Austin, TX - January 26, 2010 - Austin citizens and guests from across the nation joined The Austin School for the Performing and Visual Arts (ASPVA) for their ribbon cutting ceremony at their new downtown location on January 22 with the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.   Guests were treated to food by Verde's Mexican Parilla and amazed by the production efforts of ATX Event Systems.  The celebration included student and professional performers with special guest, two-time Grammy nominated American rock band, FASTBALL.  Performances also  included gospel by CELEBRATION, Gabrielle's Oboe performed by the multi-talented Kathleen Turner, ASPVA Choral Director, and accompanied by Dallas Heenan on piano, a Pas de deaux by ASPVA Ballet Director, Randall Marks, and his wife, Jeanne Marie, and a showcase of ASPVA's YouthCast winners; CLUE, LOOSE WHEELS, Austin Meiteen, five-time national dance champion, and singer-songwriter Georgia Napolitano.  Soprano Kirsten Watson partnered with operatic bass, Robert Schneider, and presented a poignant performance of All I Ask of You from Phantom of the Opera. ASPVA student, Gabriella de Cardenas, teamed up with singer-songwriter, Jorel Segura and Gustavo Manzur, keyboard player for the legendary MORRISSEY. Local visual artists were also featured including Nancy Hoover, Laura Romero, and Robbin Robertson Polter to name a few.  Ryan Delahoussaye, co-founder of the internationally acclaimed rock band BLUE OCTOBER,  was also present for this historic occasion, and will teach master classes for ASPVA between tours.  He is a classically trained violinist, and his success is a testament to his education from HSPVA, a world-renown performing and visual art school in Houston.  He stated, "Austin is such a culturally rich town, and ASPVA will definitely play an important role in grooming the next generation of artists."

 

ASPVA was established in 2006, and has served hundreds of students as part of their community outreach program which brings arts education to participating public schools and other student organizations as part of an after school enrichment opportunity or summer camp experience. Their new downtown location at 1110 Guadalupe Street in the educational building of the historic Central Christian Church facility allows for them to offer a full-time day school where students can prepare for college while honing their talents in the arts.  ASPVA is now accepting applications for enrollment for sixth - twelfth graders for the  2010-11 school year.  Carol de Cardenas, ASPVA founder, states "Our school offers greater focus on the arts for students to pursue their individual artistic passions under the direction of master teachers in theater, music, dance and visual arts. We have also created an optimal schedule with a 1:17 student/teacher ratio allowing students  to pursue their individual artistic passions while reaching their academic goals without sacrificing their physical or emotional well-being, family time, or other pursuits." 

The Austin School for the Performing and Visual Arts is a place for students who want to pursue academic and artistic excellence where they will be honored by passionate, inspiring teachers while celebrating creativity, community and service.  ASPVA began by offering dance classes for all levels as part of Phase I of its development beginning in 2006.  Phase II  currently offers master classes in the arts and unique wellness activities  including a performance jump rope team through CONNECTIONS, an outreach program created for 1st - 12th graders, on-site in partnering schools and other student organizations.  In fall 2010, ASPVA will unveil a private school offering a full-academic curriculum developed according to accreditation standards, a world class arts education and daily wellness program as part of Phase III. ASPVA is a 501c3 non-profit organization.  For additional information or to subscribe to the ASPVA newsletter visit www.theaustinschool.org.

 

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