The "Who Do You Know?" Game

We are looking for connections to major companies such as Smart Water, Geico Insurance, Capitol Coors, 7UP, Raley's, and Coke. If you know someone (or know someone who knows someone), we would love to hear about it. Please email us at performatec@yahoo.com.

On a performance-related note, spring is performance time across the San Juan Unified School District (visit the district's Artsworthy newsletter for a full line up.) On tap this weekend:

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
El Camino High School
March 11, 12 at 7:00 pm
Does losing make you a loser? This hilarious musical will take you through the twists and turns of the lives of six young spellers who struggle with puberty and their group of adult advisors mired in their own childhoods.

Tickets available at the door.
$7 students, children, seniors; $9 adults
Contact Sheryl Lee with questions: shlee@sanjuan.edu or 916.971.7996 x 4377

The Magic of Music

Think back to your high school teen years. Remember hearing that song that captured so perfectly the relationship with your significant other? Or the trademark song for your class? Or the music that pumped you up before a big game?

In Sunday’s Sacramento Bee (Feb. 13, 2011), Bruce Maiman discusses the personal and universal magic of music (“Music and its transformative power”). According to Maiman, “Part of music’s magic is that its effects are very personal. Music has the power to cause emotions to well up within us– peaceful, relaxing, exciting, festive, foreboding, unsettling, stimulating, invigorating, and more. These feelings are gripping—often irresistible—and they seem to emerge from nowhere. The color our moods, affect our perceptions and generate a behavioral pattern.

“We now know that music increases the release of endorphins—the body’s feel good chemical—hence soothing the savage beast (or reducing your blood pressure. Newer research also suggests musical training enhances the brain's cognitive abilities. Children taking music lessons have experienced higher IQ scores, increased literacy and mathematical skills, even greater sensitivity to emotional cues in social contexts, two skills critical to emotional intelligence.”

The magic of music lives in these emotional responses. The academic subjects like math and science educate us, while the arts help us make sense of our world. And where better to explore the magic of music than in school band or choir?

Support ecARTS. Educate. Inspire. Entertain.

Last Day for Showcase of Talent Tickets

Today is the last day to purchase your Showcase of Talent tickets to support ecARTS and the student groups who make up the evening's entertainment. Bring friends and family! Munch on delectable creations by Hannibals Catering.

Saturday, November 20, 2010

7:00 - 9:30 pm

Citrus Heights Community Center

The playbill  includes:

• Rio Americano High School Jazz Combo (under the direction of Josh Murray)
• Deterding Elementary School Choir (under the direction of George Dozet)
• Arden Middle School: Choir (under the direction of Pam Mitchell)
• Solo Piano Performance by Justin Eccleston of Orange Grove Adult School
• Del Campo High School Choir (under the direction of Pam Mitchell)
• Solo Dance Performance by Encina High School student Leo Maldonado-Ramirez
• Monologues and Scenes by El Camino High School Theater Students (under the direction of Sheryl Lee)
• El Camino High School Carter Trio Jazz Combo (under the direction of Kevin Glaser)

Tickets, details and directions available at:  

ecARTS Showcase of Talent | Nov. 20

Music~Art~Theater~Food

All the fixings for a great evening out. Bring family and friends. Enjoy performances by:

• Arden Middle School: Choir
• El Camino High School: Monologues by Theater Students
• Rio Americano High School: Jazz Combo
• Deterding Elementary School: Choir
• Orange Grove Adult Ed: Solo Piano
• Del Campo High School: Choir
• Encina High School: Solo Dance
• El Camino High School: Jazz Combo

Saturday, November 20, 2010

7:00 - 9:30 pm

Citrus Heights Community Center

Tickets, details and directions available at:  

The ecARTS Showcase of Talent

Come for the music, the theater, the art exhibits, and the delicious food (catered by renowned Sacramento caterer, Hannibals). Be part of the excitement as featured vocalists, musicians, actors, and visual artists from San Juan Unified School District arts programs entertain you.

Advanced registration required.

Date:     Saturday, November 20, 2010
Time:    7:00 - 9:30 pm
Where: Citrus Heights Community Center

As the sun colors flowers, so does art color life.

~John Lubbock

Bring your shades!

We'll color your life with the brightness of our students.

ecARTS is a non-profit organization committed to building a premier performance and gallery venue for students in the San Juan Unified School District and the community at large.

Showcase of Talent -- Drama, Music, Art Exhibits, Food & Drink

Celebrate with ecARTS during our Showcase of Talent kick-off event on Saturday, November 20, 2011 featuring talented students from San Juan Unified School District. Discover why our students deserve a performing arts center and gallery.

