THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 24, 1996 TAG: 9605220169
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 01E EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ERIC FEBER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 105 lines
This year, everybody was a winner.
The 97 candidates who auditioned for the 1995/96 Chesapeake Fine Arts Commission Arts Education grants at Oscar F. Smith High School all benefited from an audition procedure that has been streamlined and improved.
L. Randy Harrison, the city's fine arts coordinator, said she and board members of the Fine Arts Commission looked at past auditions and heeded comments collected from candidates and their parents in order to make the entire process fast, fun and educational.
``Of course, these are still auditions and people will always be nervous. We can't eliminate that,'' she said. ``But we did take a long, hard look at the entire audition process and made what we thought were necessary improvements. We initiated them last year, but finally improved them all for this year's auditions.''
In the past, Harrison said, between 80 to 100 candidates would converge on the meeting site. One candidate after another was auditioned until each had the chance to display his or her artistic talent.
The system was flawed, Harrison said, because many had to wait all day long for their turn. In addition, very young candidates were put in a position of having to compete unfairly with older ones.
``Everybody showed up at the same time, and that made it a long day for many who had the tough luck to audition late in the day,'' Harrison said. ``People got tight, tired and even more stressed out just waiting around. Then we had little kids, some even 4 or 5 years old, competing against middle school and high school age youngsters. That wasn't fair to the younger ones. We knew we had to improve the process for what we see as a very good program.''
Harrison also said the audition improvements were able to cut waste as well as time, saving money that will be returned to the students in the form of more money for future arts grant awards.
The improvements included:
The age categories were narrowed to include only seventh-graders through college freshmen.
The auditions were facilitated by Chesapeake Fine Arts Commissioners, citizen volunteers and Chesapeake Parks and Recreation staffers.
Candidates were given specific audition time slots. This way, each participant had to wait an hour at the most, and the judges didn't have to be there the entire day.
Each arts discipline to be judged - dance, instrumental, band, drama and visual arts - was given its own color-coded judging sheet so as not to confuse one discipline with another.
Results were tabulated on a lap-top computer as soon as possible, allowing the entire day's results to be known at the end of the session.
All participants were given numbers so names or identities were not known to the panel of judges.
Visual arts participants had to be there along with their works. The young artists were quizzed by the judges on their art, artistic vision, approach, influences, philosophy and methodology.
Special rooms were set up so participants could limber up or practice for their performances. Parents could wait for their children in a lounge.
All candidates were given special participation certificates that same day.
Students and parents were invited to offer anonymous comments about the audition process on special forms.
Although there were criticisms about brusque judges, unexpected video taping, slippery floors, some waiting time along with a few other complaints, the bulk of the comments from parents and participants were positive.
Some of the comments were:
``Facilities were good, timing was good, moved smoothly. Keep the program in place and increase visibility through the city.''
``Registration was very easy. Applicants were taken in a timely fashion.''
``Very efficient registration table. Students were taken to practice area with a minimum of wait time. The appointment schedule was kept to. My student was in and out in about 45 minutes. Helpers were pleasant and friendly. A very positive experience.''
``This was our first experience with the Chesapeake Fine Arts Commission Arts Education Grant Auditions. The experience was very positive. We enjoyed our first contact with you.''
``I really appreciate the postcard acknowledgment and staggered audition time. The certificates were a very nice touch. Thanks for providing the opportunity for our children to further their arts education.''
Harrison said the Fine Arts Commission didn't want to scrap its grant awards program, which is funded by the city and the state. So the above improvements were implemented.
She said Chesapeake is currently the only city in Hampton Roads with such a project. It has received statewide praise from parents, city officials, educators and experts from many fine arts fields.
Harrison said those who have sung the program's praises all cite how it nurtures and encourages the growth and development of creativity and arts expertise among Chesapeake's youth.
Last year's auditions, which saw the unprecedented awarding of seven perfect scores to youngsters in arts endeavors ranging from original musical composition to watercolor arts, drew praises from Maestro Russell Stanger.
Stanger, who acted as a judge last year and this year, is former musical director and conductor of the Virginia Symphony, a well-known and highly acclaimed symphony conductor in Japan and Mexico, associated with the Saratoga Performing Arts Center and in charge of instrumental studies at the New York State Summer School of Art.
``What impressed me the most,'' Stanger said, ``was the community and parental support I saw. That portends a great future for Chesapeake.''
Where once people saw Chesapeake as a quiet, rural area with no fine arts climate now see a dynamic city bursting with young artistic talent, Harrison said.
``I've heard that, next to Virginia Beach, the city that sends more youngsters to the Governor's Magnet School for the Arts is Chesapeake,'' Harrison said. ``And that's something to be proud of. I think the wonderful fine arts programs in Chesapeake's public school system and the work performed by the Fine Arts Commission with these grant awards help create this kind of rich creativity.'' by CNB