Nearly 300 local students from the United Way of Santa Barbara County’s Fun in the Sun program were treated to a musical morning at Up Close and Musical on July 22.
The event, now in its eighth year, provides youngsters an opportunity to learn, play and witness musical performances they might not otherwise get the chance to experience.
Up Close and Musical is a collaboration by Janet Garufis, chairman/CEO of Montecito Bank & Trust, and Scott Reed, president/CEO of the Music Academy of the West,
This event included children from Carpinteria Middle School, Harding, Franklin, El Camino and Solvang Fun in the Sun sites who experienced musically themed outdoor activities, including a photo booth, hands-on percussion, face-painting, tattoos, instrument-making, musical chairs, an obstacle course, and interaction with world-class musicians and their instruments.
Inside the Music Academy’s Hahn Hall, students attended a musical performance called Percussion is everywhere!, under the leadership of Michael Werner, academy faculty artist and principal percussionist for the Seattle Symphony.
“What an incredible journey it has been to see the Up Close and Musical program grow from an experiment to a tradition over the past eight years,” Garufis said.
“It is amazing to watch the children interact with the musicians and volunteers, and when you look around, it’s hard to say who has bigger smiles on their faces, the kids or the volunteers,” she said.
“We’re proud of this collaboration with the Music Academy of the West and the United Way of Santa Barbara County; it’s a great example of what partnerships can bring to our community,” she said.
“The Music Academy of the West is delighted to engage with local children through the United Way’s annual Fun in the Sun program supported by community corporate sponsor Montecito Bank & Trust,” Reed said. “It’s always exciting to see 300 children fill Hahn Hall and inspire them to become our next generation of audiences.”
This year’s Percussion is everywhere! concert featured percussion and all the rhythms and colors people create. The program invoked the importance of teamwork and collaborating with those around you- not just in music but in life. Students explored what makes percussion fun and accessible for everyone.
One of the pieces performed, Fractalia, was played on two huge five-octave marimbas and tomtoms. Werner explored the sounds of China with Gene Koshinski’s piece, “Impression of Chinese Opera,” using authentic Chinese tomtoms and cymbals. Perhaps most impressive was the performance using only a deck of playing cards.
“We are so grateful to the Music Academy of the West and Montecito Bank & Trust for their ongoing support and partnership to expand the horizons of our Fun in the Sun participants through this truly one-of-a-kind Up Close & Musical performance,” said Steve Ortiz, president/CEO of United Way of Santa Barbara County.
“Since the partnership’s beginnings in 2012, hundreds of students have been able to hear and learn from world-class musicians in an intimate setting that simply would not be possible without the support of these invaluable community organizations,” he said.
“Thank you to Music Academy of the West and Montecito Bank & Trust for all you do to change the lives of our students each summer,” Ortiz said.
For more information about the Music Academy of the West, visit musicacademy.org.
— Jamie Perez for Montecito Bank & Trust.