With the recent cuts in the budget, many programs are in danger of losing funding in Valparaiso Schools. An online Facebook community has been created to bring people together in support of the arts programs at Valparaiso Community Schools, sharing the impact the arts have had on their lives. Read what some former students, current students, and parents of students have to say about the influence of the arts in their lives and submit your own thoughts to share@valpolife.com!
Ben Kenis (class of 2006)
I do not presume to know the full financial situation of the Valparaiso Community Schools, nor do I presume to know all of the problems that would lead to a solution that involves cutting the arts in some fashion or another. But I do know, without any doubt, that if I had not participated or was not offered the chance to participate in the music program in the VCS, I would not be where I am today.
I am in the process of completing my master's degree in Music Performance from the University of Illinois, where I also completed two undergraduate degrees in Music Performance and Music Education. I received scholarships during my undergraduate degree and was given a full tuition waiver to do my masters. I currently hold an assistantship working with the U of I Music Admissions office. I also am the music director at the Montessori Habitat School, where I teach band and general music. I played alto saxophone in the Cerulean Saxophone Quartet, which won the 2012 Music Teacher's National Association Chamber Music competition and made the semi-finals in the 2012 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition. I have participated in recordings with the U of I Wind Symphony and the U of I Saxophone Ensemble. My experiences in music have given me the opportunity to travel all across the United States and Europe. I also worked for four years in the VCS as the Summer Band Intern and to this day feel blessed to have been able to work with the extremely gifted and hard-working music educators in the school system.
Believe me, I don't say any of this to brag but simply to show that there are career paths in the arts and to impress upon the importance of the arts in our schools. If I had not participated in music while attending the VCS, I wouldn't have had these experiences. I owe everything to Mr. Pritchett, the music program and the music educators in the VCS.
To say that cuts to the arts would be a loss doesn't do justice to the importance of the arts in our schools. The arts aren't simply a piece of entertainment to be shut on or off. The arts give students, teachers, administrators and parents new opportunities and experiences that no other activity or subject can. The arts are a statement of human nature and a representation of our culture. They have the power to unite a community and foster creativity that expands beyond the music classroom. The Valparaiso Community Schools are known throughout the country for excellence in the arts. This is because of the amount of opportunities available to students and the superior quality of the fine arts teachers. When opportunities and educators are taken away, it isn't just the students who suffer. The entire community suffers.
Courtney Blomquist (class of 2005)
I was a pretty shy kid and very unsure of myself for a long time. After being in a few shows at Ben Franklin Middle School, I was passionate about performing all of the sudden and I didn’t even realize that VHS was the perfect place for me because of it. By my senior year, my schedule was a dream. I had orchestra, choir, and IB Art class every day. I was usually doing Varsity Singers or rehearsing a play in the evening. The opportunities I had were something I could only be grateful for in retrospect. Because of the amazing teachers and programs at VHS, I got a taste of what it is like to live a life in the arts.
Tim Kopf was my orchestra teacher in both middle school and highschool. I think I tried to quit orchestra every year because I had my entire life planned out and I didn’t believe that orchestra “made sense for me”. Mr. Kopf always convinced me to stay and was nothing but encouraging. He is the reason that I can read music well. I will never forget how he walked on his hands across the gymnasium floor when our orchestra won the state competition my junior year. I will also never forget his genuine concern and passion for all of us as students. The best teachers are those who are so passionate about what they are teaching that it is impossible not to transfer that passion onto his/her students. Mr. Kopf is just this kind of teacher, and I will never forget him.
Mrs. Gambel made me realize my strengths more than any other teacher. I took Speech, Acting, and CMT with her and rehearsed plays and musicals under her direction. Mrs. Gambel is an incredible teacher who implemented many amazing performance opportunities at VHS. Her classes and shows were always competitive, but they also encouraged immense creativity. I had the rare opportunity to not only take steps towards an acting career, but also develop a voice amongst my peers. She is the reason I was able to experience my first big role as Adelaide in Guys and Dolls, learn to do improv for Mocha Madness, write a musical about super heroes with my classmates, and do a ridiculous Sesame Street rap onstage for April Antics. All of those experiences were invaluable to me. In a few short years, I went from being a shy girl to being incredibly daring.
