Student artwork lined the hallway behind the auditorium at South County Secondary School as notes of Beethoven's "Marriage of Figaro" filled the air. But on Tuesday night, Nov. 15, the most significant art came from ball point pens.
Two months after the school year started, members of the Lorton Arts Foundation, Fairfax County Public Schools and South County Secondary School gathered to officially sign documents creating a partnership that would provide teachers and classes in the arts for South County students while giving the Arts Foundation a supply of artwork, exhibits and space for performances.
"This is the formal kick off, but we've been working together for quite a while," said Tina Leone, president of the Lorton Arts Foundation. "The partnership actually began earlier this summer."
The Lorton Arts Foundation has yet to move into its offices, which will be located in one of the workhouses left over from the Lorton Prison. It will serve as an exhibit and work space for artists from throughout the region once renovations are complete.
"Linda Evans, a technical lighting designer, has been working with the students for their fall play," said Sharon Mason, an arts administrator with the Foundation. "We've also raised money to bring in Suzie Celentano to teach a music class and choreograph their spring production of 'Oliver,'" Mason said.
Funding for both teachers was raised through the "Artist's Pallet" program during the summer, in which local artists painted pieces of plywood shaped like pallets that were later sold or given as a gift for donations.
"We were able to raise about $6,000 through that project," Mason said. "All the funds we raise go to outreach programs, and we do a lot of those."
In addition, the Foundation provided three judges for the Reflections program, a juried student art competition, Mason said.
THE PARTNERSHIP is helping the Foundation "fulfill our goal of coming to the community before we're even on the site," Mason said. "Once we've moved in there, we hope to have students become an integral part of our offerings."
As the Lorton community surrounding the school grows, so too will the opportunities for cooperation, said Leone. "Many more things will happen together which will provide more opportunities for students to participate in the arts," she said.
In a way, the partnership is the "first real outward sign that we exist," Leone said. "We'll become even more real in the first part of next year when we have our lease and bond financing finalized."
South County principal Dale Rumberger said the partnership "made a statement" about the importance of arts education in public schools.
"I am so impressed that our community believes the arts are as important as every other part of the curriculum here. Not everyone is going to be a famous singer or actor, but not everyone's going to be a professional linebacker. But someone will be," he said.
The evening was filled with performances from the theater and musical departments, including a short scene from "The Monkey's Paw" by the middle school theater department and some improvisational games from high school students.
"This is a new school with no formed traditions yet," said Roger Tomhave, Fine Arts Coordinator with Fairfax County Public Schools. Much the same, the Lorton Arts Foundation is a new organization, "an arts center that hasn't even been built yet. What will the future hold for this partnership," he asked.
Focusing on arts education will help prepare students for careers that will demand them to be creative, independent thinkers, said Tomhave. "If the last 20 years have shown us anything, it's that we have no idea what the future will hold. We are asked to prepare students to be calculated risk takers and self-motivated ... this partnership gives me great hope for our students," he said.
Sen. Jay O'Brien (R-39) made a surprise visit to the school during the ceremony, telling students he was "very jealous" of those who could perform on stage.
"I would love to be a pianist, but I can't," he laughed. "So I congratulate you young people on this partnership. I sincerely hope you find a way to keep up your talents. The passion you have is a great thing."
Before closing the ceremony, Rumberger took the stage again and, with a large smile, announced "this little pony is growing into a mighty stallion," to the cheers and applause of students, parents and administrators.
Ninth grade student and band member Jamie Swogger said she was happy to have the chance to see her fellow students perform.
"Because I'm in the band, I don't usually get to do that. It was pretty cool," she said.
Her mother, Lynn Swogger, agreed. "I never saw anything like this at Hayfield (Secondary School)," she said. "Saying that this is exciting is an understatement."