and cultural opportunities. Cathy Wilkinson, music teacher at JKL Bahweting School, takes advantage of these opportu- nities at LSSU by: attending children’s concerts during the school day; collaborating with guest artists that require local participation; utilizing the LSSU Dance program which pro- vides individual class seminars to teach various dance ele- ments, combining into a dance sequence, that then is shared by students at a formal assembly; using the University Arts Center as a venue to perform concerts twice a year; and by student participation at camps that are hosted by the Univer- sity. Her students share their music with local assisted-living places and again at service club events. They also enjoy in- spiring workshops and all-school assemblies presented by local professionals.


Karen Beacom, adjunct music professor at Lake Superior State University has a unique position in the Sault commu- nity. She partners her university ensembles with local com- munity groups to present mass concerts giving students and adults, opportunities to create a memorable musical experi- ence. Karen also serves as a public school partner through presenting workshops, coaching chamber music, teaching individual lessons, and guest adjudicating for various school events. She co-created a Festival of Voices event for area schools to participate in, bringing local musicians together and inviting the community to attend. She also brings to- gether a group of professional opera singers to present a week-long Opera Workshop through the Soo Theatre (www. sootheatre.info) Workshop participants enjoy learning many aspects of operatic singing, culminating in the opportunity to join the chorus of a major opera. The opera singers and lo- cal singers combine with the Sault Symphony, a community orchestra and other community members to present a profes- sional performance of an opera for the Sault community.


Cedarville, Michigan, a region including the 36 Les Che- neaux Islands near the northern shore of Lake Huron, has a township population of 2,200 and is home to the world’s largest antique wooden boat show. It is also home to accom- plished music students, who have traveled the world under the leadership of 36-year veteran music director, Alan Jaco- bus. His efforts, along with the cooperation of the Les Che- neaux Community Foundation and Education Foundation, have created many successes for the Cedarville music pro- gram. Like previously mentioned small-town bands, Alan’s groups regularly perform at community functions such as Veteran’s Day and Memorial Day programs, and they share at the local assisted living center several times a year. Stu- dents also take opportunities to be involved with the sum- mer music theater program as members of the pit orchestra, playing alongside adults and “working to achieve a common musical goal.” But the special part about giving to their com- munity is the funding that is “given in support of young peo- ple involved in the arts” by the local Community Foundation


and Education Foundation. For the past 15 years, these orga- nizations have provided financial support that has not only kept the Cedarville music program afloat, but their financial help has allowed the band students to have performance op- portunities at the Cheboygan Opera House, Carnegie Hall, the International Music Festival in Sydney, Australia, and Beijing and Shanghai, China.


Reflections on School-Community Partnerships in the U.P.


Significant effort can be seen on the part of the veteran teachers involved with various school/community partner- ships, from logistical needs and seeking out local resources, to making curricular connections and nurturing on-going relationships. Teachers establish these partnerships by vari- ous means: service clubs and local businesses; local learning environments; local studio teachers and musicians; commu- nity funding sources. These teachers also hold a strong per- sonal belief in the power that community involvement can serve in the lives of their students today, and as a life-long learning experience. The teachers also have a visible place in their professional communities, serving on arts boards, performing in community groups, leading volunteer ensem- bles, making recordings, and frankly “walking the talk.” De- spite its usual depiction of being simply “above the bridge”, the U.P. is alive with many offerings including a wealth of school/community partnerships. The future is rich with pos- sibilities, so say “ya to the U.P. eh” for all its efforts to enrich the lives of students and the community members that they serve.


Contributing Teachers


Karen Beacom, Adjunct Music Professor at Lake Superior State University, karenbeacom@gmail.com Liz Burrows, Brimley Area Schools, K-12 Music Teacher, eburr@eup.k12.mi.us Greg Hun, Norway/Vulcan Schools, 5-12 grade Instrumen- tal Teacher and Jazz Band Director, ghunt@nvknights.org Alan Jacobus, Cedarville Schools, Director of Bands, aja- cobus@eup.k12.mi.us Janis Peterson, Marquette Area Public Schools, Orchestra Director, janispeterson@hotmail.com Laura Robinson, Escanaba Schools, Junior High Direc- tor of Bands and Assistant High School Director of Bands, LARS1@chartermi.net Cathy Wilkinson, JKL Bahweting School PSA, Music/Or- chestra Teacher, cwilkinson@jklschool.org


Cathy Wilkinson teaches K-8 general music/orchestra at JKL Bahweting School PSA in Sault Sainte Marie, MI. She has a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in music education from the University of Michigan.


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