Six Northern Virginia public school teachers — three from Fairfax County and three from Loudoun County — are among 13 recipients of performing arts grants from the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts.
These grants are aimed at enriching student programs involving music, dance, and theater. The grants will let teachers expand the scope of their projects, incorporate new technologies, and provide extra learning opportunities for students, said Cate Bechtold, director of internships and community programs for the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts.
Supported teachers include Meredith Barnes of Fairfax High School, who will collaborate with a dance historian to use dance as social commentary; Tony Cimino-Johnson of Loudoun County’s Rock Ridge High School, whose production of Rent: School Edition addresses homelessness, HIV/AIDS, and substance abuse; and Patrick Fritz of Loudoun’s Stone Bridge High School, whose project enhances music accessibility for students with disabilities.
For the first time, the initiative expands into middle schools. Its recipients include Karine Chapdelaine of Groveton Elementary, Tiffany Hitz of James W. Robinson Secondary, and Damaris Odebode and Erik Jacobs of Willard Middle School. Their projects give younger students a chance to learn the composition process and collaborate with professional musicians.
In total, the foundation has awarded $49,000 in grants to 13 public school teachers across the DC metro area, a 37.6 percent increase from last year’s $35,600. These grants reach up to $5,000 for high school teachers and $2,500 for middle school educators.
The annual grant program’s success is evident in past recipients’ achievements, such as Annie Ray of Annandale High School, recognized as Music Educator of the Year at the 2024 Grammy Awards.
The program will culminate in a showcase at The Barns at Wolf Trap on April 25, where high school students will perform.
Read more about all of the grant recipients and their projects.
Feature image courtesy Liz Nickless
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