Viva Musica’s Fall Arts Festival was from 3-11pm on September 17, at Zorbaz on Gull Lake. The festival featured live music by One Night Stand, which recorded a live CD, as well as Danny Fromm.

Viva Musica (www.vivamusica.org), a nonprofit  organization, is dedicated to saving music and art education in schools. All proceeds from the event went toward Minnesota art and music programs by way of special grants.

On behalf of the Aitkin Band Program, Director Chris Halvorson was presented with a custom- made Electric Blues Guitar made by La Doten Guitars of Minneapolis. Area schools were invited to apply for this guitar which was presented by Rick Doten. Halverson gave a brief speech in accepting the guitar thanking Rick for the donation and Viva Musica for the opportunity and for their support of music education.

This all came together with conversation with Pete Lowe, who is a guitarist in the area and member of Lord of Life Lutheran Church Band, where he asked if Halverson would be interested in applying for this grant. Bassist, Jon Belanger, also a member of Lord of Life Band, is the father of Viva Musica founder Erin Belanger. Other members of The Lord of Life Band were also in the featured act of the special fundraising event held at Zorbaz. Halverson submitted the application, and was informed on September 15^th that Aitkin would be receiving the guitar.

The school had a bass guitar, but not an electric guitar. “It will be nice for the students that are interested in practicing guitar to have a quality instrument they can learn and perform on at school,” said Halverson.  Halverson plans to feature the guitar at their upcoming fall band concert on Thursday, November 17, beginning at 7:30 pm in the High School Auditorium.

Past recipients include:

• Watertown Elementary School

Watertown Elementary received a check for $850 to contribute to their school band program.

• Pine Hill Elementary

Pine Hill received a brand new portable Yamaha grand piano

• Richard R. Green Elementary

Richard R. Green Elementary received a selection of percussion instruments designed to fit the small hands of young children.

• Aitkin Band

Aitkin Band received a custom made, electric Bass guitar courtesy of LaDoten guitars.

Viva Musica’s annual concerts are made possible by the generous donations from the community. Selecting a grant recipient is rewarding but so difficult; there are so many school music and art programs that need funding.

Do you know of a teacher who is passionate about music or arts staying in schools? Please send them the link to the 2012 Grant Recipient application!

What: 2012 Grant Recipient Application for Viva Musica’s 4th Annual Benefit Concert AND the MOA Scavenger Hunt
When: Application is due by February 13th, 2012
How: Click here for the application. Save and send it to info@vivamusica.org

In addition to VM’s annual gala in the winter, we will also be adding a few more really fun events… In a few new locations… more details to come in the next few months! In the meantime, submit your school’s grant application TODAY! Our events will depend on how many grant applications we have, so make sure that your favorite school applies! There is no due-date yet, but the earlier, the better.

Find the grant application here.

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Viva Musica is excited to be receiving a custom made from Rick Doten Owner at LaDoten Custom Guitars! Rick is designing a guitar especially for Viva Musica’s Summer Event at Zorbaz! A lucky Lakes area school will be the recipient of this excellent custom guitar. If your school wants a chance at this guitar, follow the link below to fill out an application and send it to info@vivamusica.org.

Link to Application: http://vivamusica.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Guitar_Viva_Musica_Grant_Application.docx

Check them out at http://www.ladotencustomguitars.com/.

We are so excited to be having the next Viva event at Zorbaz on Gull Lake in Brainerd! Get to know this one-of-a-kind establishement and puruse their other exciting events by checking out their website! Click here.

Jonathan Hayft- Chairman of the Board, Logistics                                                

Haley Johnson (Twin Cities)- Artist Relations

Erin Belanger- Executive Director

Marium Asif- Vice President

Kirk Brown- Board Member- Marketing and Public Relations Director

Zach Braid- Board Member, Business and Finance Manager

Katie Braid- Donation Coordinator

Jon Belanger- Music Coordinator

Kayt Dowling- Design and Graphics Manager

Millie Morris (Brainerd) – Artist Relations

A few months ago, Corina Miller recieved the 2011 grant proceeds. Corina is the only music teacher at Richard R. Green Central Park in South Minneapolis, which is a school serving K-8th grade children. Corina sent us a beautiful, touching letter to thank us for the donation. We know that this wouldn’t have been possible without all of our wonderful supporters, and we wanted to share this letter with you.

First of all, I want to thank Viva Musica – and their founder, Erin Belanger for this fantastic event and generous gift they gave the students at my school, Richard R. Green Central Park in South Minneapolis! 

