The Fine Arts Booster Group (FABG) is a non-profit organization that works in partnership with the Ithaca (New York) City School District to support and celebrate all the arts for all the kids. FABG is an affiliate of the Ithaca Public Education Initiative.

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Our History Story 2001-2002 to 2012- Anniversary Stories from Our Tenth Year

Story #1: Our wonderful affiliation with IPEI, making the beginning possible
IPEI: Fifteen & Forward

In 1995, a task force of community members committed to maintaining the excellence of Ithaca’s schools began meeting in response to a challenge set forth in the ICSD Strategic Plan of 1994. It called for a vehicle that could facilitate access to the community resources needed to ensure the success of all students in the district, and resulted in the birth of the Ithaca Public Education Initiative (IPEI)....(read more)

Booster Meeting March 29

Posted Tue, 03/06/2012 - 8:30pm

The Fine Arts Booster Group will hold a general meeting March 29, 2012, 7-8:30 p.m. in the Boynton Middle School cafeteria. The public is invited to hear about the state of the arts from district music and art liaisons Michael Allen and Carol Spence. Updates on curriculum, current arts activities and other issues will be presented. The boosters serve all the elementary, middle and high schools in the Ithaca District.

For more information about the booster group, contact President Tina Mollenkamp at president@fabgithaca.org or 277-4631....(read more)

Co-Curricular Scholarship Grants Awarded

Posted Tue, 03/06/2012 - 8:29pm

The Fine Arts Booster Group (FABG), an affiliate of IPEI, recently awarded grants to Boynton Middle, DeWitt Middle, Lehman Alternative Community and Ithaca High Schools for co-curricular music trip scholarships, totaling $5,000. “In preparation for our tenth year, the booster group held a retreat and evaluated our mission through meetings and a survey. Survey respondents reaffirmed the desire to make the arts accessible to all. Our district works hard to do that. The boosters felt scholarships was another way we could help support students”, stated Booster President Tina Mollenkamp. “The overwhelming support we received through the Arts Alive Fund last year confirmed the community’s support for arts education.”

Music Scholarship Donor Thanks Music Educators

Posted Mon, 01/23/2012 - 11:10am by Martha Frommelt
Music Scholarship Donor Thanks Music Educators

Abby Cohn remarked at January concert,

“We are very fortunate to live in a community that not only values but supports music education for our children. Not only is the community and district very committed, we also have a group of exceptional music educators. Our children are given the opportunity to be part of something where the collective experience yields remarkable results, such as tonight’s concerts, as well as participation in state and regional competitions and honor ensembles.

My parents, Rella and Barney Cohn, were not only music lovers, but also believed deeply in the value of music education, so supporting summer music activities is a fitting way to honor them while recognizing the outstanding music educators in our community....(read more)

Rella and Barney Cohn Scholarship Announced

Posted Mon, 01/02/2012 - 11:42am

Summer Scholarship Honors Music Educators: Donor Recognized at Concert

IPEI and the Fine Arts Booster Group announce the Rella and Barney Cohn Music Scholarship Fund, established by Abby Cohn in memory of her parents and in honor of the excellent music education available in the Ithaca City School District public schools. The fund will provide annual music scholarships for summer study through the Ithaca Youth Bureau Summer Band and Orchestra Program.

“Continuing music education is important to students’ overall academic, artistic and social development. Summer time music activities help middle school students, in particular, solidify their skills and continue music study into their high school years,” notes Abby Cohn....(read more)

District Hosts Area All State

Posted Thu, 10/27/2011 - 6:31pm

The Ithaca City School District will host the New York State School Music Association’s (NYSSMA) Area All State Music Festival for junior high students on Friday and Saturday, November 4 and 5, 2011. The Area All State Concert will be held Saturday, November 5 at 3:00 p.m. in the Ithaca High School Performing Arts Center. The public is welcome and tickets are available at the door, $3 for students and $5 for adults. The ticket proceeds are used to support continued NYSSMA programming.

“It is an honor and privilege for the Ithaca City School District to host the 2011 NYSSMA Zone 3 Area All-state Junior High School Music Festival at the Ithaca High School Performing Arts Center on November 4th and 5th....(read more)

Attend a Benefit Concert 10/30/11 in Ithaca, 4:30 PM to help flooded Owego school music departments

Posted Mon, 10/24/2011 - 1:17am

We encourage you to attend the upcoming BENEFIT CONCERT for SAVE THE MUSIC featuring The Ithaca Concert Band, October 30, 2011 at 4:30PM at Ithaca College Ford Hall in the Whalen Center. Selections include Ghosts, selections from Wicked, Gustav Holst, Duke Ellington medley and more. Concert is free with grant support from Community Arts Partnership. Donations and instruments accepted. Contact Beth Brunelle at brunelle.beth@gmail.com for complete concert information.

For more information about Save the Music, contact Carolyn Mrazek at savethemusic2011@gmail.com or call 607-229-0497.

Thanks to the support of many, the music needs for one of the two schools are met....(read more)

IPEI Fifteen and Forward Celebration

Posted Fri, 10/07/2011 - 11:25am

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The current IPEI Board of Directors gather at the Fifteen and Forward 15th Anniversary Celebration, 10/5/2011. Left to right: Mary Grainger, Julie Langenbacker, Deborah O’Connor, Martha Frommelt, David Shoemaker, David Lee, Pat Tempesta, Kevin Brew, Kat Anderson, Terry Byrnes, Ann Caren, Judy Stewart, Jennifer Engel. Board members absent from photo: Susan Piliero and Fran Kozen.

Because IPEI believes the education of every student in the ICSD is enhanced through community connections and support, the Fine Arts Booster Group exists. Thank you.

Donate instruments to students in Binghamton/Owego Flood Areas

Posted Sun, 10/02/2011 - 11:15pm

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As you may have heard the Southern Tier of New York recently experienced record breaking flooding and has been declared a major disaster area by the governor of NY. The City of Binghamton as well as the small town of Owego, New York was among the hardest hit areas leaving local families and businesses devastated. Even the schools were affected.

The SAVE THE MUSIC campaign seeks to help two elementary school music departments rebuild by collecting donations of playable concert instruments and/or checks to replace hundreds of instruments.

Please check your attic and rescue some long neglected instrument by placing it in the hands of a young music student....(read more)

Art Workshop for Teachers and Community Artists 10/24

Posted Mon, 09/26/2011 - 9:48pm

The Cornell Center for Transformative Action, The Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art and TST BOCES Enrichment Services present an Art Workshop for: Teachers and Community Artists, ART, TRANSFORMATION AND SOCIAL CHANGE: With Lily Yeh, celebrated artist, Monday, October 24, 2011. See brochure. Anyone can attend. Non-teachers apply using ‘other district’ on mylearningplan.

In addition the boosters have funded a presentation by Lily Yeh at IHS on Tuesday, October 25. Art students from across the region are invited to hear Lily talk about her work with young people at Kulp auditorium, 10:30 AM.

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