REFLECTIONS ON THE YEAR
Dear Friends of Soundscapes,
This past year was one we will never forget. None of us could have anticipated in July of 2019 that we would end the fiscal year with our staff working remotely, our students learning virtually, and the structure of our fall program in question as school systems debated reopening.
When schools shut down in March to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, our staff members and Board got to work immediately. They knew we needed to continue providing high quality music education to students who wouldn’t otherwise have access, and they recognized that music would be more important than ever in our students’ lives. The song couldn’t stop; we just needed to change keys. For some of our students, this was no metaphor—their learning at Soundscapes shifted from the piano keys of their electronic keyboards to their computer keyboards.
The song couldn’t stop; we just needed to change keys.
I am incredibly proud of our program staff for their flexibility and creativity in the face of an unprecedented challenge. I am also proud of our administrative team and our Board—especially my predecessor, Robert R. Hatten, who ended his 11-year tenure as Chairman in June—for their leadership. This year has been a test for all nonprofit organizations, large and small, and I believe that Soundscapes’ continued success shows what a strong and capable program it has become.
Even before the move to virtual learning, this was already a noteworthy year for Soundscapes, as you will see in this report. We expanded to a new location for the first time in January. We hosted our first fundraising gala in September, featuring an unforgettable performance by award-winning bass player Victor Wooten. We recognized an extraordinary student, Lanasia Walls, for reaching a milestone 10 years in our program.
Even as we have changed keys, the song Soundscapes plays in the lives of our students and our community continues undiminished.
Sincerely,
J.W. Whiting Chisman, Jr.
Chairman of the Board of Directors
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
July 2019–March 2020
For the first half of the year, Soundscapes provided high-intensity, professional-quality music instruction on-site in Newport News Public Schools for two hours every afternoon. During the program, professional musicians taught increasingly complex music theory and practice to children. Student musicians were divided into levels, based on age and ability. Students in Level 1 learned the fundamentals of music. By Level 2, students selected an instrument for mastery. By Level 3—typically 4th grade—students actively performed in instrumental ensembles. The most advanced students, both musically and socially, were in Level 4, where they took private lessons, performed in more advanced community groups, and mentored younger students. The children not only grew as artists, they also developed the skills required to succeed in school and beyond.
March–June 2020
In March, schools across Virginia shut down to help slow the spread of COVID-19. In response, Soundscapes launched a new web-based version of its program. Using Zoom, Google Classroom, and other tools, Soundscapes Virtual allows students to connect with teaching artists and classmates to continue studying music and improving their skills at home.
The program staff and students at Soundscapes made an incredible effort to shift rapidly to completely new instructional methods in the spring. Each student took his or her instrument home the last day of school. From March 16 through the end of June, the Teaching Artists developed assignments the students could complete from home, created instructional videos, hosted live group discussions, and gave one-on-one virtual lessons. All of these components were new to Soundscapes and demonstrate the teaching staff's creativity, flexibility, and commitment to providing music education to students who would not otherwise have access.
Soundscapes is proud to be a member of El Sistema USA, a national alliance of like-minded music education programs across the country. El Sistema-inspired programs like Soundscapes believe that music is the ideal vehicle for social change.
Learn more at elsistemausa.org.
GREENWOOD
This year, Soundscapes expanded its program to a new location for the first time in its 11-year history. The new Soundscapes program at Greenwood Elementary School started with 25 Level 1 students in January. By the time schools closed in March, the Greenwood students had already become an important part of the Soundscapes family. Students from Greenwood have been some of the most engaged learners in Soundscapes Virtual!
Profile of a Greenwood Student
Seven-year-old José joined Soundscapes in January when our program expanded to Greenwood Elementary. Even though he hasn’t been with Soundscapes long, “Soundscapes is genuinely a second family to us,” José’s mom tells us. “Since the first day that José joined, it just felt like immediate warmth and welcome.”
José and his classmates had been working hard learning notes and rhythms when schools closed due to COVID-19, but they hadn’t been issued an instrument yet. Soundscapes soon sent recorders to him and all Greenwood students, and they spent the spring learning how to play them through online lessons with Teaching Artist Ciara Baker. Ciara tells us José was incredibly shy at first during the online lessons, but quickly gained confidence and is doing very well. His mom says José practices for 20 to 30 minutes, 3 or 4 times a week, thanks in part to how easy it is to use Soundscapes Virtual. She also tells us José has been taking especially good care of his recorder and keeping an organized music folder, and how proud she is to see his passion and dedication. Everyone at Soundscapes is proud of José, too!
