In the News
Arts Without Boundaries funds free after school music lessons in Bozeman
A staggering 160 kids have signed up for Arts Without Boundaries’ new program, Music Camp for All, a free after-school program offering individual instrument instruction to 5th-8th grade music students.
AWB has teamed with Bozeman Public Schools and Montana State University to bring band, orchestra and voice instruction to interested music students. AWB is funding scholarships for students from the Montana State University School of Music to mentor 5th grade and middle school aged students one day a week for seven weeks beginning January 24th. The ‘camps’ are after school on Tuesdays at Chief Joseph Middle School, and on Wednesdays at Sacajewea Middle School.
“The turn-out has been amazing. We hoped we would get maybe 60 kids signed up. But we got an amazing 160, which is wonderful, and shows us how motivated our music kids are here in Bozeman,” said Brooke Weaver, managing director of Arts Without Boundaries. “AWB is thrilled to be able to initiate and fund this program. It is really a win-win situation; teaching students at MSU get hands-on experience, and young kids interested in music gets free lessons.”
Music Camp for All is a partnership between AWB and Bozeman Public Schools and MSU. “The young students in our elementary and middle schools are honored and thrilled to have the opportunity to have a college mentor! This reinforces what the teachers are teaching in class and gives individualized attention to developing passionate musicians! Arts Without Boundaries, with rigor and relevance guiding their work to enhance the arts, has taken a good music program for children, and made it even better!” said Renee Westlake, Supervisor of Music for Bozeman Public Schools.
Kristin Harney, MSU Assistant Professor for Music Education and AWB liaison added, “The MSU School of Music is extremely proud to be a part of this program. Our music education students are excited to teach lessons to young musicians from the community. So much of what pre-service teachers learn in college is theoretical, and this is an excellent opportunity for our future music educators to share their knowledge and skills with “actual kids.”
“We have a similar program in Billings, and the vice president of our board, Danielle Freeburg thought it would work here,” said Weaver. “Boy, was she on target. Looking at the amazing turn-out of kids, I am really excited for the future of this program. AWB hopes to expand into other arts disciplines. We have kids eager to learn, and our mission is to bring them the necessary instruction and tools for free, so arts education is for all interested students, not just those who can afford it.”
Arts Without Boundaries is a non-profit organization committed to supporting , enhancing and encouraging student participation in the arts in Montana communities. AWB provides meaningful artistic opportunities to students by bringing unique and enriching instructional experiences and performances directly to children in the schools. To learn more about AWB’s efforts for the arts, visit www.ArtsWithoutBoundaries.org or call Brooke Weaver at 406.577.6313.
Concert for the Arts 3rd Annual Fundraiser
Arts Without Boundaries is hosting its 3rd annual fundraising event on Friday, February 10, 2012 at the Yellowstone County Club. The Concert for the Arts fundraiser provides funding to enhance music and art opportunities for area students. These opportunities help increase the students’ creative thinking and problem solving skills and play a critical role in the students’ academic and social development.
This year’s event features Philip Aaberg and Ilse-Mari Lee. Philip Aaberg, a classically trained pianist and composer, weaves strains of blues and bluegrass as well as rock and new age music into his performance. Dr. Isle-Mari Lee, cellist and director of the Honors Program at Montana State University in Bozeman performs as a concerto soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician.
Along with world-class entertainment, Concert for the Arts, offers appetizers, wine sampling, desserts, as well as live and silent auction items. This event is for people who want to be involved in supporting the arts and supporting the Arts Without Boundaries programs.
AWB is a registered 501c3 that provides workshops, community concerts, free after school music lessons and loans high quality musical instruments to area students.
To learn more about this event, go to www.artswithoutboundaries.org, or contact Brooke Weaver at (406) 577-6313.
October 20th, 2011
AWB brings Electric violinist Tracy Silverman to Billings for concert and school workshops
Arts Without Boundaries (AWB) is sponsoring a free concert with electric violinist Tracy Silverman at the Alberta Bair Theater on October 20th at 7pm. The renowned musician will also be conducting workshops for Billings area elementary, middle and high school children. The workshops are free. Funding is provided by AWB’s Guest Artist Program.
