THE LADIES IN RED
Great young performers; an outreach program for kids & more
 Despite study after study that shows a direct correlation between music education and improved academic performance, especially in math & science, Utah ranks among the lowest in nation for music education in public schools, and music has all but disappeared from the core curriculum. In the face of continued legislative hand wringing and the risk of losing an entire generation, the solution is to gather together talented people and like-minded organizations and to do something about it.
Enter the Ladies in Red
First and foremost, these five beautiful young women are accomplished pianists, remarkably talented and disciplined. Moreover, they are dedicated students, who have been working under the auspices of Dr. Susan Duehlmeier, Piano Area Chair, at the University of Utah's Music Department. Their focus is to help bring music education to Title 1 elementary kids in public schools by performing and teaching. "The Ladies in Red was formed to help fund the growing interest by schools to incorporate music into their programs," according to Cassie Olsen, Doctoral student, and one of the Ladies in Red. "Our mission is to bring state-wide focus to the positive outcomes of this outreach program." The Ladies in Red are Ruby Chou, Mary Anne Huntsman, Cassie Olsen, Lindsey Lambert, and Stella Markova. These women, who have bonded through music, in the classroom, and in friendship, are uniting on stage to further promote and raise funds for this project that has become so close to their hearts. The Ladies in Red have performed as a whole and in smaller groups throughout Salt Lake City, including Libby Gardner Hall and at Franklin Elementary School in a tireless effort to raise awareness of the need for music education in schools. They also teach piano to some very lucky kids as part of the University of Utah's Piano Outreach Program.
The University of Utah Piano Outreach Program
Oftentimes, the term "outreach" is associated with a vision, i.e., to provide working knowledge on a given subject to those who may not have access to knowledge. People involved in outreach programs are among the most selfless, generous and committed of educators. The impetus for the Ladies in Red originated several years ago with the Piano Outreach Program at the University of Utah School of Music, through a partnership with the University of Utah and the Warner Foundation. The program was established by faculty member, Dr. Bonnie Gritton, and continues to be a vibrant program under the direction of Collette Call, who established it in several elementary and middle schools around the Salt Lake Valley. Two years ago, the program was expanded to Franklin Elementary School, a school with a majority population of lower income immigrant kids, under the direction of the innovative and visionary principal, Dahlia Cordova. And today, the creators of the U of U Piano Outreach Program can say with pride that the program has far surpassed its original goals. The kids are learning to play the piano, and, as expected, their science & math skills are improving too. Due to generosity of the University of Utah School of Music, Skip Daynes, the Salt Lake Chapter of Rotary International, faculty and student volunteers, and the hard work of the participating students, this program is working, really working. But successes in several schools around the Salt Lake Valley is not enough. The ultimate goal is to re-establish music education as part of the core curriculum for all schools, so that kids everywhere can learn to love music while improving their academic skills.
An Imaginative Interactive Curriculum
So, two of the Ladies in Red, Cassie, and Lindsey Lambert, who is also a graduate student in music at the University of Utah, are in the midst of developing an imaginative interactive curriculum that will allow the U of U Music Piano Program to be expanded in new and creative ways, beyond the Salt Lake Valley, beyond Utah. With the credibility and advice of the U of U Music Department, and Daynes Music's experience in interactive technologies and adult piano courseware development, the Ladies in Red will be coming soon to your favorite web browser. The Ladies in Red are anxiously looking forward to expanding their audience and supporters, and will be performing in various venues to raise funds, while continuing to teach and develop the outreach program to other schools, and beyond, thus increasing the knowledge, skills, and academic performance of kids everywhere (their parents too). You can become friends of Ladies in Red on Facebook.
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