Today I am an actor in Chicago and my passion for performing has not died. I don’t think I would be confident enough to continue down this crazy path if it weren’t for my time at VHS.
Valpo Arts Programs, in my experience, you exceeded the expectations many have for public schools. Thank you for raising the bar. Please do not lower it for future students.
H. Clay Arnett (class of 1990)
As many of you, I have read what others have written with great awe. It is so easy to take for granted what you have until it is gone. I graduated in '90. I had the privilege, along with Chris, of walking across the floor at (then Southport HS) and receiving the State Championship plaque on behalf of my fellow musicians and directors in the A Band.
Like many of you, this program has been the cornerstone of my professional life. I pursued a career as a high school band director. I knew I wanted it from the time I was a sophomore. Mr. Miller gave me the opportunity to work with beginners in the summer, and Mr. Pritchett provided great guidance.
I have had the rare opportunity to not only play in a band at state finals, but conduct my own. In 1999, I started an entertainment company. Without listing a resume of artists I have played and recorded with, the confidence as a singer and musician came from the freedom I was allowed in high school. None of this would have been possible without the guidance of these two gentlemen, Mr. Pritchett and Mr. Miller.
On a personal note, my mother died of cancer during my 8th grade year. My father, who was financially decimated by her illness, took a job as a long haul trucker. I lived alone for 4 weeks at a time throughout high school. I have been asked many times by my friends, colleagues, and even students how I didn't get mixed up in the wrong crowds or have an alcohol or drug problem with no parental stability. The only thing that got me to school each day was band, choir, and drama. Mr. M, Mr. P, Mrs. S, and Mrs. G. - I owe you everything.
Andrew Walits (class of 2014)
I think it's really wonderful how many people support Valpo arts. I will only be a junior in the fall, but because of the jazz program, I already know what I want to do with my life. Without the encouragement of Mr. P and Mr. R, I would have never figured out that I have any talent at all. For that, I will always be grateful. I really hope that Valpo keeps on encouraging its students to be creative.
Karen McKanna
Cutting school funding is never easy...just never understood why arts departments are first on the chopping block.
Music has enriched all my life and the lives of our children. VCS was our first and only choice when picking a community to raise our family.
Kyle, our son, (class of 2002) was delightedly overly involved in all the programs while at VHS. We teased him that he needed a cot at school...Member of the Band, Jazz Band, Jazz Ensemble, Concert Choir, Varsity Singers, Orchestra, Theatre and CMT. The life-long friendships formed and the experiences shared enriched him - as well as his family. He became involved in the Dunes Summer Theatre and majored in Theatre at Ball State. He was hired by Wheeler High School as their drama director and "taught" their for 2 1/2 years. Many surrounding communities set their goals based on Valpo.
Our daughter, Mari (class of 2005) was also involved in Band, Jazz Band, Vikettes, and Theatre. The confidence she gained through these groups was immeasurable. She became a member of a nationally ranked dance team while at Parkland Community College and continued to dance at Purdue. She will be graduating from Purdue this summer.
I was fortunate to have been included in 2 different CMT trips! What an amazing adventure for the students and the adults~experiences and memories to last a lifetime. Alice Gambel is a dear friend, and Kyle's 2nd Mom. I'm proud to share him with her.
Music, theatre and art is what makes us human. We are soulless without them. SAVE what matters MOST!
Christiana (Mortensen) McLean (class of 1993)
I was involved in music from elementary through high school while attending Valpo Schools, and both my sons are currently participating in music, so this is very important to me and close to my heart.
When I was in first grade, my mother allowed me to take piano lessons. I think I started asking when I was in preschool, then my wonderful Mom bought a piano for my seventh birthday. I continued piano lessons through high school and into college. I also sang in my church children's choir and in Central Elementary's choir, where we learned a variety of pieces, and everyone was encouraged to have fun with the music. I continued in choir at Ben Franklin with Mr. Butt, and then at VHS with Linda Schonbachler. I learned how to express myself through music. When I am feeling joyful, or sad, or contemplative, those feelings can find an outlet through singing or playing the piano. In choir, we learned how to work together, how each musical part complements the other, listening to the other parts as well as your own.
