OMA Showcase Boasts a Huge Success

NEWS RELEASE

Contact: Estella Zavala, 225-6437, Dr. Joan Ashcraft, Director of Fine Arts, 225-4900 
Posted on: May 2, 2006

TUSD’s Opening Minds Through the Arts, also known as OMA, presented the second annual OMA Showcase at Sahuaro High School, 545 N. Camino Seco to a large, enthusiastic crowd of parents and patrons on Saturday, April 8. An elegant reception for donors and benefactors was held in the school’s cafeteria following the program that was held in Egbert Auditorium. Susan Classen served as MC for this year’s event.

This year’s Showcase honoree was Carolyn Kemmeries who retired as OMA Project Coordinator, a position she has held since 2003. Prior to her work with OMA, she was president of the TUSD Governing Board, as well as president of the National Board of Directors of the Arizona Alumni Association. Carolyn is also a former principal of University High School.

Participating in the Showcase were several student performing groups including Mariachi Las Aguilitas from Davis Elementary School, the Corbett Orchestra and Kellond Dancers, the OMA Honor Choir, OMA Recorder Ensemble, TUSD Faculty Orchestra, OMA Dixieland Band, OMA artists Kimberly and Michael Chaffin, Rick Wamer, Thom Lewis, Bridget Gunning and Laszlo Veres.

A special Showcase moment involved the acceptance of two generous checks in the amount of $10,000 each presented by the Tucson Federal Credit Union and It’s Happening Downtown, Inc. Paul Felix and Joan Richardson represented TFCU on behalf of President/CEO Bradford Soland, and Maebelle Reed represented the Fourth Avenue, University and Downtown Merchants who raised money through last fall’s Big AZ Music Festival . OMA is indebted to these fine organizations for their commitment to the arts and public school education.

Following the program, The OMA Showcase Reception provided an opportunity for displaying a variety of exemplary student artwork, and also featured a performance by the TUSD Middle School Honor Orchestra. Numerous luminaries from the community attended, including TUSD administrators and Board members, Tucson Symphony Orchestra conductor George Hanson, and Peter McAllister, Director of the School of Music at the University of Arizona.

Opening Minds Through the Arts strives to improve student achievement through the teaching of the arts which are integrated into the school curriculum. The OMA model has been recognized by the US Department of Education, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the Arizona Department of Education as an exemplary program, and has contributed to the recent distinction of Tucson being selected as one of the “100 Best Communities for Music Education.” The OMA Program was highlighted in comments made by Governor Janet Napolitano at the recent Arizona Governor’s Arts Awards Dinner in Scottsdale.

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