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A Public Residential High School for Emerging Artists 

July Fanfare!
In This Issue
Welcome New Foundation Board Members
Notes from an Alum: Travis Ballenger
Special Thanks to Guest Artist Mary Gutzi
Discovery Students 2008
CONGRATULATIONS TO SUMMER DANCERS ON A FABULOUS PERFORMANCE!
The five-week Summer Dance Program culminated Friday with a performance at the Peace Center's Gunter Theatre.
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WELCOME
The Governor's School for the Arts Foundation Has Added Five New Board Members
The Governor's School for the Arts (GSA) Foundation supports the mission of the South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities to serve our state's artistically talented students by raising funds to provide for programs, facilities and scholarship needs beyond the operating funds provided by the state, and to build an endowment to support the school.
 
We are welcoming five new members to the GSA Foundation's Board of Directors this year. We'd like to thank them in advance for lending their time, knowledge and expertise to support the state's emerging artists. They are:

Annette Allen is the General Manager for Fluor Corporation in Greenville. 

Susie Emanuelson is the District Manager for Carlisle, Hilton Head.

Pamela Lackey is the President of AT&T South Carolina in Columbia.

Linda Long of Aiken is active in the symphony and has extensive fundraising experience.

Barry Wynn is the President of Colonial Group in Spartanburg and previously served as Chairman of the South Carolina Republican Party.

For more information about the GSA Foundation and to find ways you can help support the emerging artists of South Carolina, please visit http://www.gsafoundation.net.

NOTES FROM AN ALUM  
Submitted by Travis Ballenger, Drama Class of 2004, Instructor for Governor's School Summer Academy and Discovery Drama Programs, 2007 and 2008
 
Travis Ballenger 
 Travis teaching a movement class during Summer Discovery.
 
From the moment I received my acceptance letter to the Governor's School, I knew my life was set out for me. I graduated from the Governor's School in 2004 and went to Southern Methodist University with grand ideas of creating art. I had lofty dreams of creating art that inspired people, that questioned humanity. I soon realized that there was more to this art than being talented and passionate. You can understand my shock.
 
You have to wonder if there is a point to it all, if there is a point to leaving behind two years of football games, pep rallies, driving, and just being a normal teenager. Governor's School students give up many activities that other kids take for granted. While other teenagers are going to parties, eating family dinners, and having first dates, Governor's School students are in the rehearsal hall, computer lab, studio, or practice room until ten o'clock when they have to go to their rooms. The next day, they wake up to do it all over again. It's challenging.
 
For the last two summers, I taught at the Governor's School's Academy and Discovery Summer programs. This came at an important time in my life, right in the middle of my self-doubt. Before the program started, I remember being scared out of my mind. I thought that I had nothing to share with these kids, that it was a mistake for them to hire me. I'm twenty-two years old; what could I offer a couple of thirteen year-olds?
 
The first day of class, however, when I looked out over the group and I saw these bright faces staring up at me, I just laughed. Looking up at me, in a mass of black clothing sat thirty young Travises waiting for me to say something. It was spooky. I thought, "These kids have no idea about the business. They know nothing about auditions, headshots, press agents, any of that. They just have this insane love for theater. This love feeds them and, for many of them, every second they aren't spending in a theater, is a lifetime of waste." I remember that feeling.
 
Is there a point to attending a residential arts school? My answer is yes. I know that because of my training at the Governor's School, I feel truly prepared to begin my career and to handle whatever happens. I know that I am not alone in the crazy world of art and that, for every time I get scared, there will be someone to talk to, someone who's scared also. More importantly, I know that it isn't a bad thing to have lofty dreams of saving the world through art. My students taught me that.
 
Travis is heading to Chicago to continue working in the theatre with a focus in directing and playwriting.
SPECIAL THANKS
Guest Artist Mary Gutzi performed and worked with students in drama master mary gutziclasses during Summer Discovery. Special thanks to her and to the GSA Foundation for making her visit possible!
 
Internationally known actress, singer and director, Mary Gutzi's career has taken her from coast to coast, as well as to Canada and Europe. She has an extensive list of credits, including such shows as Ragtime ("Emma Goldman"/American Premiere/Chicago Company/Vancouver Company/National Tour), Cats ("Grizabella"/National Tour), Sunset Boulevard ("Norma Desmond"/Vancouver Company), Fiddler On The Roof ("Golde"/Syracuse Stage), Man of La Mancha ("Aldonza"/North Carolina Theatre),and Les Miserables ("Fantine"/Broadway and "Madame Tenardier"/Sacramento Music Circus). Other roles include "Ruth" (Pirates of Penzance), "Wicked Witch" (Wizard of Oz), "Rita" (Lucky Stiff) and most recently, "Countess Aurelia" (Dear World).
 
In addition to performing, Ms. Gutzi co-founded a theater company on the island of Oahu called Honolulu Theatre League. She is also a director (Ragtime, How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying), has taught Musical Theatre at AMDA, and does private coaching.
 
