With economic hardships and budget cuts looming, Celia Bender couldn’t sit still any longer.
The mother of a sixth-grade flutist at Thunder Mountain Middle School and a second-grade Magic Strings student at Southwood Elementary School, she’s now heading up the Music Factor Project, a series of lectures, performances and fundraisers to raise money for Enumclaw School District music programs and enhance its music education.
“I built this project so it’s a win-win for everyone,” Bender said.
It was a series of events that led Bender to start the project, starting with the current economic situation many school districts are facing.
The arts, she said, often are reduced or eliminated. That has not been the case in Enumclaw, but sitting on the sidelines, Bender could still see there was a need for financial support.
Bender said programs, performance venues, uniforms, and equipment fall into disrepair or are worn with age and there is no magic fund to repair, replace or upgrade them. Travel to performances, workshops and competitions is cancelled or the cost is transferred to families.
For example, Magic Strings, the elementary program that teaches students to play violin and cello, was started with a VH1 grant 10 years ago. Those instruments are starting to show wear.
In some school districts, music education ceases to exit, Bender said.
All disappointing to music enthusiast like herself, especially knowing, she said, that research notes music education is linked to higher math skills and test scores and better behavior among students.
Rather than sit, Bender decided to play.
She’s starting by arranging to bring in premier international Celtic violinist Jamie Laval for a lecture and performance series and by signing up Plateau area art supporter, Arts Alive! as the event’s sponsor.
In 2002, Laval, who is from the Puget Sound area but now resides in Asheville, N.C., won the United States National Scottish Fiddle Championship and embarked on a full-time touring career which includes more than 120 engagements per year throughout the United States and Scotland.
He has agreed to conduct free workshops and concerts at each of the districts elementary, middle and high schools, as well as perform a fundraising concert, hopefully in May, although the details have not been firmed up for publication yet.
Tickets for the community performance will raise money to support school music programs.
The second tier of Bender’s plan is a used-instrument drive and silent auction.
Bender has set up her husband’s Enumclaw Cole Street business, Skynet, 1717 Cole St., as a collection point for used instruments. She’s not concerned about the shape of the donations.
Instruments deemed in good condition or repairable will be reconditioned and donated to schools for student use. Instruments that cannot be saved will be turned over to Arts Alive! where a number of talented painters are waiting to turn them into pieces of art that will be auctioned off during intermission at Laval’s community concert.
“Rather than selling cookie dough or bulbs,” Bender said, referring to traditional fundraising programs, “I wanted to provide an experience students never forget and one that would enhance their education.”
Bender plans to set aside 30 percent of the profits for the Magic Strings program and the remaining 70 percent to be divided among other music programs as determined by the Enumclaw School District.
For information contact celia@brcgear.com or 253-740-9639.
