DECEMBER 8, 2010

Desert awareness program is looking for volunteers

The Desert Awareness Committee is looking for volunteers to help with the fourth grade program “Desert Reach” beginning in January.

The team brings the exciting hands-on desert awareness program right into the classroom. Since 2004, they have shared the fast paced, two hour program with over 1000 fourth graders in the Cave Creek Unified School District.

Once a week, from January through March, they meet at one of the five CCUSD elementary schools to present Desert Reach. A team of trained volunteers carries out the self-contained, portable program, usually presenting it in two classrooms on a given day.

They are planning a training session in early January and seek new volunteers. Please call one of their team today to volunteer or find out more: Fran Wylie at 480-595-5501 or Diane A. Vaszily at 480-488-5477.

Check out their website for more information and to see Desert Reach in action: www.deserteyeeducation.com/DesertReach.html.

DECEMBER 8, 2010

Boosters Tree Sale

‘Deck your halls’ … with a Boosters tree!

Tuesday night, Nov. 30, was c-o-l-d!  But on the CSHS Boosters Club Christmas tree lot (Cave Creek and School House roads), spirits were high among the Veterans Heritage Project volunteers as they prepared for the Dec. 3 start of sales, which will continue through Tuesday, Dec. 21. (Front, l-r) Olivia Slack (SR), Faculty Advisor Barbara Hatch, (JR) Brenna Leech; (back, l-r) Buchanan Chapman (JR), Justin Yeck (SO), juniors Dominick Gehres and Luke Fitch. The trees (from Oregon) are among the most beautiful this writer has ever seen, sizes 5’ to 12’. Lot hours are noon until 9 p.m., Monday-Friday; 10 a.m. - 9 p.m., Saturday and Sunday.  Help Boosters support Cactus Shadows athletics and activities. “Happy Holidays!”  Pete Mohr 

DECEMBER 8, 2010

Young musicians invited to audition for PVCC jazz preparatory program

PHOENIX – High school and first-year college students ages 15-19 interested in music performance and jazz education are invited to audition for the 2011 Union Jazz Institute (UJI) at Paradise Valley Community College, a Maricopa Community College.

Acceptance into this free intensive jazz preparatory program for young musicians is by audition only and is limited to a maximum of 16 students. Classes will be held at PVCC’s Union Hills campus on Wednesday evenings beginning Jan. 26, 2011. Auditions are by appointment only from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 18, in the Center for the Performing Arts. Call 602-787-6595 to schedule an audition.

“This exciting program gives aspiring musicians the opportunity receive professional instruction from guest artists and faculty in PVCC’s Division of Fine & Performing Arts in improvisation, jazz theory, jazz history, musical composition and jazz arranging. They also will perform in one of the institutes’ jazz combos,” said Division Chair Dr. Christopher Scinto.

Students should prepare two short pieces of contrasting style (up tempo, ballad, Latin, etc.) and be prepared to improvise over a 12-bar blues in F major. Students also may be asked to sight read the melody from a well-known jazz standard.

Selected students will be enrolled for a one-credit music ensemble course (MUP 181) completely free of charge. The $85 cost of tuition and fees is covered through Fine Arts scholarships from the Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

For additional information about the UJI or other fine and performing arts programs at PVCC, e-mail Dr. Christopher Scinto at christopher.scinto@ pvmail.maricopa.edu or by phone at 602-787-6686.