Reservations required. Visit our event page for tickets and registration information.

ecARTS Pepsi Application Pending

ecARTS applied for a $50,000 Pepsi Refresh Grant. If our application is accepted, we need your help! Similar to the $7,500 Raley's grant we won with your help, we need you to vote EVERY DAY from Nov. 1 through Nov. 30. (Don't worry. We'll send emails to remind you.)

This is a national grant and only SIX $50,000 grants are awarded. Please be sure you spread the word to friends and family. Every vote counts!

Stay tuned. We'll update you on the progress of our application.

Invitation from El Camino Band/Choir Director, Kevin Glaser

Dear Friend of ecARTS:

I would like to invite you to a very special concert next Friday evening, October 15th, featuring the El Camino Bands and Choir. This concert is special for a couple of reasons. First, this is our first formal concert of the year and the El Camino music students have worked extremely hard to present a wonderful concert so early in the school year. As an educational program, this is where we establish a foundation that will take us forward through the rest of the year as we master the fundamentals and expertise that help us reach that all empowering title of “musician”. This concert is also special because it is the first time in my 17 years at El Camino that the Band and Choir will perform together in a formal setting. As the one and only music director, this was a logical decision.

I know your Friday evenings are “sacred” and reserved for relaxing at home knowing you get two days away from the stress and demands of work. However, if you feel the urge, your presence would mean a lot to the students. There is no charge for the concert, which begins at 7:30pm and will be held at the former Loretto High School gym. The school is now called Alexander Twilight Academy and is located at 2360 El Camino Avenue.

The theme of the concert is “The History of Pop Music”. The show will take the audience on a musical journey from ancient African drumming through contemporary rhythm and blues (and everything else in between). Below is a list of the music that will be performed.

Hope to see you there.

Kevin

The History of Pop Music Program
Dona Nobis Pacem - From the Roman Catholic Mass
Down In The Valley - Early American Folk Song
Music, Music, Music - 1950’s Pop
We’re The Men - Novelty Pop
Build Me Up Buttercup - 1960’s Pop Rock
Aquarius/Let The Sunshine - 1960’s Pop Musical
Night Train - The Blues
The Entertainer - Early 1900’s Ragtime
A String Of Pearls - 1940’s Big Band Swing
Four Brothers - 1940’s Big Band Swing
Getaway - 1970’s Pop Funk
Hava Nagila - Israeli Folk Song
Poet and Peasant Overture - 1800’s Opera
Lest We Forget - Patriotic Tribute
Malaguena - Popular Spanish
The Simpsons - Modern Cartoon
We Shall Lift Lamps Of Courage - Inspirational
Just A Closer Walk With Thee - Traditional Hymn
Danny Boy - Irish Folksong
Stars and Stripes Forever - Patriotic March
Disney At The Movies - Movie Soundtracks

Kevin Glaser Interviewed on NBC/KCRA 3

Kevin Glaser tell Walt Gray of NBC/KCRA 3 all about our ecARTS performing arts center project. Watch here: Band Leader Raising Money For Auditorium - Video - KCRA Sacramento

ecARTS on NBC's Education Nation

Channel 3 news will air a story on the state of education in our area, including a special feature on El Camino visual and performing arts.  The story is to air during the 5:00 pm newscast on Wednesday, 9/29. 

Kevin Glaser/ecARTS to be featured on KCRA 3

Kevin Glaser was interviewd by KCRA 3 anchor, Walt Gray, on Thurday for a special report for NBC News Education Nation. Mr. Gray showed particular interest in our performing arts center. We'll keep you posted on air time.

A Note from Our President, Kevin Glaser

As we begin the new school year, many wonderful things are on the horizon for ecARTS. Our primary purpose and goal remains the same; to build a 600-seat state of the art performing center and art gallery on the campus of El Camino High School that will benefit all students in the San Juan Unified School District and the community at-large. At this time we have two projects we would like to share with you and encourage you to participate in.

Founders Campaign
Our current fundraising effort is the formation of a Founders Club. ecARTS invites you to become a member of our Founders Club with a donation of $1,000 to be used for conceptual drawings and an environmental study of the proposed site. All contributors to the Founders Club will be recognized by name on a permanent display to be placed in the lobby of the new arts facility. Individual, family, or business donations are all welcome. This campaign will run through December 31, 2010 with the goal of raising $100,000.