My musical training also helped me earn a livelihood. When my sons were small, I taught piano lessons from my home as a way to earn some income in the evenings while caring for my children during the day. I also taught Kindermusik classes to preschool age children. Certainly, the exemplary teaching style of my choir teachers, combined with their infectious love of music, helped me to be a better music teacher. While I have since returned to school for a nursing degree, and now work as a Registered Nurse, music is always close to my heart.
Finally, I have passed on my enjoyment of music to my children. My older son Tim is a senior at VHS, and has been in the choir since starting there. He enjoys choir as a predictable, lower-stress way to spend part of his morning. Tim has made many new friends through choir, and feels that Mrs. Schonbachler already goes above and beyond her job duties to encourage each student to excel. He says that music has really enriched his life. My younger son David is a sophomore at VHS. He took piano lessons while in elementary school, then began playing trumpet in middle school. Music gives him a way to express himself, and Band is his favorite class of the day. Music is truly a family affair: the trumpet he now plays once belonged to my sister when she played in VHS Band, and my husband played percussion in VHS Band when he attended there. My husband and I met at VHS, and were encouraged to get together by friends who were also in choir and band.
It is very upsetting to me that the School Board plans to cut funding for the Arts Programs to make up budget shortfalls. As a pianist and a former choir member, I understand how integral the piano accompanist is to the choir program. The School Board simply must find a way to continue funding these positions. By adding to the workload of each of the music teachers who remain, it will be very difficult to maintain the excellent program that has been in place for decades. Certainly there are other areas where they could reduce funding with a lesser impact on the educational value students receive at Valparaiso Schools. The School Board should investigate other options that would not be so detrimental to our music students' education.
Darci Wring (class of 1998)
I am proud to say that I am a VHS grad. The VCS arts programs played a huge part in who I am today. I am currently a dance instructor/choreographer in the local area. I have worked all over the nation with dancers, directors, musicians and choreographers from Cincinnati to Chicago to New York City. My work has been showcased and awarded in companies, musicals, competitions, etc. I also studied dance at Point Park University in Pittsburgh, PA and Marymount Manhattan College in NY, NY.
I don't say all of this to brag, but instead to show you that the Valpo arts has helped me to do all of these things and more. Starting in middle school, I got the opportunity to be in drama and choir which eventually led to being a Varsity Singer member/choreographer and Concert Choir member in high school. I also was in the VHS musicals, Advanced Dramatic Performance, Drama Club, April Antics and participated in Creative Musical Theatre.
Linda Schonbachler and Alice Gambel have been my biggest inspirations and believed in me when I didn't. They gave me the tools to work with future students...to give them a well rounded education in the arts. I could never have read music for a musical that needed to be choreographed, or been able to come alongside a director and make a story come to life, or pound out rhythms to my dancers if it wasn't for my history in the Valpo arts. Many of my students are now working professionally as dancers, actors, or instructors and I am proud to say that I taught them. Thank you to all of those that have been involved in VCS arts no matter how big or small! You all count!
Matt Nelson (class of 1991)
I was a VCS student from Kindergarten through 12th and graduated from VHS in 1991. All of the music teachers I had helped mold me into who I am today, starting in 4th Grade at Memorial Elementary when I was encouraged by my music teacher to be in the Chorus.
Starting in 7th Grade (through 10th Grade), Mr. Butt helped mold me into who I am today by finding my musical strengths and taking them to the next level. Because of the passion that he had for the Choral Department, he encouraged us to help support it by working in the concession stands, which I did all the way through high school!
Mrs. Schonbachler's leadership and molding of the Concert Choir earned us 8th in State my Jr. year & then winning 2nd in state during only our 2nd year reaching the state competition! Two years after graduating & being out of an organized chorus, I auditioned for an Acappella Chorus & ended up getting a 2nd tenor spot & there were only 2 available! I actually beat out other people that were there on a Music Scholarship the year before! Why? It was because of the molding that my VCS Choral Directors gave me! After that, I was able to assist a singer/songwriter with the harmony on a song he was writing for The Acappella Company.
I have also had the honor of being asked to sing baritone under the direction of Greg Hollander in the Cavemen Barbershop Chorus. Mr. Hollander sang bass in the group Michigan Jake, who won the International Barbershop Quartet in 2001!
