The 2008-2009 marks the first year of ESP Partnership between the Arts in Education Institute of WNY and Pinehurst Elementary School. The Institute and Pinehurst will work together to develop a comphrehensive plan for whole-school arts learning for grades K-5, focusing upon diversity and cultural awareness in the classroom.

Pinehurst has selected the following music offering as its ESP arts learning experience this year:

• William Cepeda: Afro-Rican Jazz 

Trombonist William Cepeda hails from Puerto Rico, and has developed his own unique style of jazz music, fusing musical styles from Africa, Puerto Rico, and the United States. Cepeda, and his band of five musicians from Buffalo, NY, will present a program to students highlighting how music has played an integral part in the history of each country, as well as how music can create cultural connections.

Achievements:

-Successful whole-school arts implementation in year 1 of ESP project, designing a school-wide unit of study around the music of William Cepeda and studies of Puerto Rico and other cultures.  

 -Awareness and appreciation by the teachers of how the arts can create a positve impact in other areas of their curriculum.

-The students expanded their understanding and awareness of other cultures through lessons with the teaching artist and classroom teachers.

-Hosted an evening public event of Puerto Rican Culture and performance by William Cepeda. Families experienced a "Taste of Puerto Rico," sampling food from the country, as well as viewing a display for student work from each grade level at Pinehurst. William Cepeda and his band "jammed" with the students in the Pinehurst Jazz Band and gave a lively performance to more than 250 people in attendance that evening!