CABARRUS ARTS COUNCIL TO PRESENT JOHN BLOOM OLD TIME MUSIC RESIDENCY AT FOUR CONCORD AND KANNAPOLLIS ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
The Cabarrus Arts Council will present John Bloom Old Time Music arts-in-education residencies at four elementary schools in February and March.
The first residency will be Friday, February 2, at Rocky River Elementary School. The Buffalo Creek String Band, an OId Time Music band that includes two people who played with the late Bloom, will spend an entire day at the school. They will work with six fourth grade classes, who have studied North Carolina history all year, taking them on a hands-on tour of the state’s music and culture. Students will learn traditional dances, such as reels and flat foot and even get to hold and play a few notes on instruments such as the banjo, mandolin and guitar. The day will culminate with a performance for all students in second and fourth grades, featuring the Buffalo Creek String Band as well as some of the fourth grade students.
The residency is named for John Bloom, a Concord High School teacher and Old Time musician who died unexpectedly in 2004. Bloom’s dream was to take his music into the schools and he had hoped to eventually apply for Grassroots funding to develop an educational program in Old Time Music. After his death, his wife, Pam, established a memorial fund through the Cabarrus Arts Council to realize his dream. The first John Bloom Residency was offered last May at Jackson Park Elementary School.
“We’re extremely honored to be able to do what John so much wanted – to take Old Time Music into the schools,” said Noelle Scott, arts council executive director. “It is especially appropriate that this program is being conducted by people John played with and by people who knew him and how much he loved traditional music. This program would not have been possible without generous gifts from 64 people who knew, love and respected John and his music.”
The other upcoming John Bloom residencies are at Jackson Park Elementary School on March 16, Woodrow Wilson Elementary School on March 23 and Beverly Hills Elementary School on March 30.
The Cabarrus Arts Council is also offering a second arts-in-education residency in February. The Latin Ballet of Virginia will be here February 5-9 to conduct its “Be Proud of Yourself” Spanish dance residency at Wolf Meadow, Fred L. Wilson and Forest Park elementary Schools. At each school, professional artists from the ballet company will work with a small group of students each day Monday-Friday, teaching them Spanish language, culture and dance. The ballet also will present a performance for the entire student body or several grades and conduct a teacher workshop at each school. In addition to the school programs, the ballet will conduct an after-school residency at the Hispanic Learning Center.
The Cabarrus Arts Council’s primary mission is to bring the arts to all of Cabarrus County’s citizens. Its programs include Students Take pART in the ARTs, which brings a professional performing arts program to every grade each year in local schools; Pops in the Park concerts; and Art Walks in downtown Concord. The arts council’s offices are located in the Historic Cabarrus Courthouse, which is undergoing renovation to include three art galleries and a performing arts theatre. For more information, please call 704-920-ARTS (2787) or visit www.cabarrusartscouncil.org. ###