The concert is sponsored by AWB and is free and open to the public. “We are excited to be able to bring such an amazing musician like Tracy to perform for our community,” said AWB board President Darell Tunnicliff. “There is nothing like a live performance by a world-class musician to inspire kids to get involved in the arts. AWB believes that exposure to the arts should be available to all children, not just those who can afford it,” Tunnicliff said.
Lauded by the BBC as “the greatest living exponent of the electric violin”, Tracy Silverman’s groundbreaking work with the 6-string electric violin has influenced an entire generation of string players. Silverman has worked with a who’s-who of rock, new music, and jazz. A recording artist and composer, Silverman recently premiered his 2nd electric violin Concerto, “Between the Kiss and the Chaos”. Silverman tours internationally as a soloist, with his band, Eclectica, his trio, Three Part Invention, and others.
February 18, 2011
Arts Without Boundaries hosts fundraising concert, art event
The Arts Without Boundaries Foundation Board of Directors plays host to its second annual Benefit Concert and Fundraiser on Friday, Feb. 25, at the Yellowstone Country Club in Billings. The event begins at 6 p.m., and features heavy appetizers, fine wines, a silent auction, desserts and a performance featuring pianist Phil Aaberg and cellist Ilse Mari Lee, along with student musicians.
http://billingsgazette.com/entertainment/arts-and-theatre/visual/article_c892a951-218c-53f4-803d-69412af9cd7c.html
January 29, 2011
Grammy winner helps locals build, understand flutes
Just as about 30 people finished gluing and sanding their own wooden flutes, Joseph FireCrow let them in on a secret. The previous three hours weren’t just about building flutes. “Each one of these flutes is going to have a different little problem,” he said. “And that’s going to teach us a lot about human nature.”
http://billingsgazette.com/news/local/article_eeb0df11-ee36-5cd7-89c5-4f5f704e0b3d.html
January 21, 2011
Arts Without Boundaries hosts FireCrow workshops
Arts Without Boundaries presents a full week of workshops for local and area students with award-winning Native American flutist Joseph FireCrow during the week of Jan. 24. FireCrow begins the week with student programs at Alberta Bair Theater for all fifth grade students from School District 2 at 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on Monday. The theater is coordinating this event and is inviting all private, home and reservation schools to attend.
http://billingsgazette.com/entertainment/music/article_ae32cace-647f-5623-8e5d-0bc001d726da.html
November 21, 2010
Arrowhead kids define knowledge, character, community
Most of Arrowhead Elementary School’s 484 students arrive between 8 and 8:15 a.m. About 200 ride buses and the rest come in cars, on bikes or on foot. Principal Robin Bedford stands on the sidewalk among the throng of children, exchanging greetings with students who crowd around her. Then they line up according to grade level near the doors that will take them inside for a day of study.
http://billingsgazette.com/news/opinion/editorial/gazette-opinion/article_367ca31f-17eb-5972-b17b-51f3c00c5a1c.html
November 16, 2010
Friesen rocks the cello Monday at the ABT
Eugene Friesen proved Monday night that there’s more than one way to play a cello. In his concert “The Soul of the Cello” at the Alberta Bair Theater, Friesen plugged in his instrument for most of the 70-minute performance. And at times, it sounded more like a rock show than a classical music concert.
http://billingsgazette.com/entertainment/enjoy/501blog/article_b824212c-8295-574d-8e66-2952faebc3e5.html
November 12, 2010
Friesen to present cello concert at ABT
Renowned cellist Eugene Friesen performs in concert at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 15, at the Alberta Bair Theater. This is a free concert that is presented by Arts Without Boundaries. It is open to the public.
