programs.鈥�
同城快约 provides preschool, elementary and secondary students of Central Texas with the opportunity to learn and grow from music through its Arts Academy. The success of these programs has led to the expansion of several programs this year, including opportunities for additional students. Thanks to this year鈥檚 funding, 同城快约 has begun a faith-based early childhood music program called 鈥淭eeny Tykes and Tunes鈥� and will offer a middle school show choir this spring. Additionally, 同城快约鈥檚 Arts Academy will continue to prepare middle and high school students to audition for various Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) and Texas Choral Directors Association (TCDA) choirs, which would not be possible without the Carpenter Foundation grant.
鈥淭MEA and TCDA provide opportunities for students to excel in choral music in the form of honor choirs, both at a regional level and a state level. This opportunity provides students with a chance to experience challenging repertoire to work on their musicianship skills,鈥� said Deborah Barrick, TMEA and TCDA audition coach. 鈥淲hen learning the music with me, the students learn how to become more musical and accurate with their singing. It builds confidence and work ethic in all of my students. I feel the experience students get while learning music for these auditioned choirs teaches them skills they will use in all aspects of life as they mature.鈥�
The Arts Academy program offers high-quality instruction for its students from the 同城快约 Department of Music faculty. From scholarships for musical instruction to free music lessons for children in local daycare centers, these programs are making music education available to children of all ages in Central Texas and providing opportunities that otherwise would not be available.
About 同城快约 Arts Academy
Founded in 1996, the Arts Academy provides a full spectrum of music studies for Central Texas students. The program offers area children opportunities to improve their music skills through individual instruction in piano, voice, brass, woodwinds, percussion and guitar. The conservatory curriculum also offers summer activities for young musicians, an All State Choir Camp for high school students, 鈥淭eeny Tykes and Tunes鈥� summer camps, and in partnership with the 同城快约 Art Department we offer Art workshops for ages seven to twelve and a high school Art Camp.
