Thanks to the initiative, determination and energy of Academy parents and Board members Jen Gibson and Jenna Day (pictured above), the Mason Academy Parent committee – or MAP – has been formed! Made up of a core volunteer group of parents of our students (who are minors), MAP was established to provide support to Academy teachers and staff, to be a vehicle for innovative ideas and insightful feedback to the organization, and to give participants an opportunity to socialize.
We sat down with Jen and Jenna to learn more about why they are so passionate about the Academy and what inspired them to create MAP.
Academy: How long have you been affiliated with Mason Community Arts Academy and how did you first hear about us?
JGibson: We are in our fifth year at Mason Community Arts Academy. I looked several places in the area for the right violin teacher for my daughter. When I found her, she happened to work at the Academy.
JDay: I first met Libby Curtis in the lobby at the Mason Center for the Arts. She was interviewing a dear friend of mine, and I didn’t realize it was an interview and went up to say hello. I had heard of the Academy, and our shop, Day Violins, had helped out with instruments for them. We chatted briefly and made arrangements to meet later. After our first meeting, I knew I had found a new best friend, and I knew I needed to be involved in the Academy somehow! Day Violins has helped out in countless ways with the Academy and I have had the privilege of serving on the Advisory Board, along with a host of other cool events! That was over 6 years ago, I think. Maybe more. Years don’t count when you have found a true friend and a passion for something!
Academy: What makes the Academy different from other arts schools in the area?
JGibson: Having the right teacher for your child always comes first. After that, there are three things that set MCAA apart from other arts schools. One is the music recital opportunity each semester. If you start lessons before you are old enough to participate in school music or drama programs, it can get lonely in the practice room. Recitals give you a goal to work toward, experience in a performance setting and exposure to other performers. The second is the group class offerings. Listening to and blending with other players is part of the musical experience. Group classes are also great places to connect with other kids who share an interest in music. Finally, MCAA’s affiliation with George Mason University creates some really cool opportunities and exposure for Academy students. We have been to several concerts with premiere performances of original compositions where the composer is right there in the audience. One student had the opportunity to guest conduct one of the University ensembles. You just don’t get experiences like that everywhere.
JDay: One of the things I love about the Academy is the levels of engagement. You can do something as simple as taking an art class or you can be involved in several areas of the academy. From Acting for Young People to the amazing music lessons and art and design classes, to participating in community events and events at George Mason University. The academy employs not just professional teachers and instructors, but it also trains the next generation of professionals through its programs.
Academy: Why are the arts important to your family?
JGibson: Both of my parents were musicians, so the arts have always been near and dear to my heart. My mother likes to tell the story about my first temper tantrum at age 3 – on the red carpet at the Kennedy Center! She was mortified, but not enough to allow me on the “wrong” side of the rope.
JDay: The arts are important to my family because it is who we are! I grew up in a very musical and artistic family. From playing instruments and singing to backdrops for the musicals, drawing for the yearbook and calligraphy for weddings and other events, my artistic career through high school and college and now professionally was/is full of creative outlets that allowed me to explore my talents. My husband Jason also grew up in a musical family. We started Day Violins about 15 years ago in our little basement in Alexandria and have spent countless hours building a business that focuses on bringing quality instruments to everyone so they can have a positive musical experience. In addition, I am heavily involved in music education advocacy and spend a lot of time giving presentations and demonstrations about music education and it’s importance. And lastly, my involvement with Instruments in the Attic. It is an Academy outreach program that I feel very passionate about, and I get so excited to help others find the joy of music by receiving an instrument. Through this amazing program, I have been able to help ship guitars to Jamaica, help several local schools with building their band and orchestra program, repair and deliver instruments to Costa Rica, send guitars to a youth treatment center so they can start a music therapy program and – just this week – help a local high school student with a viola so she can study music in college and teach music to others. It’s my life and my passion, and it is something that makes me happy when I see the ripple effect of goodness this program brings.
Academy: How have programs at the Academy enriched your children’s lives?
