<< Return to Foundation Focus Page Beautiful Music: Student Advisors Assist WSSO Jene'e Patitucci and Nate Boese - Members of the newly formed West Shore Symphony Orchestra Youth Arts in Education Advisory Committee will help guide the Symphony's youth outreach efforts. Talented student musicians from several Muskegon County high schools are helping the West Shore Symphony Orchestra (WSSO) develop youth educational programs thanks in part to a grant from the Community Foundation for Muskegon County Youth Advisory Council (YAC). Thirteen band, orchestra and choir students, a number which may soon be expanded, were recommended to sit on the new Youth Arts in Education Advisory Committee by instructors at their schools, notes WSSO Education Coordinator Carol Rich. "The student response has been great, they are very excited about their membership in this group," according to Rich." They are so eager to do anything to support the arts . . . they serve as representatives of all youth in the arts and can identify needs, opportunities and hopefully direct the future for education programs." The students, who attend Muskegon, Mona Shores, Reeths-Puffer, Fruitport and Orchard View high schools hope to eventually assist the WSSO in a number of ways. One immediate goal is to enhance a popular program called the "Instrument Petting Zoo," which introduces elementary students to musical instruments. In April, committee members may also serve as mentors during the "Carnegie Link UP!" concert, a young people's concert for West Michigan fourth graders. "The students recognize that schools are so challenged financially and that arts programs are seriously affected by continual budget cuts. This results in limitations in their opportunities, particularly for more advanced training," according to Rich. "The Youth Arts in Education Advisory Committee members are also eager to find opportunities for advanced training with other students from area schools so they can learn from each other." The West Shore Symphony Orchestra Youth Leadership grant was also a good match for the Foundation's Youth Advisory Council (YAC). According to Katie Trzaska, Muskegon Catholic Central senior and YAC Chair, "One of the goals of the YAC is to empower youth, so this project was a great opportunity for the YAC to partner with the Symphony to create leadership opportunities for youth." The Youth Advisory Council is a special project of the Community Foundation for Muskegon County. The Council, made up of adult advisors and student representatives from 14 Muskegon area schools, involves young people in solving problems affecting their peers. Members of YAC help set policy and guide distribution of nearly $70,000 a year in grants to promising youth projects in Muskegon County. For more information on the Youth Council, contact Gina Van Bruggen at 722-4538 or gvanbruggen@cffmc.org. << Return to Foundation Focus Page