Greenwood Students Performing
Watch the video performance by four Greenwood students who were beginning to learn the recorder.
THE STUDENTS
MEDAL RECIPIENTS
Most years, students who have been in Soundscapes for 5 or 10 years receive recognition and a special award during the final concert of the year. Since this year’s May concert had to be cancelled, the 5-year medals and 10-year trophies were delivered to the students’ homes and a special presentation ceremony was live-streamed over Facebook.
Lanasia Walls
Soundscapes has been a part of Lanasia Walls’ life for 10 years. The 16-year-old started with the Level 1 bucket band and chose viola as her instrument in 3rd grade. “I love it,” she shares. “I chose it because it’s nice; I love the quality and sound of it.”
Before schools closed and Soundscapes switched to virtual programming, in-person rehearsals were Lanasia’s favorite part of Soundscapes. Even with all the changes, “I like the way they’re doing it,” she says. “I don’t really get to see people a lot, but I get to see their faces and it brings me joy.” The daily morning meeting with behavioral specialist Catina Billups is a highlight of Lanasia’s day. “She helps you with whatever you’re going through.” Even though rehearsal is now online with Soundscapes Virtual, Lanasia still enjoys it. “My most favorite is going into breakout rooms for rehearsal. It’s like you get one-on-one time with Ms. Kim. Whatever you need help with, you can ask.”
Connecting with the younger students is also important to Lanasia. “You see the younger kids, like they were you yourself, so you go back and you mentor them and teach them everything that you learned, and you feel like you’re giving back,” she explains. When asked if she had any advice for those younger students, Lanasia replied, “Take risk, believe in yourself. Go for it.”
Watch Lanasia receive her award.
FINANCIAL DETAILS
FIRST FUNDRAISING GALA
In September of 2019, Soundscapes hosted its first fundraising gala in support of the students. Award-winning bass player and Denbigh High School graduate Victor Wooten headlined the event at the Newport News Marriott and played several songs with the students. During the gala, Soundscapes honored two of its founding board members: Robert R. Hatten and Alan A. Diamonstein.
OUR SUPPORTERS
Platinum
- Joseph and Patricia Barto
- Carnegie Hall
- J.W. Whiting Chisman Jr.
- City of Newport News
- Earl & Waverly Charitable Fund
- Robert R. Hatten, Esq.
- Anne Henry
- John & Marjorie Holt
- Patten, Wornom, Hatten & Diamonstein
- Peninsula Community Foundation of Virginia
- Petters Family Foundation
- TowneBank
- VuBay Foundation
Gold
- The Abbitt Group Inc.
- Bernardine Franciscan Sisters Foundation
- Helen and Murray Main Foundation
- Steven and Sharon Hopson
- Rea Charitable Trust
- The Rona Jaffe Foundation
- Ward Scull
- TMG
- Wells Fargo Foundation
- Rene Wenleder
Silver
- Bank of America Charitable Foundation
- John & Rose Garrett
- Wythe Holt
- IECA Foundation
- James R. Knight
- Marta Heflin Foundation
- Mary Neale
- Donald Patten
- John & Mary Wood
Bronze
- Jörg & Susanna Aeschbach
- Tony Arviola & Ann Copeland
- Charles & Mari Ann Banks
- The Beach Group
- Blueforce, Inc.
- Charles & Gloria Brooks
- Ward & Anne Cates
- Community Knights, Inc.
