Singing Praises of Chorale’s Arts Programs

I want to respond to Zan Dubin’s May 14 article in Calendar regarding (Orange County professional arts organizations’) lack of involvement in advocacy for public school arts programs (“Proposed Arts Cuts Go Largely Unprotested”). (My) quote--”Frankly it hadn’t dawned on me”--was taken out of context, and makes it sound like neither the Pacific Chorale nor I am aware of any problems in public school arts programs. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Even if we did not read newspapers, Pacific Chorale is full of music teachers,and we would have to be living in a cave to be unaware of cuts in public school arts programs. Also, this is not a new situation. Historically, the arts are almost always the programs to be cut whenever there are budget problems.

The Pacific Chorale and many of its individual members belong to two organizations that are active in arts education advocacy: Music Educators National Convention and the American Choral Directors’ Assn. The Pacific Chorale’s response to a cutback in arts programs is to do what we are equipped to do best: Bring the students to music, take the music to the students and present opportunities for the students to sing. We currently have three programs firmly in place and are starting a fourth in the 1991-92 season: the Pacific Chorale Children’s Chorus.

Arts education is critically important to human development. Why don’t we all, including The Times, practice advocacy by creating special education programs for students, by covering these programs in the news media, and, yes, by writing letters to legislators.

BONNIE L. McCLAIN

Executive Director

Pacific Chorale

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