Self Portrait by Discovery Visual Artist
Self Portrait by Discovery Visual Arts Student Kelly Tsao 
Issue 16 July 2008
SUMMER DISCOVERY PROGRAM 2008 ATTENDEES 
 
The following students were accepted to and attended the two-week Summer Discovery Program for rising ninth grade students (by County, Art Area and School from which they were recommended):
 
Abbeville
-Boyce Gladden (Creative Writing, Dixie High School)
 
Aiken
-Ashley Stout (Creative Writing, Kennedy Middle School)
 
Allendale
-Jasmine Fields (Drama,
Allendale-Fairfax Middle School)
-Ashleigh Williams (Drama, Allendale-Fairfax Middle School)
 
Anderson
-Donnie Brookshire (Visual Arts, Riverside Middle School)
-Darren Cato (Drama, Wren Middle School)
-Johnny Culwell (Drama, Montessori School of Anderson)
-Shavon Ellis (Vocalist, Honea Path Middle School)
-Blakely Francis (Violin, McCants Middle School)
-Holly Hughes (Visual Arts, Southwood Middle School)
-Charis Jackson-Barrios (Visual Arts, McCants Middle School)
-Kody Kratzer (Visual Arts, Riverside Middle School)
-Jordan Parales (Violin, McCants Middle School)
-Brittney Reed (Drama, McCants Middle School)
-Nazadia Stephens (Drama, McCants Middle School)
-Lee Stevens (Visual Arts, Riverside Middle School)
-Emily Tucker (Drama, McCants Middle School)
 
Beaufort
-Christopher Belyeu (Visual Arts, Robert Smalls Middle School)
-Alex Couch (Creative Writing, Hilton Head Middle School)
-Katsufumi Ito (Trumpet, Hilton Head Middle School)
-Rebecca Johnson (Creative Writing, Home School)
-Amelia Pinckney (Visual Arts, HE McCracken Middle School)
-Eva Schleicher (Drama, HE McCracken Middle School)
 
Berkeley
-Maria Figuero (Creative Writing, College Park Middle School)
-Gamaliel Taylor (Vocalist, Hanahan Middle School)
 
Charleston
-Sullivan Graci-Hamilton (Drama, Charleston County School of the Arts)

Cherokee
-London Gardner (Alto-Saxophone, Gaffney Middle School)
-Megan Price (Creative Writing, Granard Middle School)
 
Chester
-Amanda Barber (Vocalist, Chester Middle School)
-Erin Story (Visual Arts, Chester Middle School)
-Ashley Truax (Creative Writing, Lewisville Middle School)
 
Darlington
-Helen Doyle (Piano, Home School)
-Deidrell Sansbury (Vocalist, Darlington Middle School)
 
Dorchester
-Shyla Bowens (Drama, Rollings Middle School of the Arts)
-Sasha Davis (Drama, Rollings Middle School of the Arts)
-Clay Dustin (Violin, Dubose Middle School)
-Emmanuel Ogbonna (Visual Arts, Rollings Middle School of the Arts)
-Lonnie Russell (Piano, Rollings Middle School of the Arts)
-Jensen Stauffer (Drama, Rollings Middle School of the Arts)
 
Florence
-Maddie Gootman (Creative Writing, Williams Middle School)
-Carolina Hewitt (Vocalist,
Williams Middle School)
-Riley Ketcham (Drama, Williams Middle School)
-Anna Lyles (Vocalist,
Williams Middle School)
-Grace Shelley (Drama, Williams Middle School)
-Heather Stevenson (Visual Arts, J Paul Truluck Middle School)
 
Georgetown
-Kedrick Armstrong (Clarinet, Georgetown Middle School)
-Kelsey Broussard (Visual Arts, Waccamaw Middle School)
-Margaret Casella (Vocalist, Pawleys Island Christian Academy)
-Ashley Kerr (Drama, Waccamaw Middle School)
-Cami Reid (Drama, Waccamaw Middle School)
 
Greenville
-Caroline Absher (Visual Arts, Christ Church Episcopal School)
-Rachel Aldridge (Cello, Hillcrest Middle School)
-Sarah Eikenbusch (Violin, League Academy)
-Chris Elrod (Visual Arts, Hillcrest Middle School)
-Rich Harbison (Double Bass, Riverside Middle School)
-Kristen Harned (Clarinet, Mauldin Middle School)
-Olivia Jefferson (Visual Arts, Hillcrest Middle School)
-Molly Ledford (Drama, Mauldin Middle School)
-Madeline McKiernan (Piano, Mauldin Middle School)
-Grayson Mills (Vocalist, Christ Church Episcopal School)
-Grace Odell (Piano, Home School)
-Rashell O'Neal (Clarinet, Riverside Middle School)
-Quincy Pierce (Creative Writing, Northwood Middle School)
-Nick Rossano (Creative Writing, Riverside Middle School)
-Daniel Ruroede (Visual Arts, Powedersville Middle School)
-Ashley Sprouse (Creative Writing, Hickory Tavern Middle School)
-Schuyler Tin (Visual Arts, Hillcrest Middle School)
-Rebekah Warren (Visual Arts, Hillcrest Middle School)
 
