AFA Stands For MUSIC P 713-522-9699 F 713-522-9631 AFAtexAS.org TABLE OF CONTENTS About AFA 2 Program Evaluation 17 2014-15 Demographics & Overview 4 2014-15 Financials 18 AFA In Schools 6 2014-15 Donors 20 AFA’s Year-Round Curriculum 8 Faculty Artists 23 The Summer Music Conservatory 12 Governance 24 900 AFA enriches the lives of young Students enrolled in people through music. recurring programs We accomplish this mission by: Creating educational programs for 1,067 Students involved in young people in safe and respectful one-time activities environments 171 Encouraging talent and creativity 1,967 Number of schools with in programs that empower life skills Students impacted by participating students AFA in 2014-15 through musical achievement 78.5% Committing to excellence in Students receiving teaching, faculty and state-of-the-art collaborations free school-based programs Leading collaborations that meet 47 AFA-sponsored the needs of the arts education 81 concert performances Faculty artists community 7,895 Estimated audience AFA 2014-15 Annual Report | 1 ABOUT AFA AFA’s work in our community is divided into three main Students may access AFA at any point of their program areas: musical development. AFA’s “path” is designed so 1. AFA IN SCHOOLS presents a broad range of that students may initially access AFA through an classroom-based residencies, clinics and master AFA In Schools program, proceed to the Year-Round classes in local schools for a variety of experience levels Curriculum (where AFA is able to accommodate a and backgrounds. AFA In Schools programming broader range of experience levels) and ultimately enhances school curricula through innovative to the Summer Music Conservatory. Every AFA programming customized to meet the evolving program is guided by two important philosophies needs of area schools, teachers and students. that form the basis our work with young people: 2. AFA’s YEAR-ROUND CURRICULUM offers 1. Financial hardship should never be a focused, weekend-based learning opportunities barrier between a young musician and the for instrumentalists, vocalists and composers experiences that shape their futures. AFA’s that emphasize the next level of musical learning and accomplishment. Presented in aid or limited merit scholarships to students in AFA programs and underwrites AFA In Schools performing arts organizations, AFA’s Chamber residencies at little or no cost to area schools. Music Academy, Composer Institute, and 2. That the opportunity to showcase one’s Houston Girls Chorus programs offer exemplary achievements is an essential part of the musical training and performance opportunities. learning process. AFA’s annual Concert 3. SUMMER MUSIC Series is designed to promote the talents and CONSERVATORY serves more than 350 students in accomplishments of AFA students through grades 2-12 through intensive, challenging, multi- as many as 50 free performances every week programs for vocalists, orchestral musicians, year ranging from in-school assemblies to pianists and composers. The Summer Music performances at Miller Outdoor Theater, Conservatory impacts students’ artistic, social and Jones Hall, Houston Ballet’s Center for personal development through daily rehearsals Dance and the Wortham Theater Center. of challenging, experience-appropriate repertory, academic classes that provide historical and cultural contexts for the music students learn, and participation in more than two dozen recitals and community outreach performances. Offering nearly students from over 140 area schools travel from throughout the greater Houston metro to attend. AFA 2014-15 Annual Report | 2 ABOUT AFA ABOUT AFA AFA was founded in 1993 by Houston composer J. Todd Frazier as a series of touring music education residencies at colleges and museums in San Antonio, Corpus Christi and Stephenville, Texas. After two years of tours, AFA launched its flagship program, the Summer Music Conservatory. Acclaimed for safeguarding quality arts education experiences in times of economic decline, the Conservatory has grown to enroll 350+ second through twelfth-grade students every summer. In 2004, composer and AFA Deputy Director Michael Remson was appointed Executive Director of AFA and, following the retirement of founder Todd Frazier in 2007, was promoted to Executive and Artistic Director. Under Dr. Remson’s leadership, AFA has launched new elementary, middle school and choral divisions of the Summer Music Conservatory and, in 2010 and 2011 respectively, AFA’s Year-Round Curriculum and AFA In Schools initiative. Welcoming nearly eight thousand attendees in its twentieth anniversary season, AFA’s annual Concert Series provide a free, community-based concert-going option for local audiences and out-of-town visitors alike. As