We received great news late last week that, once you hear it, may not be so surprising to many of you. Sylvia Easley, the Director of our Department of Early Childhood Education, was selected from a very large list of nominees from all across Ohio to be honored with the Governor’s Award for the Arts in the category of Arts Education, which is presented by the Ohio Arts Council (OAC) and the Ohio Citizens for the Arts Foundation. This highly competitive award recognizes individuals and institutions in several categories that have made a significant and measurable difference in the lives of the people of Ohio through the arts, and will be presented by the Governor and representatives of the Ohio legislature at the annual Arts Day Luncheon in Columbus on April 21st, 2010.
Those of us who have the privilege of working alongside Sylvia every day knew she had an excellent chance to win this prestigious award. First and foremost, her legacy is unsurpassed in this region. Starting in 1965, Sylvia has been at the forefront of the development of our world-class early childhood program. She recognized long before it became accepted practice that linking education and social development in the very young to a music and arts-based curriculum enhanced each child’s opportunity to succeed. “I remember lobbying for the expansion of our arts courses for children,” Sylvia says. “We began offering Dalcroze in the early 70’s and Music Explorers ten years later - two essential classes that reaffirm my belief that an early immersion in the arts is so very important to the cognitive and emotional development of young children.” Sylvia lead the effort to introduce full and half day preschool programs to our offerings in the early 1990’s, an unusual choice for a community arts institution, but the need to support working families aligned perfectly with The Music Settlement’s mission of service to the needs of the whole community.
But I think the reason Sylvia was chosen to receive such a high honor goes beyond the long list of achievements she has brought to our campus and region. I think that it is impossible to relate the story of her impact without focus on her finest attribute - her great and generous heart. Throughout the process of gathering information for Sylvia’s nomination - from compiling her biography to interviewing her co-workers and peers, and to reading the letters of support from others that were provided to the OAC - anecdotes abound that illuminate her positive influence. At the core of it all, she deeply cares about children, especially those just starting out on the path of life. Today, more than forty years later and even though she isn’t in the classroom anymore, she touches each young life daily and makes a difference in their future. For three generations and counting, she is the most special grandma of all!
Sylvia would correct me if I didn’t add one more quote from her: “I am very honored and humbled to receive this award, but it’s important to emphasize that the success of The Music Settlement’s Early Childhood programs is the result of the work of many people who believe in the power of music to shape lives.” Humility is clearly one of her assets as well. Congratulations, Sylvia , on this well-deserved honor!
I had the opportunity to attend a concert this past Sunday which marked the official debut of the Almeda Trio as our latest ensemble in residence. The trio, all of whom are faculty members of The Music Settlement, consists of Robert Cassidy on piano, Cara Tweed on violin, and Ida Mercer on cello. They presented a wonderfully performed and artistically challenging program that included the Trio in D Major (“Ghost” Trio) by Beethoven, the folk music-inspired Vitebsk by Aaron Copeland, and Trio No. 1in D Minor by Felix Mendelssohn. The selections highlighted each performer’s virtuosity and provided a stimulating balance for the listener. We are very proud to have the Almeda Trio in residence, and look forward to many more special listening moments in the future.
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