- D'Addario Foundation
- John Decher & Wanda Austin
- Robert & Wanda Eberle
- David & Helene Egilman
- Trip Ferguson
- Charles Frechette
- William Harty
- Arthur & Nancy Henderson
- Erin and Stacy Jewell
- Adrianne Ryder Cook Joseph
- Kiwanis Club of Greater Hilton
- Bobby & Vicki Lanier
- St. George & Ann Lee
- Drs. Wayne & Rebecca Lett
- The Main Street Preservation Trust
- Hugh & Elizabeth McCormick
- Patrick & Elaine McDermott
- Newport News Arts Commission
- Payday Payroll Services
- Richard Rabil
- Donald & Joy Ragland
- Donald & Louise Ragland
- Riverside Health System
- Rotary Club of Oyster Point
- Bill & Tudie Saunders
- Hon. Bobby Scott
- St. Andrew's Episcopal Church
- Jim & Becki Shamblen
- Troy & Theresa Stavens
- Dr. Ruth Steinberg
- Mark & Jennifer Stevens
- Terry E. & Patty L. Hall Philanthropic Fund of the Peninsula Community Foundation
- John & Ellen Tompkins
- James & Mildred Wassum
- Karen Wilds
Supporter
- Joan D. Aaron
- Charles & Susan Armfield
- George & Mary Lynn Askew
- Joni Baker
- Joseph Barto IV
- Claire Bellecci
- Jason Benson
- Todd Beyer
- Joyce Blaylock
- Christopher Bond
- Rebecca Boon
- Mary Dame Broad
- Susan & Randy Bryant
- Cristy Burguete
- Carol Butler
- Stenette and Tonya Byrd
- Christine Cann
- Thomas Carbin
- Judith Carey
- Lindsey Carney
- Christina Carpenter
- Douglas & Rosanne Cary
- Raymond & Christine Challoner
- City of Hampton
- CNU Greek Music Societies
- Kristin Cochran
- Leroy & Cora Collins
- Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
- Commonwealth of Virginia House of Delegates
- James Conklin
- Bettie Minette Cooper
- Wilson & Ann Cooper
- Mrs. Susan Cowling
- Cozzy's Comedy Club & Tavern
- Sylvia Craft
- Dorothy Critzer
- Michael Curry
- Gordon & Jane Cutler
- Paul Danehy & Shelly Simonds
- Sue Danehy
- Suzanne Daniel
- Virginia Darden
- David & Kerri Difiore
- Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation
- Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund
- Eugene Foster Jr.
- Karen Garner
- Gordon Gentry, Jr.
- General Federation of Women's Clubs, Hampton Roads Chapter
- Rob & Susan Goetz
- Bill & Janice Grace
- Mary Grant
- Carlyle Gravely
- David Gregory
- Jeremy Gregory
- Margaret Gregory
- LeRoy & Kathi Griffin
- Michael Hamm
- Hampton Roads Eye Associates, Oyster Point
- Julie Hanks
- Bill & Anne Hart
- Lee & Vicki Hauser
- Ted & Merrill Hemmert
- Thomas & Donna Suttle Herbert
- Conover Hunt
- Brian & Maureen Hutchens
- Evelyn Hutchens
- Isabel & Philip Hatchett
- Joni Ivey
- Joseph Johnson
- Jane Johnston
- Nancy Jones Trimble
- Junior Woman's Club of Hilton Village Inc.
- Victor D. & Sandra S. Kane
- Kappa Kappa Psi
- Sheila Kerr-Jones
- King's Creek Plantation, LLC
- Ralph & Cathy Koch
- James & Bertha Kopp
- Lee Kostel
- Margaret LaBell
- Urja Lansing
- Laufer Insurance & Financial
- Robert & Rhonda Laufer
- Joseph & Marjorie Layser
- Mary J. Lenhart
- Anne P. Linn
- Melanie Lowe
- Luxur-Eyes Optometric Center
- Manhattan's NY Deli & Pub
- Charlotte Anthony Mason-Gordon
- Candyce Mayo
- Terry & John McGlennon
- Thomas W. Meehan
- Theodora Merry
- MichieHamlett PLLC
- Michael & Kathy Monteith
- Carol & Patrick Minter
- Tonia Moore
- Morgan Stanley
- Myfanwy & Peter Morgan
- Nancy Moseley
- Motley Rice LLC
- Lydia P. Mugler
- Hon. Mike Mullin
- Judith Myers
- Sonya Nachman
- Amy Nathan
- Jim Neff
- Virginia Nelson
- Newport News Public Schools
- Bradley Norris
- Ralph and Pam Northam
- Craig Nuckles
- Jeannette and Kevin O'Connell
- Rick Overbaugh
- Kelly and Dave Peck
- Susan Perrin
- Stephanie Perry
- Joan & Kevin Peterson
- Mike & Nancy Petters
- PMP Marketing Group, LLC
- Rita Potter
- Nancy & Jim Quinn
- Laura Rait
- Reynaldo & Cynthia Ramirez
- Teresa Randolph
- Patricia Robert
- Cynthia Rohlf
- Neal & Barbara Rosenbaum
- Robert & Alice Rubinstein
- Janet Salley
- D. Scott
- James & Kimberly Shoemaker
- Winthrop & Jane Short
- Robert Shuford
- Laurence Smail
- Mary & Mike Smith
- Mr. & Mrs. Robert and Jane Smola
- Luvia and Tim Sniffen
- David Speck
- Raymond Spencer
- Brandy Stajkowski
- Joseph Stellute
- Wendy Stephens
- Margie Stinson
- Anne Sweetman
- The Mariners' Museum
- Daniel Trahey
- Paul & Rosemary Trible
- Helmuth Treishmann & Tamzen Burgess
- Karl Troll
- Sandra Tudor
- William Grace
- Charlotte and Doug Vaughan
- W.M. Jordan Company
- Valerie Wallace
- Bobby & Joy Walters
- Clara L. Warren
- Avery Waterman Jr.
