Archive: Arts & Entertainment

The Ithaca Community Fine Arts Booster Group (FABG), an affiliate of the Ithaca Public Education Initiative (IPEI), has received funds from the Carol J. Buckley Scholarship for Students in the Arts Fund, administered by IPEI.  This grant supported Boynton and DeWitt Middle School students with spring music trip scholarships.

David Brown, Ithaca City School District (ICSD) Fine and Performing Arts Director, articulates the value of student music trips to festivals and competitions, “Music education happens in so many places.  It starts in the classroom and goes to the home where students practice and is enhanced by opportunities that teachers give students when they travel and perform for world renowned adjudicators.  We are so pleased to give students in ICSD the opportunities to travel to places and show their hard work and talents.  We are also so appreciative of the grants made available by the FABG and and IPEI.”


The Carol J. Buckley Scholarship Fund was established in 2005 in honor of Carol, a graduate of the Ithaca High School Class of 1983, who died of Lou Gehrig’s disease in 2005, at the age of 40.  Carol was a passionate performer, the epitome of vitality, who lived her life fully and with great joy.  Throughout her life, Carol shared her exquisite soprano voice with the Ithaca community.  The scholarship established in her name is awarded to a graduating senior who exhibits promise (and intends to pursue higher education) in the fine, performing, visual, theatrical, or written arts. An additional allocation from the fund is often made in support of PreK-12 arts education.

The Fine Arts Boosters support district programs and staff, and advocate for increased student access, participation and equity in the arts programs. Formed in 2001, the boosters believe the arts – music, dance and visual, literary and theater arts – are a central part of every child’s public school education. 

IPEI is a not-for-profit organization that believes the education of every ICSD student is enhanced through community connections and support facilitated by IPEI for students and teachers through engagement, collaboration, gifts, and grants.  Visit www.ipei.org.

Ongoing FABG initiatives include printing of all the performance booklets for concerts and drama productions in the middle and high schools; fundraising; Play It Again, Ithaca, the collection of used musical instruments and monies to purchase new instruments for use in the schools; and various advocacy efforts in support of arts in the schools.

The Josh Endo Memorial for Continuing Support of Music Education (JEMM) Fund recently supported over 100 elementary students’ instrument rentals for the 2013-14 school year.  JEMM annually supports music education needs with priority for elementary student instrument rental scholarships and secondary student music group trip scholarships.  The Ithaca Public Education Initiative (IPEI) Fund administers the JEMM fund with help from the Fine Arts Booster Group (FABG), an IPEI affiliate.  JEMM celebrates the late Josh Endo’s love of music and his music education in the Ithaca City School District (ICSD).

David Brown, ICSD Fine and Performing Arts Director, expressed his gratitude for the award, “The ICSD Music Department humbly accepts the Josh Endo Memorial Fund to help offset rentals for families in need.  In Ithaca no child is denied music instruction due to financial hardship.  Josh was a strong musician in our program throughout his years and we are so glad this memorial fund can help students pursue their interests in music.”

FABG will award summer music scholarships through the Rella and Barney Cohn Music Scholarship Fund, established by Abby Cohn in memory of her parents and in honor of the excellent music education available in the Ithaca City School District (ICSD).  The fund provides music scholarships for summer study through the Ithaca Youth Bureau (IYB) Summer Band and Orchestra Program. 

Michael W. Allen, Director of the IYB Summer Music Program, notes several students will be the beneficiaries of Rella and Barney Cohn Music Scholarships this summer.

"The Rella and Barney Cohn Music Scholarships are a gift from their daughter, Abby Cohn, to the youth in our community," he says.  "I am very thankful for these  scholarships that allow students who might not otherwise be able to participate in the Summer Bands at Cornell University’s Lincoln Hall, the opportunity to be part of this special program."

The summer Band Program begins on Tuesday, July 1.  Rehearsals are held every Tuesday and Thursday evening through July 31.  Four ensemble sections are available from beginning to advance, with sessions starting at 6:30 p.m.

“Continuing music education is important to students’ overall academic, artistic and social development.  Summer time music activities help middle school students, in particular, solidify their skills and continue music study into their high school years,” noted Abby Cohn.  “My daughters benefitted greatly from the rich musical offerings at Boynton Middle School as well as through participation in the IYB Summer Band and Orchestra Programs The breadth, variety and excellence of these opportunities have had a real impact on them. I particularly want to recognize Michael Allen for his leadership and enthusiasm.  This fund also honors my parents and their commitment to music education in all its forms.”


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