This spring, Arts Empower San Diego, a collective impact initiative of the San Diego County Office of Education VAPA Department, launched their Ovation Awards. These awards recognize students, parents, teachers, school leaders, and arts education organizations working to ensure every student in San Diego County is engaged in a personally relevant, equitable, standards-based arts education.
Crown Point Junior Music Academy (CPJMA) has been honored with the SupportMusic Merit Award from The NAMM Foundation for its outstanding commitment to music education. The SupportMusic Merit Award recognizes individual schools that demonstrate outstanding achievement in efforts to provide music access and education to all students. To qualify for the SupportMusic Merit Award, Crown Point JMA answered detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, and support for the music-making programs.
Due to current requirements of social distancing and stay at home orders The Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) Foundation has announced its second annual "Spotlight gala, Beyond Brilliance … Spotlight on Dynamic Young Artists," originally set to take place at The Conrad in La Jolla, will now become a virtual event. The date of the event remains as April 18, at 6 p.m.
In spring 2020, San Diego Unified’s Debut Honor Band and Orchestra was comprised of over 130 fourth, fifth, and sixth graders. The students, who auditioned in December to obtain a place in one of the ensembles, practiced weekly at Wilson Middle School throughout February and into March.
On Saturday, February 1, 2020, the SDUSD Middle School Honor Band and Orchestra performed their annual concert at Point Loma Nazarene University’s Brown Chapel. Participating students, who auditioned in November and rehearsed for several weeks leading up to the concert, represented 15 middle schools from around the district. Over 130 students were involved in the concert.
The Visual and Performing Arts Department (VAPA) of the San Diego Unified School District is pleased to announce the winners of the 2020 VAPA Spotlight Awards. The VAPA Spotlight Awards celebrate Transforming Lives Through the Arts across the district. These awards highlight outcomes that are aligned with the goals of VAPA’s strategic plan, adopted by the Board of Education in 2016.
On Saturday evening, March 7, the district’s three student Honor Choirs performed their culminating concert in the theater at Lincoln High School. The three choirs were divided by age and vocal range: Debut (grades 4-6), Treble (upper voices, grades 7-12), and Tenor-Bass (lower voices, grades 7-12).
100 students representing almost 40 schools in SDUSD participated, auditioning in December and attending six weeks of rehearsal before the final event. In an effort to be inclusive, involvement in a school choir is recommended but not required.
Accompanied by faculty and staff, 24 high school students from SCPA recently attended the National High School Dance Festival. The three-day festival (February 26 to March 1) was held at Point Park University in Pittsburgh, PA.
Stephen Luchs, a SDUSD elementary instrumental music educator, is the recipient of a state-level award from the California Music Educators Association. On February 21, Mr. Luchs received CMEA's “Hall of Fame” award which honors lifetime achievement in music education. The award was presented during the gala awards banquet at the California All-State Music Education Conference (CASMEC) in Fresno, California on February 21.
The Southern Border Section of the California Music Educators Association (CMEA) recently recognized its 2019 Fortissimo awards winners. These awards honor Imperial Valley and San Diego County music educators, industry leaders, and school administrators for exceptional work in music education. Among the recipients were three San Diego Unified current or former employees.