- William Weaver Jr.
- Michael Piercy & Wendy Drucker
- Virginia Wertman & Stanley Bolding
- Elizabeth Whetstine
- William Wilds
- Josephine Williams
- Susan Wilson
- Tom and Karen Wilson
- Woman's Club of Hilton Village
- Jim & Joan Wool
- Betty Wrightson
In-Kind
- ARTINSPIRED
- William & Nancy Beach
- J.W. Whiting Chisman Jr.
- Alan* and Beverly Diamonstein
- Ferguson Center for the Arts
- Hauser's Jewelers
- Roslyn Haysbert
- Mr. Howard Hoege
- John & Marjorie Holt
- Jeff's Flowers Of Course
- Mellen Street Creative
- Sarah Rose
- Robert & Alice Rubinstein
- Schlesinger's
- Ray & Beverly Van Ausdal
- Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce
*Deceased
LOOKING AHEAD
Dear Friends,
Our mission has always been to provide early social intervention by removing barriers to youth music education. In FY2021 we view our mission through a broader lens.
The inequities exposed by the 2020 pandemic have expanded our understanding of what it means to teach and learn in a framework emphasizing social justice and have underlined our commitment to social change on a systemic level.
By providing access to intensive music education and instruments at no cost, Soundscapes has given a voice to over 1800 students since we opened in 2009.
Soundscapes has given a voice to over 1800 students since we opened in 2009.
The onset of the pandemic this spring and our shift to Soundscapes Virtual created an unexpected detour in the road of our previous growth. We remain committed to our mission and to the students already enrolled in our program, and look forward to eventually returning to our previous path with new knowledge and insights.
FY2021 opened in July with Soundscapes taking over management and administration of the Peninsula Youth Orchestra. This change, which followed four years of strong partnership between our organizations, will allow the 60-year-old orchestra to continue serving advanced musicians across the Peninsula. For these students, virtual study will consist of a series of weekend workshops.
Even in this unusual time, our instructors are strengthening their skills and preparing to return to the classroom. We learned in June that Soundscapes was invited by Carnegie Hall to be a PlayUSA partner in FY2021. This exclusive professional development community will allow our teaching artists to build their skills with music education experts from around the country.
There are still many unknown answers to when and how we will be able to reconvene in person, sharing classroom and rehearsal space with Newport News Public Schools teachers and students. In preparation, we are creating safety plans especially designed for music education.
We hope to form a live ensemble of PYO students as early as February 2021 if it is safe to do so. The PYO program extends Soundscapes’ curriculum demographically and regionally, and we are excited about growing it into one of the Commonwealth’s premier youth orchestras!
Thanks to all of you who make our program possible!
Anne Henry
Reynaldo Ramirez
HOW TO SUPPORT
Make a Gift
The vast majority of students at Soundscapes are considered economically disadvantaged, which is why our program is FREE to all participants. You make our program possible with your generous support!
For individual gifts of at least $500 and corporate gifts of at least $616, we are pleased to offer Neighborhood Assistance Program state tax credits worth 65% of your donation. That means the out-of-pocket cost of a $1,000 donation would be only $350. NAP tax credits are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Please call to confirm availability before making your gift.
Sponsor a Child
Through the Sponsor a Child program, you can provide the gift of music for an individual student at Soundscapes! Sponsor levels start at just $12.50 per month ($150 per year). For $100 per month ($1,200 per year), you can fully cover the cost to provide high-quality music education for one child for an entire year. A child is waiting for you--transform a life through music today!
Donate an Instrument
Do you have an instrument hidden away in a closet or under a bed that hasn’t been played in a while? Consider donating it to Soundscapes! For students from low-income households, purchasing or renting an instrument can be a significant barrier, which is why we provide free instruments for all students in the program.
Volunteer Your Time
We provide volunteer opportunities to suit your needs, whether you are looking for a regular commitment to work with the students during weekday afternoons, a one-time volunteer opportunity during an event, or something in between. Let us know your interests and availability, and we will be glad to find a way for you to get involved!