Creativity Thrives at Pasquotank School of the Arts
culture, diana and sydney mason, elizabeth city, pasquotank arts council, school of the arts, sydney and diana mason,
When budding musicians Diana and Sydney Mason moved from Alaska to Elizabeth City‚ it was not at all certain they would be able to continue their violin and cello lessons. But thanks to the Pasquotank Arts Council School of the Arts‚ the sisters have flourished in their studies.
The teenagers began their musical instruction about a year before their father was transferred here with the Coast Guard in 1998. The family was concerned that the girls might not find comparable programs in their new hometown. But as fate would have it‚ a military family from Elizabeth City moved to Alaska as the Masons were preparing to head south‚ and recommended PACSA to them.
The Mason family’s story underscores the mission of the founder of PACSA‚ Dr. Leland Chou‚ who established the school in 1994 to bring quality instruction in the visual and performing arts at affordable prices to area children.
PACSA has a scholarship program for students‚ which the Mason sisters were able to take advantage of‚ and rents instruments for minimal cost as well.
Now‚ Diana‚ 14‚ who plays the cello‚ and Sydney‚ 13‚ a violinist‚ perform at schools‚ church functions‚ weddings‚ Victorian Day and other events in the community‚ while continuing their lessons.
“ They enjoy performing‚” says Michele Moline Albright‚ director of the school. “The girls show people‚ especially students‚ that ‘there’s someone just like me‚ someone my age who can do this.’ The schoolchildren can relate to them because Diana and Sydney are students themselves.”
The school‚ which has 117 students for 2003-04‚ offers classes for ages 6 to adult in six counties. Areas of study include violin‚ viola‚ cello‚ ensemble‚ piano‚ flute‚ percussion‚ rhythm‚ voice‚ chorus‚ guitar‚ art‚ pottery‚ dance‚ creative movement‚ drama‚ creative writing and photography. A preschool class for ages 3-5 introduces youngsters to dance‚ drama‚ art and music.
Albright‚ who came to PACSA as director in 2001‚ says the arts help “broaden the world” of her students. She is particularly proud of the after-school outreach program‚ Artsreach‚ which takes art opportunities to public elementary school students who might not otherwise have them.
Albright looks forward to the day when PACSA classes will be under one roof at the Lowry-Chesson building‚ a former department store purchased by the council. Currently‚ classes are held in churches and schools.
She also hopes to offer more adult classes‚ specifically classes for elderly and disabled people.
“ We are expanding in so many ways‚” Albright says. “With our own building‚ I dream of adding some of these other opportunities.”
Story by Anne Gillem
Photo by Anthony Boshier
