Written by Tanya Terry
The 28th annual Seeing Stars! Benefit takes place Friday, Feb. 7. The event showcases FIM Flint School of Performing Arts (FSPA) students and raises money for its tuition assistance programs. $230,000 given out last year alone! Several local students have gone on to great careers in the fields of study they specialized in at FSPA (music, dance or theatre) after receiving tuition assistance, and there are other positive benefits to being able to participate in arts.
Davin Pierson Torre, vice president for performing arts instruction at FIM recently talked to the Courier more about what attendees to Seeing Stars! can expect.
According to Pierson Torre, when benefit goers arrive around 6 p.m., they will be greeted to a full atrium of food from some of the finest restaurants in the county. These restaurants will all donate food and/or beverages, which attendees will have about an hour and a half to enjoy.
Afterwards, in the MacArthur Recital Hall, guests will enjoy a performance from FSPA music, dance and theatre students.
“It’s kind of a fast-paced collage performance, about 35-40 minutes long – and there are performers of all ages,” shared Pierson Torre.
She said this offers “a lot of variety, from a 6-year-old violinist to actors doing a scene from the 1938 War of the Worlds.
“We have singers, percussionists, we have a marimba (a musical instrument in the percussion family that consists of wooden bars that are struck by mallets) and the performance ends with our signature percussion ensemble,” added Pierson Torre. “It’s called EXCLAMATION! They’ll play something really lively to finish up that concert.”
Attendees will then go back into the atrium for dessert.
“There’s also an opportunity for the young performers to meet the donors, which is a very special thing.”
Students who have attended FSPA have went on to high level training at the college conservatory level, such as at Rice University in Texas, which has one of the top music programs.
The first Seeing Stars recipient, Dionne Simpson Bonds, is currently an opera singer in Nashville, TN. Another former student and assistance recipient is a professional dancer with Pacific Northwest ballet.
Potential students or families can apply for tuition assistance at FSPA using a very simple application process. They can be awarded between 20-90% aid.
“Over 60% of the students at FSPA receive needs-based tuition assistance.”
Because of generous donors and sponsors, monies raised go directly to students.
“Families with children have to make choices every day and prioritize what they’re able to do for their children. Sometimes music, dance and theatre instruction, though it’s essential and extremely valuable for kids to have that opportunity to excel and express themselves and be creative and be in a community space like FSPA where that’s where their people are and it’s OK to make mistakes and OK to excel. All the students there are there because they want to be there to be artists or musicians or dancers. But sometimes parents have to prioritize, and sometimes that instruction has to go further down the list after things like shelter, food and clothing and all the other expenses that happen.”
Pierson Torre pointed out sometimes priorities change because a loved one is ill, or a parent has been laid off from work.
“Because of Seeing Stars, those kids don’t have to stop. They can continue with their art study.”
FSPA is made up of 15% preschool, 15% adults and seniors and 70% school aged kids. Tuition assistance is available for students of all ages and skills levels.
Pierson Torre said some families have had up to eight students receive assistance to be artistic.
She said whether students end up in careers that are arts related or not, having arts experiences is important.
For details on the fundraiser or advance tickets, call 810-237-3131, or visit https://thefim.org/event/seeingstarsbenefit/