Summer Music Institute 2012

The National Symphony Orchestra Summer Music Institute will take place from July 2 to July 30.

Every summer, approximately 60 students (ages 15-20) from all over the nation meet in Washington, D.C., to attend the Kennedy Center/National Symphony Orchestra's Summer Music Institute (SMI). The Institute offers four weeks of private lessons, rehearsals, coaching by National Symphony Orchestra members, classes, and lectures to prepare aspiring musicians for their futures in music.

The deadline for application is January 27, 2012. In the past, SMI Chair Leon Kuehner submitted Iowa's selections to SMI. This year, applicants will apply online directly to the Kennedy Center.

For more information and links to the application and financial forms, go to the IAAE website.

All-State 2011

An appreciative audience was entertained by the All-State musicians this weekend in Ames.

Iowa Talent on IPTV in November

Tune to Iowa Public Television during November to celebrate some of the great talent from around the state:

• All-State Music Festival 2011--Thursday, Nov. 24, at 7pm and Sunday, Nov. 27, at 5:30pm
• Iowa HS Cheerleading Championships 2011--Sunday, November 27, at 2pm
• 2011 Iowa HS Marching Bands: ValleyFest--Sunday, Nov. 27, at 3:30pm, and Monday, Nov. 28, at 9pm
• 2011 Iowa High School Marching Bands: ShowDown--Sunday, Nov. 27, at 4:30pm, and Monday, Nov. 28, at 8pm

Art Educator Awards

Art Educators of Iowa, during their 2011 Fall Conference (Creativity in the City: 21st Century and Beyond) in Des Moines, celebrated the careers of several outstanding art educators at their banquet at the Hotel Savery. 

Dr. Clar Baldus shown with Chair Maggie Parks (left) and President Ronda Sternhagen (right), was named Outstanding Higher Level Art Education Art Educator. Currently, Baldus is the Administrator for Rural Schools, Inventiveness, and Visual Arts Programs at the Belin-Blank Center and the State Coordinator for Invent Iowa, an invention program that serves K-12. She is also dually appointed as Visiting Assistant Professor of Art Education and Adjunct Assistant Professor, Psychological & Quantitative Foundations Division of the College of Education at the University of Iowa. Read more...

Carol Webb (left) was named Middle School Art Educator of the Year. Webb has been the Art teacher at Miller Middle School in Marshalltown for 15 years, and has impressed parents and colleagues while working her way into the hearts of her students. Read more...


Nancy Sojka (center) was named 2011 Art Educator of the Year. Sojka has retired from teaching art at North Winneshiek School, Decorah, but continues to serve art education in the state as a webmaster for IAAE and Art Educators of Iowa and providing communications with arts educators around the state. She was also awarded the Belin-Blank Center's Mary Bucksbaum Scanlan Program in Visual Arts Award of Distinction. Read more...


Becky Sue Johnson (right) of Roosevelt High School received the 2011 Outstanding Secondary Art Educator Award. At Roosevelt she is a member of the Instructional Leadership Team and is the chair of the Fine Arts department. She is on the Art Advisory Committee and the Art Department’s Curriculum Committee for Des Moines Public Schools. She is constantly searching for ways to improve student learning. Read more...

Steve Jobs and Arts Education

"Stay hungry and stay foolish..."
We all owe a huge debt to creative people like Steve Jobs. We mourn his loss as one of our own. The Commencement address delivered by Steve Jobs a few years ago has a message about arts education that we all need to hear again: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UF8uR6Z6KLc&feature=player_embedded

Davenport BASICS Team

Due to cuts in the Federal budget, funding for 2011-12 from the Kennedy Center for the BASICS program was not available. The Davenport BASICS Team has continued with local funding. Here are some highlights of their activities:
On July 21st, the Davenport BASICS Development Team held a reception for Dr. Art Tate, Davenport Community Schools new superintendent.

On August 11, 2011, Davenport Community Schools’ elementary music and elementary and intermediate physical education teachers experienced a dance workshop presented by Dorian Byrd of the Imani Dancers Studio.

"I'm hoping you can help..."

Parents are willing to do anything to help their child in need of arts education. But very often they do not know where to turn or who can help them. If parents knew where to look, there are, actually, many resources out there to help them. Here is a blog about a parent's desire to help and some resources you can share with dedicated parents. The Power and Passion is Apparent.