Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
Correspondent SPRINGFIELD A "smorgasbord of multicultural arts experiences" await young people across the region during school vacation breaks in the coming weeks, hosted by the Community Music School of Springfield. Building on the success of its Summer Sounds multicultural summer program, the CMSS is offering two four-day arts camps for students in grades 1 through 6, during the February and April school vacation weeks. Vaulted ceilings, murals, marble floors and sculptural architectural elements will surround the youngsters as they engage in a host of classes ranging from chorus, art and dance to drumming, theater and hip hop, all with a multicultural focus. "Children will rotate through a number of art classes, including dance, hand drumming, chorus, poetry and song writing, and electronic music production, exposing them to a range of exciting hands-on arts experiences designed to appeal to all," said Nancy Abdalla, coordinator of community partnerships at CMSS, during an interview with Reminder Publications. In her role at the CMSS, Abdalla not only coordinates the arts camps and Summer Sounds program, but also works with community partners to bring music programming to children and youth in schools and to after-school programs, to hospitals and incarcerated settings, as well as housing complexes. Each four-day session will be offered from Tuesday through Friday during the weeks of Feb. 19-22 and April 22-25, and will be led by faculty including CMSS musician educators and other adult specialists from the area. Sessions are open to every child in the region who would enjoy innovative arts programming, noted Abdalla, adding that students will be grouped by grade. "Campers have the rare opportunity of having a smorgasbord of multicultural arts experiences laid before them, and a chance to sample them all," said Abdalla. "Many children who pass through our programs did not even realize the value that arts could play in their lives and many discover they have artistic and musical talents just waiting to be discovered." Abdalla's lifelong interest in the cultural arts allows her to draw on her experiences living in Africa, Asia and Central America, to bring a unique perspective to the classes offered at the CMSS. Between her extensive traveling and extended bouts of living outside of the United States, the experiences have "fueled her passion" for bringing to children and youth an expanded awareness of the arts and their central importance to all people of the world. "It is an invaluable route to developing understanding of one another, resolving differences and conflict, and appreciating the richness all of us contribute in our own ways," she said. Abdalla said she will draw material for the classes from a number of cultural resources, and uses an example of how drumming can be traced from influences of African and Caribbean rhythms to more modern drumming techniques. "In the course of teaching, adults and children will examine together the questions of how culture develops, what factors influence such things as clothing and fashion, music and musical instruments, and storytelling elements," said Abdalla. Families must pre-register for the full-week program which will run each day from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with an extended day option until 5:30. During the extended day option, children will have an opportunity to complete arts and crafts projects including beading and mask making, as well as a range of group games and challenges. The cost for each four-day program is $250 with a nonrefundable deposit of $50 required to hold the child's registration. The balance must be paid before the beginning of the session. Additionally, the deadline to register is Feb. 3 for the first group of classes, and April 6 for the second set of classes. Abdalla also noted there is no financial aid available for this program. For more information, contact Abdalla at (413) 732-8428, or via e-mail at NAbdalla@communitymusicschool.com. The CMSS is located at 127 State St. | ||||||
