HEAL'S CENTER FOR THE ARTS

HEAL CENTER FOR THE ARTS IS COMMITTED TO DEVELOPING YOUNG INTELLECTUAL ARTISTS WHO WE BELIEVE WILL POSITIVELY INFLUENCE THE WAY IN WHICH OUR SOCIETY THINKS AND FEELS BY CREATING AND PRESENTING MEANINGFUL ART. OUR STUDENTS ARE TAUGHT WITH LOVE, FERVOR, AND DEDICATION. THEY ARE LEARNING WHAT IT MEANS TO BE DISCIPLINED, STRUCTURED, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THEY ARE BEING TAUGHT TO RISE ABOVE THE NEFARIOUS AND COMPLICIT BEHAVIORS THAT CONTINUE TO PLAGUE OUR SOCIETY. HEAL CURRENTLY HAS SIX HIGH LEVEL MUSIC PROGRAMS THAT IT OFFERS TO ITS STUDENTS: 1. THE POINT OF VIEW JAZZ ENSEMBLE - A PROGRESSIVE ENSEMBLE THAT PERFORMS A VARIETY OF JAZZ AND POSITIVE POPULAR MUSIC AT OVER 50 PUBLIC AND PRIVATE EVENTS PER YEAR. STUDENTS ARE TAUGHT JAZZ THEORY, HISTORY, IMPROVISATION, AND BUSINESS ACUMEN. (CONSISTS OF 4 SMALL JAZZ COMBOS, AGES 12-24) 2. THE BIRD SEEDS - FEEDER JUNIOR JAZZ COMBO TO THE POINT OF VIEW JAZZ ENSEMBLE (AGES 7-11). 3. THE INTELLECTUAL ARTIST SERIES (PODCAST) - THE "INTELLECTUAL ARTIST SERIES" ENCOURAGES ARTS STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS FROM URBAN COMMUNITIES TO ENHANCE THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF THE VARIOUS ART FORMS THEY ARE STUDYING BY READING AUTOBIOGRAPHIES, BIOGRAPHIES, AND OTHER NONFICTION ARTS-RELATED BOOKS AND ARTICLES. 4. THE NORTH COUNTY BIG BAND - THIS COLLABORATIVE BIG BAND IS CO-PRESENTED BY HEAL AND THE SHELDON CONCERT HALL. THE BAND IS MADE UP OF SOME OF THE MOST TALENTED AND DEDICATED STUDENTS FROM SEVERAL ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI AREA URBAN HIGH SCHOOLS. THE PROGRAM FOCUSES ON MUSIC LITERACY AND IMPROVISATION IN THE BIG BAND SETTING. 5. SUMMER POINT OF VIEW JAZZ CAMP - THIS PROGRAM PREPARES STUDENTS FOR A RIGOROUS PERFORMANCE YEAR. 6. THROUGH OUR EYES CONCERT SERIES - A STUDENT LED POP-UP CONCERT SERIES IN WHICH STUDENTS CHALLENGE SYSTEMIC OPPRESSIVE SYSTEMS THAT BREED VIOLENCE, TRAUMA, AND POVERTY, BY SPREADING LOVE AND HOPE THROUGH THEIR LIVE MUSIC PERFORMANCES.