Click the Founders Campaign link above our video for our letter and donation form. We encourage you to share this campaign letter with everyone you know and join us in this project that will have a direct effect on the education of our youth, inspire their talents, and enrich their lives through the arts.

Showcase of Talent
On November 20, 2010, ecARTS will hold a "Showcase of Talent" fundraising event in which SJUSD performing and visual arts students will have the opportunity to perform or exhibit their work to folks who would be interested in supporting this project through financial donations. The goal of the event is to impress potential funding sources by showing how strong and vibrant the arts programs are the San Juan Unified School District. The Citrus Heights Community Center has been booked for the evening of Saturday, November 20th for event, which will include catered food and drink and, of course, our own students showcasing their wonderful talents. This event will provide an excellent venue for supporting our Founders Campaign.

We encourage you to visit our blogspot at www.performatec.blogspot.com to stay informed and up-to-date about our progress. If you have questions, need additional information or would like to be on our ecARTS mailing list, please contact Kevin Glaser at the is email address below.

Kevin Glaser, Band/Choir Director
VAPA Department Chair
El Camino High School
(916) 971-7449
performatec@yahoo.com
View the Eagle Band/Choir Website at:
http://www.sanjuan.edu/webpages/kglaser/

Exciting NEW developments at ecARTS

1) We have incorporated our organization as Perform at ecArts, Inc., a California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation. We registered the corporation with the California Secretary of State on May 19, 2010, and are currently applying for 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, as well as California tax-exempt status.

2) Save the Date:  Our kick-off gala event is scheduled for Saturday, November 20 at the Citrus Heights Community Center. The evening will feature visual and performing art students from around the SJUSD. Watch for more information!

3) Growing ecARTS: Watch for an ecARTS presentation at a PTA meeting in your school. Soon our ad will appear in your school's newsletter, too.

Founders Campaign Kick-Off Official

ecARTS invites you to become a member of our Founders Club with a donation of $1,000 or more. This campaign will run through December 31, 2010 with the need to raise $100,000 (we increased our original goal from our May 16 post). Founders Club money will be used for conceptual drawings and an environmental study of the proposed site. All contributors to the Founders Club will be recognized by name on a permanent display to be placed in the lobby of the new arts facility. All donations are tax deductible.

Click on the Founders Campaign tab above to read our appeal letter. All gifts may be sent to:
ecARTS
Performing Arts Center at El Camino High School
4300 El Camino Avenue
Sacramento, CA 95821

Next ecARTS Meeting

Our next ecARTS planning meeting is scheduled for Thursday, July 22 in the El Camino Music building at 7:00 pm. Please feel free to join us.

If you are interested in our Communications & Fund Raising sub-committee, our next meeting is July 14 at 7:00 pm. Please email performatec@yahoo.com for the location.

New Member Enrollment Form Available

Interested in staying abreast of ecARTS news? Sign up as a member of our organization using our new member enrollment form (click the new tab above our video).

Next Meeting of ecARTS Committee

Join us for our next meeting on June 14 at 7:00 p.m. in the El Camino Band Room.

Some highlights from our May 10 meeting:

• We have a new email address:  performatec@yahoo.com. Drop us a line!
• New Founders Campaign initiative (see Join Our Founders Club in the right column) to meet our goal of $50,000 by Dec. 31, 2010.
• Showcase of talent and silent auction planned for Fall 2010. We would like to get as many district schools as possible involved in showcasing their students' talent. Also, let us know if you have silent auction item ideas.
• The Communications and Fund Raising subcommittee meets regularly. Our next meeting is Monday, June 7. Email us at performatec@yahoo.com if you are interested in joining us.

We Won the $7,500 Raley's Grant!

$7,500! Our first step towards conceptual drawings and an environmental study.

We couldn't have done it without you! Thank you to all who supported this project. This is a small but truly significant step to the reality of building a performing and visual arts venue on the campus of El Camino High School for the San Juan Unified School District. The word is now out about ecARTS and our support will only grow from this point forward!

Last day to vote for our $7,500 grant

We would appreciate one last push on your part to vote for our $7,500 grant for conceptual drawings and an environment study. Please visit http://www.raleys.com/reach/1417975 and VOTE NOW!

Thanks for your support.

VOTE TODAY and TOMORROW

A vote from you and your friends today and tomorrow is what we need. The contest ends at midnight, May 12th.

The final push is on and every vote is vital! The project with the most votes wins!

1) Visit http://www.raleys.com/reach/1417975
2) If you're not already registered with Raley's, you will need to register (it's FREE and EASY!)
3) VOTE!

Thank you for your support!