I now have the daily privilege and honor of singing to my 3 daughters, 2 of which have special needs! Last Saturday (6-9-12), we went as a family to enjoy a night of music with the Cavemen Barbershop Chorus and Vocal Union (of The Acappella Company) & my girls are STILL singing the songs from last weekend with all their hearts! Why? It all started when a music teacher started to mold me early on in the VCS Arts! Now I get the privilege & honor to pass on the love of music to my daughters!
Kari Gearhart
It has been so amazing to observe the incredible talent that continues to pour out of the arts programs of the Valparaiso Community Schools! I have memories dating back to the 70's-when my mom, Donni Meyer Bane, choreographed musicals for Alice (Noble) Gambel. Back then, high school students had the incredible opportunity to go on a retreat to put their summer musicals together. At the conclusion of their retreat, the students would return to Valpo and perform their musical to sell-out crowds. They were incredible to watch!
In the years that followed those musicals, I watched VHS alums appear on television and in movies. Truly however, one of the biggest thrills was sitting in the Broadway Theatre in NYC and seeing VHS alum Jennifer Butt in the role of Madame Thénardier in the original Broadway production of "Les Miserables." It was nothing short of amazing to watch her perform and remind myself that she came from Valpo.
Many others have followed in her footsteps. Valpo currently has students working all over the world in the performing arts industries-some are teachers themselves, others are conducting and many are still performing . . . even on the Broadway stage!
We are so blessed to have committed, dedicated and gifted teachers preparing these students! The important thing to remember too, is that there is fantastic work happening at the elementary school. That is SO incredibly valuable because these are the teachers on the front lines-inspiring our kids to develop a passion for music. Tom Meyer, for instance, is an amazing example of a teacher who gets his students excited about music, sending them onto the next level. Mr. Meyer gave our oldest daughter a great start to her music education and further inspired her through the extracurricular activity of elementary school choir. She has gone on to be further inspired by Lynda Galbiati at Thomas Jefferson Middle School and Linda Schonbachler at the high school. Our youngest daughter seems to be following in familiar footsteps and looks forward to music class with Mr. Meyer twice a week. I can only hope that she and her older sister have the same kinds of opportunities ahead of them that so many others have had in past years. They are my main two reasons for being a voice in support of maintaining our arts programs!
Our music programs are strong and need to remain firmly intact for the future of our children. I sincerely hope that others will join us in our efforts and attend the next school board meeting on June 19th. At the very least, please visit us at "Friends of Valparaiso Community Schools Arts Programs" on Facebook. There you will find story after story of VHS students who went after their dream and are living it to the fullest. It's truly awe-inspiring and exciting!! We hope to see you there!
Derek Meilaender (class of 2003)
I moved to Valpo in 1996, when I was in sixth grade. As a kid I’d always wanted to be an artist for Walt Disney, but once I got involved in the band department (playing the alto sax) I was hooked on music. If it hadn’t been for all my experiences in the VCS system honking away on the saxophone I never would have made it to where I am today.
Most importantly, everything I learned and experienced up at the HS gave me an energy and a passion to launch my career from. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve run up against a wall and all of a sudden I remember a moment or two from Valpo and it instantly re-energizes me, igniting a flame under me like none other. It probably wouldn’t matter what profession I chose or what degree to pursue, I still would’ve had all those positive feelings to look back on. Music through VHS didn’t just give me something to do, it’s kept me going all these years later.
As it turns out, I’m literally in the middle of working on my Masters in Music Education Degree back in Tiffin, Ohio, at Heidelberg University. We just ended the first week of classes and it’s intense. One of the most brutal courses I’ve ever taken is currently underway at Heidelberg: Philosophy in Music Education.
Within the first week, our ideas and concepts of music education have already been torn apart and built back up (slowly but surely). In summarizing the first week here in Ohio, we came to the realization that not enough of us were speaking up – whenever opportunities presented themselves – for our profession. It’s not just an activity or an experience in school, and unfortunately music has been thought of as an elective – or as a ‘special’ or ‘rotation’ class – for years. Without going into that much detail, we were encouraged to rethink all of our ideas and speak up for music education whenever given the chance. As of this week, here’s a bit of my new philosophy – for whatever it’s worth.
“Music is a form of expression.
