By Julianne Homokay
Special to the Alpine Mountaineer
Back in 2000, Chyrl Russell, the Arrowhead Arts Association’s (AAA) director of youth enrichment and tireless advocate for arts education in mountain schools, went to the school district’s superintendent at the time and argued, “We have no music in our schools!”
Thus the AAA was born, and the organization has been promoting the arts in mountain public schools ever since.
Kari Stebbing with the Rim High School Wind Ensemble.
Kari Stebbing, music director at Rim of the World High School, is carrying on this legacy in grand style. Stebbing worked closely with Emily Gregg, music teacher at Mary Putnam Henck Intermediate School among others, and Jennifer Whiteside, the Rim School District director of Educational Services, to bring the Southern California Brass Quintet (SCBQ) to the mountain for a master class and concert on Jan. 12.
The day’s program began with a master class and showcase offered to music students from the three mountain elementary schools. Stebbing worked with the district to bus 105 kids to Rim High. SCBQ first gave a short performance for the students followed by a question-and-answer session. Next, the musicians proceeded to three separate break-out rooms to work with smaller groups of kids on technique and answer more questions.
The day culminated in a concert at the Rim High Performing Arts Center. The quintet performed two pieces with the MPH Advanced Band conducted by Gregg, one piece with the RHS Wind Ensemble conducted by Stebbing, and after a short intermission, six pieces on their own, which ranged in styles from movie music to contemporary classical to Dixieland jazz.
In an additional opportunity for Rim High students, the students “[worked] as ambassadors for the school, running the stage changes, helping the elementary students with their instruments and directing the general population,” said Stebbing via email. “This way we are touching all levels of students to the best of our ability!”
“Music education helps increase test scores and is an important contributor to students’ mental health and well-being,” states Gregg in her bio on the Rim School District’s website. “Music involves multi-tasking…language, math, coding, art, communication and responsibility.”
The SCBQ is staffed by two trumpets, French horn, trombone and tuba. They belong to a larger group, the Southern California Brass Consortium, which is based out of Long Beach and strives to “spread brass music to all sorts of people across the southland,” said Drew, one of the trumpet players, as he emceed the quintet’s solo portion of the program. Educational outreach is a huge part of their mission.
Evangeline, tenor sax; Julian, alto sax; Dylan, percussion; Isaiah, trumpet; Ava, flute; and Carter, tuba (left to right).
The students responded enthusiastically to these efforts. “It’s been absolutely phenomenal! They took time out of their day to make us better as players,” said Carter, a Rim High tuba player. Said Ava, flute: “ I learned a lot, even though I don’t play a brass instrument.” “I really appreciated observing others in my craft, especially at their skill level,” said Evangeline, tenor saxophone.
Kari Stebbing and Ken Camarella share a laugh with the quintet
As Ken Camarella, president of AAA, said as he addressed the audience, the SCBQ “held the children in rapt attention.” Nowhere was that more evident than the standing ovation the audience gave the quintet to close the concert.
The quintet plays to a standing ovation.
Proceeds from the concert went back to Arrowhead Arts Association. To make a donation, visit arrowheadarts.org. Next up for Rim School District musicians: District Music Festival, Jan. 31, 4-7pm.
0 Comments