Partners in the Arts Summer Institute: Arts in Education

Jazz Studies Director Antonio García (with VCU Piano Prof. Russell Wilson, VCU Jazz Bass alumnus Brian Sulser, and then-VCU Jazz Drum student Devonne Harris) demonstrates jazz and language parallels to Greater Richmond K-12 teachers in a Partners in the Arts Summer Institute session. Harris, now as much known as “DJ Harrison,” went on to found Jellowstone Studios and is an active multi-instrumentalist and composer. photo credit: Caron Sterling

For a number of years VCU Jazz Studies Director Antonio García presented an annual "Jazz in YOUR Classroom: Learning Across the Curriculum" session at the "Partners in the Arts Summer Institute: Arts in Education”"seminar for K-12 teachers and administrators from the counties of Richmond, Henrico, Hanover, Powhatan, Goochland, and area independent schools. Partners in the Arts is an Arts Council of Richmond program designed to integrate the arts into the K-12 curriculum through partnerships among participating schools, artists, art organizations, and the community in the metropolitan Richmond area. These presentations led to extended residencies by VCU Jazz faculty and students at Salem Church Middle School and Stony Point Middle School to promote leadership and public speaking skills through jazz. As an economic engine for positive change, García’s presentations to “Partners” also generated successful grant proposals by various schools to fund visits by other creative artists to schools throughout the Greater Richmond Area.

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