There is a too "best kept secret" in Englewood! Due to the efforts of the non-profit organization, Englewood Cultural Arts Center Association (ECACA), also called "Englewood Arts," the city is breaking through the financial barrier that often limits cultural opportunities to residents of Englewood and the Greater Denver Metro area. "Englewood Arts" supports, through grants and business and school partnerships, three major cultural events at an affordable price. One is an affordable Chamber Concert Series, held at Hampden Hall, highlighting different ensembles from the Colorado Symphony, and another is a free annual Juried Art Show, featuring artists from around the country.

The third program, " Strings Attached," is an incredible partnership with Englewood Schools, offering students the opportunity to be part of a before and after school strings instrumental program. This program offers weekly cello and violin lessons of forty-five minutes, supplementing and supporting the public school instrumental music program.

In the first season (2001-2002), forty-eight children signed up from two schools to take classes in violin. This year, eighty students joined the program from all five elementary schools, the three middle schools, and ninth grade at Englewood High School to continue or begin the study of violin or cello. Additionally, classes combining some of the upper level violin and cello students in an ensemble and an adult/parent class are offered.

Parents and teachers continue to witness many examples of tremendous personal growth in the students, believing the program is making a significant difference for their children/students. The " Strings Attached" participants have the opportunity to perform at school district events, city events, and three recitals throughout the year for parents and friends. It is inspiring to see the children; they are "shining" with confidence and enthusiasm as they play!

Additionally, the " Strings Attached" students are provided with a free pass for themselves and an adult to attend the Englewood Arts Concert Series. This provides them with an opportunity to be an audience member, watching and enjoying professional musicians, as role models.

The cost to the family is minimal at $60.00 per school semester. Scholarships, using a sliding scale based on need, are offered to any student not able to afford the tuition. Although some instruments have been donated or purchased to loan to students not able to afford the monthly rental fee from the music store, there is still a great need for cellos. Students receive scholarships ranging from 10% to 95% of the tuition and rental fees. The scholarship includes help to the family in the rental of the instrument if one is not available as a loaner. As a non-profit organization, "Englewood Arts" supports the scholarship piece of the program, as well as underwrites the instructor costs. It is a $37,000.00 program, with great efforts made to make it affordable to all students.

As the program continues to grow and develop, Englewood Arts has continued to review, revise, and adhere to its goals and objectives for " Strings Attached."

GOALS:
--To continue and expand the current "Strings Attached" program.
--To bring a continued greater awareness of and appreciation for music to the Englewood community.
--To partner with the local business community and the Englewood Schools, to create a string music program to supplement and support existing music programs in the community and the Englewood Schools.

OBJECTIVES:
--To provide every interested student in grades 2-9 in the Englewood elementary, middle, and beginning this fall, high schools an affordable and quality opportunity to begin or continue instruction playing the violin or cello.
--To enhance Englewood students' total educational experience and simultaneously develop a foundation for a district-wide string music program.
--To promote the following social and learning skills and behaviors in student participants: self-discipline, cooperation, concentration, teamwork, goal setting, patience, self-motivation and pride.
--To impact literacy and math student achievement through involvement in music.
--To encourage and foster a life-time love of music in each participant.

As a thirty-five year educator, twenty of those years in Englewood Schools, former program administrator of the "Strings Attached" program, and new ECACA Board of Trustees member, I am honored to be a part the Englewood Cultural Arts Center Association. I feel that this organization is deserving of special recognition and the $1000.00 award. The money would be put to excellent use for student scholarships and/or cellos, going directly to those in need of help to make use of this fine opportunity.