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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 12, 1998)
'each program ists to schools Today s story is the second in a three-part series examining the history' and mle of the Lied Center for Performing Arts as a cultural centerpiece for the state of Nebraska. By Liza Holtmeier Staff writer The students of Fremont High School remem ber their first encounter with a world-class musi cian. It involved 19-year-old Makota Nakura and his 700-pound marimba, a percussive instrument sim ilar to a xylophone. Nakura, a native of Japan, visited Fremont FFigh School three years ago as part of the outreach program conducted by the Lied Center for Performing Arts. While there, he participated in workshops and mini-performances, introducing many students to the music of the manmba for the first time. Last year, the Lied Center participated in 44 such activities, ali geared at getting artists off of the stage and into the community. For the past seven years, the Lied Center has used its artists to present master classes, work shops, lecture/demonstrations and mini-perfor mances across the state. The program, which reached 6,525 Nebraska students last year, sen es two purposes: building audiences for the Lied Center and providing the public with a broad perspective of the arts. By introducing artists into the community, the Lied Center generates interest not only in the art form, but in the artist sch eduled to per form. Gail Mc Nair, director of the Lied Center’s out reach progr am, said that when a com munity has contact with an artist, ticket sales increase. But out reach progr ams are about more than just miuig scaii. i ucy aie ueuicaieu 10 me promotion of arts appreciation. “It opens doors for people. They're introduced to art forms and ideas that they have never experi enced before,” McNair said. Popular artists That exposure can translate into a greater sense of fulfillment and appreciation for diversity, which helps people realize that fine art encompasses more than just ancient Shakespeare and lofty Mozart. Tito Puente, who hails from the Puerto Rican quarter of New York, revealed a brave new world of jazz to high school students through a series of workshops in January'. The cast of the touring pro duction ol “The Secret Garden” shared private thoughts with students about life in a professional acting company. And James Sewell, the artistic director of the James Sewell Ballet, introduced area dancers to a modem, lyrical sty le influenced by George Balanchine and Hliot Feld. To achieve its ends, the Lied Center aims most of its outreach programming at youth. Llementary schools, high schools and colleges top the list of 66 Its inspiring for the kids to see a 20-year-old who has been playing the violin since she was 4.” Gail McNair Lied Center outreach program director r: 11: . -r-i i artist-community collaborations. The sooner people incorporate the arts into their lives, McNair said, the more likely they are to continue the practice. To aid in the process, the Lied Center asks all artists to work with its out reach program but expects only about half to actu ally participate. The artists generally make their decisions after considering their performance schedules and, less glamorously, their need for exposure. This means that artists such as violinist Isaac Stern or actor Hal Holbrook rarely participate because of hectic performance schedules. However, McNair assures that most artists incor porate outreach programs into their performance schedules as a matter of course. Outreach programs as a form of publicity have become a necessity in an era where money for the arts is scarce, she said. Art classes Once an artist agrees to participate, the Lied Center decides where to send him or her based on the artist s target audience. “We try to match the younger artists with the younger audiences. It’s inspiring for the kids to see a 20-year-old who has been playing the violin since she was 4. It gives them someone to look up to and emulate," McNair said. Richard Scott, the supervisor of music for Lincoln Public Schools, said Nebraska students would never be exposed to high-caliber arts perfor mances if it weren't for the Lied Center. Scott, who w'orked in the New' Jersey public school system for 1 7 years, said students there never could see artists through public outreach like the Lieds. "Lincoln students have seen some outstanding professionals without cost to us,” he said. Scott is responsible for distributing the Lied Center out reach programs among the Lincoln public schools. Since LPS began participating in the program, students have been exposed to a variety of musical styles. Saxophonist Joshua Redman acquainted students with the sounds of New York jazz. Miles Hoffman and the American Chamber Players showcased classical chamber music. The Turtle Island String (Quartet present ed a mix of blues, jazz and blue grass. In addition to the Lincoln Pub lic Schools, the Lied Center pre sents programs to the University ofNebraska-Lin coln and outside Lincoln. Comm unities that have participated in artist activities include Omaha. York, Grand Island, Fairbury, Columbus, Tecumseh and Kearney. Though the Lied Center’s efforts for communi ty outreach are unique to Nebraska, most compa rable organizations boast similar programs. Neighbor in need The Lied Center for Performing Arts in Lawrence. Kan., which presented its first season in 1993, presents education programs across the state of Kansas. Unfortunately, the Lawrence Lied Center may not be able to continue to provide the programs free of chatge. Financial matters are a constant source of con cern for the performing arts centers since both the Lincoln and Lawrence programs are solely sup ported by private donations and free to partici pants. However, the unsteady state of arts funding in America may jeopardize the Lied Center’s vision in Kansas. Lots ot other institutions are charging for their residen cy activities,” said Lane Czaplinski, director of educa tion at the Lawrence Lied Center. “The time may come when we may have to do the same.” If schools and organiza tions have to begin paying for these programs, the popularity is almost certain to decline. Success at home “Right now, we can barely keep up with all of the - ivitnaii auiu, "When the Houston Ballet sponsored a master class. I could have filled up three classes, but 1 only had one.” Luckily, the Friends of the Lied, a group that gives money to the Lincoln Lied Center, provides the majority of the funding for the outreach pro grams that extend throughout the state. And with Friends like this, the young people of Nebraska will continue to meet artists like Makota Nakura - artists who illuminate classrooms with the world of the arts. - -l2 _- * -' ^T^OSiSasmSmmSMmSSS. File Photo/DN James Sewell, the founder of James Sewell Ballet, took time out of his scheduled performances at the Lied Center last October to teach a les son for the dance department master class at the Johnny Carson Theatre. ii—-—— Lots of other institutions are charging for their resi dency activities...The time may come when we may have to do the same Lane Czaplinski Lawrence Lied Center director of education