I have been teaching at this school for 20 years…when I began teaching, my school offered Art, Band and Vocal/Classroom Music-3 fulltime teachers.  However, through the years, our nation’s schools have changed.  There isn’t one public school

in America who hasn’t felt the stress level of mandated testing and huge budget cuts. As a result of this, one of the first items cut from school budgets are usually the Arts!

So now, 20 years later my school, which started with 3 teachers teaching the Arts, is now down to one.  I am the only Arts teacher in my building…teaching Vocal/Classroom Music to students from the High 5/pre-school age thru 8^thgrade.  Being the only Music teacher to almost 600 students is an extreme challenge.  I need to somehow connect Music to all of them!  This isn’t just a one-school story…there are many schools in my district and throughout the state who are under the same demands.  Sadly, I have heard from at least 5 other schools this week who have stated that their Arts programs are going to be cut from their school budget.  How can we keep this from happening?

The Arts – whether it’s Band, Vocal Music or Visual Arts – can connect with everyone.  There isn’t one culture around this world that doesn’t have the arts!  You cannot go through one day without hearing music or seeing art. I have heard from people over and over again, who have said that if it wasn’t for band, music or art…they would have never made it through their school day.

So…we need to continue teaching the arts!  Or…one day very soon – the only people able to perform music or become artists will be the people who can afford to hire teachers to teach them. 

At my school – 96% of my students qualify for free lunch programs – and paying for these activities would not be something their families could afford.  I am one of their connections to the Arts, and now, because of Viva Musica – YOU are also connected to these students.  You are now a part of their exposure to the Arts!

With this grant, the students at Green Central have received a variety of 32 percussion instruments – with a focus on world drums!  We haven’t had money in our budget for at least 15 years to purchase new instruments  – so we were in desperate need of new equipment.

These instruments are especially sized for the younger students – pre-school thru 2^nd grade.  It is during these beginning music classes that students can use the drums to feel tempo, read music rhythms, keep a steady beat and play drum patterns with songs we are singing.  There are many studies that show when younger students play instruments they improve their memory skills, speech sounds and improve their verbal learning.

  In addition, drumming is also something that all of my students can do from day one…regardless of what language they speak or what academic level they are at. Now, with all of these drums…all of my students can play at the same time and can

be successful.  We are a community – making music all together – everyone included!

I cannot tell you how excited the students were this week – all of my younger students have already had an opportunity to play on these instruments – and they are so proud of what they can already play on these drums. Their faces just beaming!

 We will use them every week.  These are few of the percussion instruments we received. . .(demonstrate)

I need to thank you again for this wonderful gift!  How are we going to keep the Arts in our schools?  It is through organizations like this -Viva Musica!  Hopefully, one day…we will not have to worry about funding the Arts in our schools – but for now, it is groups like Viva Musica  who can help us with the budget crisis we are face everyday in the Arts education!

I leave you tonight with saying I found over 20 years ago when I began teaching…

it reminds me of what impact we make to the children in our Arts programs –

“Long after the toys are gone…the gift of Music still remains.”

Thank you again …from all of the students and staff and Richard R. Green Central Park School

Viva Musica is so excited to announce that we will be adding a second event to our 2011 lineup! We will be hosting a fun, family-friendly event at Zorbaz on Gull Lake in Brainerd, Minnesota. The festival will take place on September 17th, 2011 and we are hoping for great weather so we can enjoy the beautiful views on Zorbaz’s patio! There will be dancing, music, art, and great local vendors, including a day at the races where you can learn how to drive a racecar! There will also be a dancing perfomance and free lessons from Oscar and Michelle Gonzalez and Spirit Movement Dance Studio.

The headlining musical act will be the awesome band One Night Stand. You may remember them from our first Viva event in 2009. The most exciting part of their performance is that they will be recording for their new album!

You also may remember the amazingly talented Danny Fromm from our 2011 event -

We have FABULOUS silent auction items this year… while we don’t want to give away all of the fun details, we can tell you that one of the auction items includes a VIP TRIP TO SAN DIEGO!! You don’t want to miss out on this!

We also have a suprise announcement about a special event later in the year… stay tuned for all of the detail to be announced after VMIII! See you March 19th!

San Diego tour company “Another Side of San Diego Tours” has generously donated a fabulous trip to San Diego for 2! Your trip would include round-trip airfare, hotel accommodations, tours, and massages in the beautiful Californian city of San Diego. Be sure to get your tickets to VMIII soon to have a chance to win this awesome trip!

Be sure to keep an eye on the website as we will be adding more exciting auction items that will be featured at VMIII! Also, keep up with us on our Facebook page!