http://billingsgazette.com/entertainment/enjoy/article_585801ed-0166-5e51-8a61-fd3e32904d98.html
October 15, 2010
Free concert Monday featuring Grammy-winning cellist
Grammy-award winning cellist Eugene Friesen is performing a free concert Monday, Nov. 15 at the Alberta Bair Theater. The 7 p.m. show, which is open to all, is being presented by Arts Without Boundaries and includes a performance by the West High Orchestra.
http://billingsgazette.com/entertainment/enjoy/501blog/article_797fa0e4-ec40-11df-913e-001cc4c002e0.html
October 8, 2010
Free show featuring pianist Phil Aaberg, Senior Jazz Band
Grammy nominated pianist Phil Aaberg, a native of Chester, is performing a free show at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 12, at the Babock Theatre. The concert is part of the Arts Without Boundaries project to introduce students to world-class musicians and other artists.
http://billingsgazette.com/entertainment/enjoy/501blog/article_b4d09b4a-d312-11df-8627-001cc4c002e0.html
February 5, 2010
Music, arts events on tap to benefit Arts Without Boundaries programs
A free family concert will be performed at 7 p.m. Monday at the Babcock Theatre featuring Tracy Silverman and composer-pianist Philip Aaberg along with music students from Billings schools. Arts Without Boundaries also sponsors a master’s program held at West High on Monday nights that pairs accomplished musicians with student musicians.
http://billingsgazette.com/entertainment/enjoy/article_79997860-11f9-11df-bdab-001cc4c002e0.html
January 22, 2010
Sharing knowledge, encouraging vision
Montana artist Clyde Aspevig remembers what it was like to live in a town so tiny that the school art program consisted of a mechanical drawing class and the only art he saw was on seed calendars.
http://billingsgazette.com/entertainment/arts-and-theatre/article_15c6a80e-06f4-11df-a90b-001cc4c002e0.html
January 7, 2010
Aspevig to present oil-painting demonstration Jan. 23 at MSUB
Clyde Aspevig, native Montanan and nationally recognized artist, will be giving a free oil-painting demonstration 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 23, at Montana State University Billings.
http://www.billingsgazette.com/entertainment/arts-and-theatre/article_fc2a31fe-fbf4-11de-990d-001cc4c002e0.html
January 7, 2010
Aaberg, Kinobe, West High percussionists at Babcock
Catch a free show Monday night at 7 p.m. at the Babcock Theatre featuring Grammy-nominated Montana composer/pianist Philip Aaberg, Ugandan performer Kinobe, and West High percussionists.
http://www.billingsgazette.com/entertainment/enjoy/501blog/article_f11ecfb4-fbc1-11de-96c8-001cc4c002e0.html
November 4, 2009
Aaberg, Anger pack ‘em in at the Babcock
This vision of Phillip Aaberg as a little boy riding the train from his hometown of Chester to Spokane, Wash., for music lessons popped into my head Monday at the Babcock Theater when the pianist/composer played to a packed house.
http://www.billingsgazette.com/entertainment/enjoy/501blog/article_0eeef79a-c9b2-11de-b647-001cc4c002e0.html
October 30, 2009
Arts group to present free family concert at Babcock
Arts Without Boundaries, a local nonprofit organization, is presenting a free family concert Monday at the Babcock Theatre featuring two Grammy-nominated musicians, pianist Phillip Aaberg and violinist Darol Anger.
http://www.billingsgazette.com/news/local/article_5dde64b0-c50e-11de-9fa4-001cc4c002e0.html
July 24, 2009
Concert For A Cause marks sixth year with full slate of bands
Cause A Scene Media is presenting the 6th Annual Concert For A Cause Saturday at Yellowstone Valley Brewing, 2123 1st Ave. North (behind Enterprise Car Rental). Gates open at 4 p.m. and the music runs from 4:15 to 10:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 at the gate for the all-ages show that benefits the Meadowlark House (operated through the Northern Rockies Radiation Oncology Center) and Arts Without Boundaries.
http://www.billingsgazette.com/entertainment/music/article_4488c940-77e5-11de-9d73-001cc4c03286.html