AFA embarks on its third decade of service to our community, new initiatives are being implemented to broaden AFA’s impact throughout Southeast Texas. AFA Stands For OPPORTUNITY AFA 2014-15 Annual Report | 3 2014-15 DEMOGRAPHICS With the continued growth of AFA’s Year- 2014-15 Round Curriculum and the AFA In Schools ENROLLMENT initiative, AFA continues to serve an Summer Music Conservatory increasing number of young people each 361 year. In total, over 1,900 young people Year-Round Curriculum were impacted by AFA programs in the 87 last twelve months. AFA In Schools Figure 1 depicts enrollment in all AFA 452 programs from 1996-2014. Note that One-Time Clinics/ Master Classes “enrollment” includes only those students 1,067 who participate in a minimum of ten contact hours as opposed to a one-time enrollment this year reached 900 students. FIGURE 1 Figure 2 depicts enrollment by grade level. AFA’s enrollment of elementary- FIGURE 2 age students has grown this past year Elementary due to expanded eligibility in several High School School (9-12) programs and a new Elementary (K-5) 50% Choir program in the Summer Music 4% Conservatory. AFA is continuing to develop new programs that will serve an even broader range of K-12 musicians in the coming year. Middle school enrollment continues to grow as a result of AFA In Schools initiatives that Middle target this age group as part of creative School classroom residencies. (6-8) 46% AFA 2014-15 Annual Report | 4 2014-15 DEMOGRAPHICS FIGURE 3 100% AFA is committed to ensuring that its programs 90% 19.9 21.9 29.1 28.1 35.4 80% Translated into annual goals, this means 70% working to maintain a minimum aggregate 60% minority enrollment of at least 40%. Figure 3 50% 40% 80.1 78.1 In 2014-15, and largely as a result of AFA In 70.9 71.2 30% 64.6 Schools initiatives, Latino students continue to 20% be the largest minority participating in AFA. 10% Figure 4 compares the ethnic make- 0% up of the Houston metropolitan region 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 with the enrollment of AFA’s Year-Round Minorities Non-Minorities Curriculum/AFA In Schools initiative, and the Summer Music Conservatory. FIGURE 4 Houston Metro: 2010 Census 1 36 39 7 17 AFA In Schools & Year-Round Curriculum 0.8 46.8 22 24 6.4 AFA Summer Music Conservatory 7.6 30.7 21.4 29.6 10.7 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% African-American Asian Caucasian Hispanic/Latino Multi-Racial AFA 2014-15 Annual Report | 5 AFA IN SCHOOLS In 2014-15, AFA In Schools offered a wide variety of free or low-cost music education residencies, clinics and masterclasses to area schools to help broaden their curricular offerings, enhance the school’s ability to provide quality arts programming for its students and, in some cases, to support schools and community organizations Many AFA In Schools programs feature collaborations with AFA’s Presenting Partners. Most residencies include performing opportunities for participating students that involve their peers in the process. Programming focuses on three key areas with examples of programs (as shown below). 1. THE CREATIVE CLASSROOM Encouraging elementary, middle and high school students to experience music not just as a technical art but as a creative one. Composing for school ensembles Songwriting workshops Improvisation and instrument making Composition clubs 2. SMALL ENSEMbLE PERFORMANCE Enhancing the ensemble experience through work in small groups. Chamber music Small ensemble coaching Large ensemble coaching and clinics After-school classes 3. MUSIC AND THE MIND Customized music programs for children with physical or developmental disabilities. Elementary music for children with cochlear implants that develop speech and language skills Workshops for developmentally disabled children making and composition AFA 2014-15 Annual Report | 6 AFA IN SCHOOLS AT A gLANCE 452 Enrolled in Recurring Programs 1,067 Participated in One-Time Activities 100% Programs Offered Free of Charge 17 Faculty Artists 12 Concerts Presented ENROLLMENT bY gRADE LEVEL 1.6% Elementary School (K-5) 47% Middle School/Junior High (6-8) 51.4% High School (9-12) ETHNIC REPRESENTATION 6.2% African-American 24.2% Asian 21.5% Caucasian 47.3% Hispanic/Latino 0.7% Multi-Racial ARTS PARTNERS COMMUNITY PARTNERS The Center for Hearing & Speech Hermann Park Da Camera of Houston Young Artist Program Moody Mansion The Monarch School Pasadena ISD Via Colori (a part of The Center for Hearing & Speech) West University Senior Services SCHOOLS & ORgANIZATIONS REPRESENTED: RECURRINg PROgRAMS (11) CHARTER SCHOOLS CY-FAIR ISD PASADENA ISD KIPP Houston HS Anthony MS Park View Intermediate KIPP Sharpstown College Preparatory YES Prep East End HOUSTON ISD PRIVATE YES Prep Southeast Bellaire HS The