Greenwood
-Suzanna Edwards (Visual Arts, Northside Middle School)
 
Hampton
-Libby Norris (Piano, Patrick Henry Academy)
 
Horry
-Jakob Carter (Drama, Black Water Middle School)
-Ates Emiroglu (Drama, Forestbrook Middle School)
-Faye Goodwin (Drama, Black Water Middle School)
-Stephen Jones (Double Bass, Forestbrook Middle School)
-Victoria Lambert (Vocalist, Aynor Middle School)
-Taylor Stevens (Drama, Forestbrook Middle School)
-Michael Tyler (Percussion, Forestbrook Middle School)
-Sophia Wiltrout (Creative Writing, Forestbrook Middle School)
-Allison Dunavant (Visual Arts, North Myrtle Beach Middle School)
 
Jasper
-Tanasia Hamilton (Drama, Lady's Island Middle School)
 
Kershaw
-Amber Farmer (Creative Writing, Lugoff-Elgin Middle School)
-Rebecca Rowell (Creative Writing, Lugoff-Elgin Middle School)
 
Lancaster
-Wonza Johnson (Drama, Andrew Jackson Middle School)
 
Laurens
-Richard Alicea (Percussion, Sanders Middle School)
-Rosemary Alter (Violin, Home School)
-Amber Anderson (Clarinet, Laurens Middle School)
-Gerardo Bravo (Violin, Sanders Middle School)
-Sarah Ebel (Creative Writing, Bell Street Middle School)
-Summer Hughes (Creative Writing, Laurens Middle School)
-Jaquon Irby (Creative Writing, Laurens Middle School)
-Ashley Rice (Vocalist, Laurens Middle School)
 
Lexington
-Travis Gaines (Trombone, Busbee Creative Arts Academy)
-Daniel Maltz (Piano, Pleasant Hill Middle School)
-Elliott Stewart (Drama, Irmo Middle School)
-Nate Welsh (String Bass, Chapin Middle School)
 
Newberry
-William Moseley (Vocal, Newberry Middle School)
-Haleigh Taylor (Trumpet, Newberry Middle School)
-Victoria Wohnig (Flute, Newberry Middle School)
 
Oconee
-Ashley Cannone (Flute, Walhalla Middle School)
-Diana Delgado (Violin, Seneca Middle School)
 
Orangeburg
-Alanna Jones (Drama, Carver Edisto Middle School)  
 
Pickens
-Krysten Bray (Vocalist, St. Joseph's Catholic School)
-Alex Marcondes (Drama, Montessori School of Anderson)
-Caroline Roark (Drama, RC Edwards Middle School)
-Emily Spearman (Visual Arts, Home School)
-Kelly Tsao (Visual Arts, RC Edwards Middle School)
-Adam Wells (Vocalist, RC Edwards Middle School)
 
Richland
-JulieAnne Bennett (Violin, Richard Winn Academy)
-Grace Brooker (Drama, Hammond School)
-Savannah Harwood (Drama, Hammond School)
-Caroline Hubbard (Drama, Hammond School)
-Shelby Jones (Drama, Dent Middle School)
-Mariah Miller (Drama, Dutch Fork Middle School)
-Emily Nason (Creative Writing, Hammond School)
-Christine Nixon (Violin, EL Wright Middle School)
-Braden Payne (Visual Arts, Summitt Parkway Middle School)
-Sarah Rhu (Creative Writing, Hand Middle School)
-Grace Ann Roberts (Drama, Crayton Middle School)
-Aran Savory (Drama, Hand Middle School)
-Jessica Scott (Violin, Longleaf Middle School)
-Ginger Seymour (Visual Arts, Hand Middle School)
-Ashley Underhill (Drama, Dutch Fork Middle School)
-Danielle Williams (Viola, Longleaf Middle School)
 
Spartanburg
-Rebekah Burrell (Clarinet, Mabry Middle School)
-Lauren Powell (Vocalist, Dawkins Middle School)
 
York
-Mona Bailey (Drama, Rawlinson Road Middle School)
-Jess Bartz (Drama, Rawlinson Road Middle School)
-Kotone Deguchi (Visual Arts, Rawlinson Road Middle School)
-Anna Edwards (Creative Writing, Gold Hill Middle School)
-Grace Glankler (Visual Arts, Clover Junior High)
-Brittany Jones (Trumpet, York Junior High)
-Carmen Paddock (Piano, Home School)
-Chandler West (Creative Writing, Sullivan Middle School)
-Dori Wilson (Bassoon, Gold Hill Middle School)
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MISSION
The mission of the South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities is to serve artistically gifted high school students of South Carolina through programs of preprofessional instruction in an environment of artistic and academic excellence. The school is a resource for all teachers and students in South Carolina.