JGibson: My kids have done so many different programs at the Academy. They have participated in the Violin Bootcamp summer intensive, enjoyed the camaraderie with other kids through regular group classes, tried something new at teacher workday acting camps, given back to the community through holiday concerts at an area retirement home, and tasted the nerves of the spotlight in the annual music competition. All of those experiences have been fabulous and probably would not have happened if we were not at the Academy. Honestly though, when they look back years from now, I think the most enriching experience for each of my kids will be the impact of their teachers as role models in their lives. They teach them how to play their instruments, but they also teach them how to graciously interact with a collaborative pianist and how to clean their horn (and the importance thereof!). They are in our lives every week through broken arms and the madness of swim team season. They have become like family members for my kids (and for me). As a parent that is touching to watch develop.
Academy: What is your most memorable Academy experience?
JGibson: My most memorable Academy experience was the recent Arts by George [Mason Arts Fundraiser] performance. It was powerful to see all ages and all disciplines performing together, leadership included. It was beautiful.
JDay: I’m not sure I have a ‘most memorable Academy experience’ because there are so many that have changed my life. One that will always stick out in my mind, was when we visited Costa Rica for the first time through Instruments in the Attic. I brought with me several Ziploc bags of used strings and music supplies. We attended a small concert at one of the schools. I remember feeling a little uncomfortable about giving the orchestra teacher a bag of used strings, but I walked up to her and handed them to her. She started to cry in gratitude. At that moment, I was so overcome by her reaction, that I made a promise to myself that I would return and help this school and this orchestra program out. Through amazing efforts and a lot of stars aligning together, we were able to return and fix over 300 instruments in a day in a half at this school! They were able to add classes, and instruments that had been left on a shelf for years got a new life. Another memorable moment happened when my daughter, Savannah, was in one of the plays for Acting for Young People [the Academy’s theater program]. During one of the scenes, there was a mixup and she immediately took over, said an impromptu line and kept the show going. It was a great moment for a mom to see how this program had helped her become confident and to think on her feet. I definitely could go on and on, but events happen every day at the Academy that are priceless. From a child learning a new scale to a young actor taking their first bow to an artist completing their first masterpiece. The Academy is full of memorable experiences every day!
Academy: You have been one of the masterminds behind the new parent group at the Academy called Mason Academy Parents (MAP). What are you most excited about for MAP as it gets up and running?
JGibson: Oh wow. MAP is really new and it has been exciting to see so many parents come out to the coffees and volunteer for Music Recital Weekend. I feel like there is so much opportunity for community there. Parents can network, learn and get support from fellow parents across all three disciplines (music, acting, art) at the Academy. Every time Jenna and I have a brainstorming session we come up with way more great ideas than we have the time to implement. If any other parents are out there wanting to be part of something grand, I hope we connect with them to make it grow faster.
JDay: Mason Academy Parents (MAP) is an amazing opportunity for parents and staff and community members to realize the potential that the Academy has. I am a passionate and outgoing person. I get excited about cool things, and I am really excited about this! This parent group will allow parents to connect, receive insights to help their students with practicing and social skills. It will allow us to serve in the community and provide outreach to help the Academy grow. We are working with the administration, staff and parents to formulate our best plan of action to work together in the most effective way in our busy lives. Everyone needs to join MAP and anyone who wants to help will be utilized!
Academy: What is your hope for the Academy’s growth over the next five years?
JGibson: My hope for the Academy’s growth over the next five years is to develop an even richer community feel among students, parents and staff across all disciplines. I want people to feel connected and be comfortable reaching out to others when they need something. And, while the staff do an amazing job of efficiently using the current space, a bigger building would be fabulous. I have visions of a lounge with sofas and homework tables where parents, students and siblings wait during and between lessons. There would be a counter where people leave baked goods to share. That is probably #248 on the priority list, but a mom can dream…
JDay: In the time I have been at the Academy, I have already seen tremendous growth. From outgrowing the space with Acting for Young People, to hiring qualified teachers and watching enrollment go up every year, the process has been inspiring. I look forward to having to squeeze into this space for only a short time as we aggressively look for ways to find a bigger facility. We need more space! I am impressed and in awe as I watch the director, Libby Curtis, give up her office so they can utilize that space for lessons. The need is great and our goal is to help the Academy find the space that will allow them the opportunity to touch more lives on a daily basis.
Thank you to Jen and Jenna for spearheading the MAP committee, and for an outstanding interview! If you are the parent of a current Academy student and want to help us grow together, please contact Jen or Jenna. Your voice and teamwork will be greatly valued and appreciated!
Send an email to MAP:
masonacademyparents@gmail.com
