Story by HILLARY DAVIS
Photos by Rick Wacha
Arizona Daily Sun
May 02, 2009
FLAGSTAFF - When about 250 students from Marshall Elementary Magnet School raised their bows to their child-sized violins Thursday at their annual performance in Heritage Square, they were showing off the fruits of a music education program that costs more than $30,000 per year.
PHOTO: From left, Devin Wilson, Burton Begay, Travis Tucker and fellow Marshall Elementary Magnet School first-graders perform the Suzuki method of violin at Heritage Square during the school's fundraiser Thursday afternoon.
For years, that training has been grant-funded. Marshall officials are hoping they'll continue to attract outside gifts, but they're also very much aware of the recession and the chance their current financial springs could run dry. So they decided to do something about it.
PHOTO2: Marshall Elementary Magnet School third-graderTerra Allen-Reynolds, right, shares a laugh with Erika Keith during their Ballet Folklorico dance at Heritage Square during the school's fundraiser Thursday afternoon.
Later this month, a gala fundraiser event will fill the Coconino Center for the Arts with a cheerful noise, and, the Marshall community hopes, enough generous people to keep the many arts programs at the Flagstaff school.
"Because we are funded through grants and donations and tax credit dollars, of course, all of that is much lower this year -- and getting grants this year has been very difficult, especially in the arts," said Janelle Reasor, a Marshall parent and the school's arts coordinator. "So we decided to put together a great fundraising event."
PHOTO3: From the left, Marshall Elementary Magnet School second-graders Caleb Caraway-Herrelko, Riley Johnson and Bailey Redding perform at Heritage Square during the school's fundraiser Thursday afternoon.
Reasor said it costs about $70,000 per year to fund her part-time position and all of the school's magnet arts programs, which include violin instruction in the Suzuki method for kindergartners through second-graders, dance for third-graders, and various artists in residence for the older children. Not all of that is paid for with grants, though much is.
And much of Reasor's job has been applying for those grants. This year's budget was smaller than it has been in the past, and the school has been frugal, even forgoing repair of their violin collection.
PHOTO4: Marshall Elementary Magnet School kindrgartners Wiley Frank, left, and Rowan St. John pluck a tune on violins at Heritage Square during the school's fundraiser Thursday afternoon.
Knowing that grants were shrinking, Reasor and other parents and teachers began brainstorming last fall with a go-for-it attitude.
"You can't spend all year trying to scrape up a bunch of money," she said. "You have to go after it."
Marshall principal Stacie Zanzucchi said the arts council asked themselves what would happen if they lost their grants, and began thinking about community outreach that promoted the school's mission along with its needs.
PHOTO5: Marshall Elementary Magnet School kindergartner Makayla Martinez place the bow on her violin at the beginning of the school's performance at Heritage Square during the school's fundraiser Thursday afternoon. Jake Cooper, right, waits for his cue.
"You know how those things are," she said. "We plant this little seed and it really blossomed quickly, all in one night."
The Marshall Masterpiece Event: Priceless Pieces was born. The gala is May 12 at the Coconino Center for the Arts, and will feature live music and dancing, and live and silent auctions of student artwork and donated pieces from local professional artists. A $20 ticket buys the attendee heavy appetizers, dessert, and an alcoholic drink.
PHOTO6: Marshall Elementary Magnet School third-graders Loris Craig, left, and Elena Jimenez dance at the sock hop at Heritage Square during the school''s fundraiser Thursday afternoon.
All food and drink are donated, as is the venue space. The event is expected to be 100 percent profit, all for student programs.
"Our dream is that this can sustain our Suzuki program for at least one year," Zanzucchi said. "It's a pretty expensive endeavor."
The event is geared toward adults but children are welcome. Kids can also be dropped off at Marshall for child care, for a nominal fee.
Reasor said the event has sold about 100 tickets so far. She said she would like to see more than 300 people show up.
"I think, I know, that education is important and Flagstaff -- I mean, look at the Friday night art walks," she said. "Flagstaff really stands behind the arts."
PHOTO7: Marshall Elementary Magnet School third-grader Quenton Miller dance at Heritage Square during the school's fundraiser Thursday afternoon.
Reasor isn't characteristically artsy -- a former high school science teacher, it was her science background that drew her to the school, which also offers a complementary science magnet. But the arts quickly drew her and her sons in.
She said the students who provided artwork for the auctions were in awe.
"They were so thrilled to know that we wanted to mat their piece and shrink wrap it, and somebody would want to buy it and take it home," she said. "It's just so adorable."
Zanzucchi said her school has waiting lists at every grade, something she attributed to the magnet offerings. She said the Marshall community is committed to maintaining those opportunities.
PHOTO8: Marshall Elementary Magnet School third-grader Courtney Champagne dances at Heritage Square during the school's fundraiser Thursday afternoon.
"The conversation of late is really about this whole economic crisis and what's going to happen when we don't have art in school," she said. "We just feel so strongly that art is such an integral part of the entire student that we want to make sure that whatever happens at the state budget level that we will be able to sustain arts at Marshall Magnet."
Hillary Davis can be reached at hdavis@azdailysun.com or 556-2261.
If you go ...
WHAT: Marshall Masterpiece Event: Priceless Pieces gala fundraiser
WHEN: May 12, 6-9 p.m.
WHERE: Coconino Center for the Arts, 2300 N. Fort Valley Road
COST: $20 per person, in advance and at the door. Advance tickets can be purchased at Marshall Elementary School, 850 N. Bonito St. Tickets can also be purchased by contacting Marshall teachers or Janelle Reasor, Marshall arts coordinator (jreasor@fusd1.org). Credit cards accepted.
ETC: Children are welcomed at the gala, but child care will also be provided at Marshall. Child care costs $3.50/hour for the first child, and $3/hour for each additional child. Care is provided by Northern Arizona University students.
For more information, call Marshall School at 773-4030
