May 3, 2025 — Students came together to save the world from Dr. No'Arte, a villain who wanted to erase all fine arts programs, at the superhero-themed 2025 OMA Showcase.
Three students from the Sabino High School Drama Department, who served as MCs and kept the storyline going, led students from:
- OMA Showcase Honor Choir
- Blenman 3rd Grade Honor Dance
- Alice Vail Middle School Percussion Ensemble
- Lineweaver Honor Recorder & Boomwhackers
- Wheeler Opera
All gave their best performances yet — proving art can prevail!
Throughout the show, staff members from each OMA school were also recognized as Every Day Heroes.
Watch the full performance on YouTube
What is OMA?
- OMA is a program unique to Tucson Unified.
- An OMA school has music, art and performance in the classrooms and the hallways.
- Children, who learn through OMA, see a boost in academic achievement.
- OMA teaching artists are both accomplished artists and gifted teachers.
- Passion and creativity are hallmarks of OMA teaching artists.
More about Opening Minds through the Arts OMA Showcase Honor Choir (Grades 3-6)
Over one hundred students, selected from schools around Tucson, opened and closed the show with the following performances:
Participating schools:
- Blenman
- Bloom
- Borman
- Collier
- Davidson
- Fruchthendler
- Howell
- Sam Hughes
- Kellond
- Lineweaver
- Miles
- Miller
- Myers-Ganoung
- Sewell
- Tolson
- Warren
- Wheeler
Alice Vail Middle School Percussion Ensemble (Grades 6-8)
These middle school percussionists performed:
Lineweaver Honor Recorders & Boomwhackers (Grades 3-5)
Musicians combined traditional recorders with unusual percussion to perform two popular melodies:
Wheeler Opera (Grade 1)
As in all OMA Gold schools, first graders wrote and performed an orginal opera, "Planets in Trouble" based on "The Three Billy Goats Gruff."
- Original music and script by the first graders in collaboration with OMA Opera Teaching Artists
- Directed by Jual Aguirre and Kim Chaffin
- Accompanied by Gregg Reynolds
- Classroom Teacher: Elizabeth Houston-Judd
Watch Wheeler Opera (YouTube)
MCs from Sabino High School Drama
Three drama students, Kayley, Arden, and Brooklyn acted as the Masters of Ceremony (MCs) to guide the action onstage.
Dr. No'Arte (Jacob Litt)
Jacob Litt delivered an energetic rendition of Dr. No'Arte, who overcomes his fears and learns that art can prevail!
Super-OMA Principal — Leeson
Cavett Elementary Principal, Carol Leeson, was recognized as a Super-OMA Principal by OMA staff.
At the ceremony she was given a trophy by Dr. Trujillo, Dr. Ashcraft, and adorned with a cape by Leanne Mille, Art Curator for her support of the OMA program at her school.
Watch Super-OMA Principals
Super-OMA Principal — Alexander
Principal Jaquette Alexander, Peter Howell Elementary, was recognized as a Super-OMA Principal by OMA staff.
At the ceremony she was given a trophy by Dr. Trujillo, Dr. Ashcraft, and adorned with a cape by Leanne Mille, Art Curator for her support of the OMA program at her school.
Watch Super-OMA Principals
Special thanks for a very generous donation from:
H. Eugene & Ruth Jones Charitable Fund
Held at the Community Foundation of Southern Arizona
These young dancers brought "Unstoppable" by Sia, choreographed by Bethanne Griffin, alive for the audience.