In the traditional American school setting music has come to mean a variety of things, but in our struggle to define music – to advocate its current position in education – perhaps we need to remember that it is not just a genre, a concept, or an activity.
Music encompasses an entire realm of emotions that are felt by individuals across time. Like literature, it is capable of transporting people to a higher consciousness, where – in this realm of emotions – people can share ideas and experiences from any culture and any time period, past or present. The only way to access these experiences and feelings is through the imagination.
If we approach music as a door to the imagination, we can claim its purpose in education, perhaps even in life. Thus, music is one of the highest modes of expression – timeless and transformative in its own right.”
As soon as we label music class as an elective, or as a “specials” rotation class, we automatically separate it from the rest of the curriculum. I don’t know how we can change that concept, but I really think it’s critical to the foundations of education.
What this means for Valpo in particular is that we have to stand behind our programs, not just because it’s the right thing to do, but because Valpo is one of the only districts that can give students a music education the way it was MEANT TO BE. Any cuts or setbacks will create a ripple effect that will be felt for the next 7 years. This isn’t just a class – it’s a multi-year musical journey that can connect critical thinking skills in one subject area to another. Some even think that without imagination all cognitive thought would cease to progress. Either way you look at it, music is worth saving in our schools and it’s even more critical to fight for a program that sets the example for everyone else in the field – one that never stops pursuing excellence. Today, I sometimes joke with my students: “All I want is perfection.” I often wonder if that actually hadn’t been pounded into my head at Valpo. The pursuit of excellence is a journey worth taking.
I honestly can’t think of a better school or a better staff to lead us through that journey. That is why we can’t afford to lose such a stellar program, especially with the current state of education around Indiana. I am PROUD to have been a Viking.
Keep the tradition. Maintain the arts. Preserve Valpo!
Karin Mick (class of 2005)
I have so many reasons to be grateful for the arts training I received from the Valparaiso Community Schools. Not only were my skills sharpened, my eyes and ears trained for excellence, knowledge deepened- I gained confidence in myself, a sense of pride knowing that I can provide something of value to those around me.
The arts are not merely extracurricular activities; studies have proven the benefits of music and arts in the learning process. I am confident my experiences with art and music allowed me great success in my education, graduating high school with Academic Honors and a 4.0 GPA, and finishing college Magna Cum Laude. I say that not to brag, but to express gratitude for the excellent, well-rounded education I received in the Valpo Community Schools that provided a sturdy basis in my later studies.
When I look back on my years in the school system, most of my fondest memories stem from the arts programs. My career in the arts spanned the entire length of my years in Valpo schools; my early years in music class with Karen Zappia, developing a love for art with Lori Gathmann, and beginning orchestra with Tim Kopf, on to middle school music courses with Lynda Galbiati, orchestra with Monica Schafer, and honing my art skills with Sue Nickel, and finishing out my years with Concert and Chamber Orchestra, again with Tim Kopf and several classes in the arts under the direction of Linda Malott and Marilyn Hanson. I’m immensely grateful to each one of these fine educators, along with others who had a hand in my arts education as well. They have helped shape who I am today.
I’ll never forget the accomplishment of being a part of the state winning orchestra in 2004, the first time the orchestra brought home that title. Or the feeling of winning awards for my photography. Seeing your hard work pay off in a tangible manner is incredibly encouraging, providing a drive to taste that success again and again.
In college, I continued to pursue the arts, focusing my efforts on photography but also maintaining my violin skills with the university orchestra and quartet. I’ve seen my work published, been a part of many musical productions, and continue to this day to perform and create art.
The main point I want to impart is how crucial the arts were to my education, not only for the skills I gained, but also for the confidence I received. I went from being the shy kid who really never talked in class to running for and achieving the role of Chamber Orchestra Vice-President my senior year. Valpo arts have set a high standard- I would hate for future generations to miss out on the quality education I was fortunate to receive.
Chelsea Schroeder
I went to Valpo, K through 12, and I was in choir from 4th grade through junior year. Being in choir helped me and many people I know for so many reasons. We learned ways to express ourselves, we learned new languages, we met new kids from different schools, it helped with teaching memory and work ethics, and it was a great experience and an outlet for me from my home life. It gave me something to look forward to. It was something positive to think about and helped drive me to achieve better things in life and not just give up. Choir and the art programs in general are great for students.