Through its philanthropy and work with the Orcutt School District, the Orcutt Children’s Arts Foundation (known as OCAF) strives to keep art alive in schools.
It obviously takes money to keep OCAF alive, however, so the nonprofit regularly embarks on fundraising efforts in addition to arts outreach.
Every year, OCAF is host to a gala at which it honors an individual or organization that’s done notable work in arts outreach for the community. The event is also OCAF’s biggest fundraiser of the year. Approximately 75 percent of the funds raised go back to the Orcutt School District, with the remaining 25 percent earmarked for a fund to build a performing arts center in Orcutt, said Debra Hood, OCAF board member.
“That’s an exciting thing that that’s the future,” she said, “and it’s not too far off.”
The OCAF gala features fine dining, a silent auction, and a live auction with auctioneer Todd Ventura. Unfinished Business will provide live music. Programming also includes music by the Santa Maria Philharmonic.
“It’s just a really fun atmosphere of support and appreciation of the arts,” Hood said.
This year, OCAF is set to honor the Santa Maria Philharmonic at the black tie gala—not only for the group’s concerts, but also for its presentations of unique musical outreach to students.
“It really shows our appreciation for the Philharmonic and specifically for their music van program and their Peter and the Wolf program,” Hood said.
George Majoue of the Santa Maria Philharmonic said it was exciting to be commended by an organization that shares the same concern for bringing arts to Santa Maria Valley students.
“It’s truly an honor that we’re being recognized for our outreach to the students of this community,” he said.
The Santa Maria Philharmonic’s Children’s Outreach program provides opportunities for students to participate in their own musical education. The Philharmonic Music Van visits 29 different schools, introducing 2,500 third-grade students to instruments, many of which they may have never seen before.
“The kids just tremendously benefit from this,” Majoue said. “They have the chance to hold the instruments, play the instruments, and experiment with the instruments.”
The Philharmonic also provides a performance of Peter and the Wolf to fourth-graders at all schools in the Santa Maria Valley. And it’s more than just a show: Teachers receive guides that give students a chance to interact before and after the musical visit.
Majoue said the work is important in exposing students to the arts, in light of so many cuts in arts education. It’s also rewarding, he added.
“We love what we do,” he said. “It’s such a blessing for us—more so for the students in our community.”
Majoue said introducing students to music and getting them involved through the Peter and the Wolf program and the Music Van often inspires students to begin taking music lessons. From there, the future opens up.
“Who knows?” Majoue said. “These
kids can be the next Beethoven or Brahms or music director, conductor, or band teacher.”
Arts Editor Shelly Cone is the next music fan. Contact her at scone@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Feb 10-17, 2011.