Apple Tree Arts Home




	History of Organization
		The Apple Tree began in 1989 as two early childhood music classes for parents and toddlers taught by Donna Blanchard, at the Evangelical Congregational Church. The roots of our program are based on the belief that music and the arts enhance and expand the human experience. Subsequently, we were driven by research stating the importance of a rich repertoire of musical experiences in early childhood in order for each child to achieve his/her innate musical potential. The passion for the research directed us to choose early childhood music as the primary focus of the Apple Tree. We felt a strong mission to reach children at this critical stage in their development. Through the support of friends and colleagues, The Apple Tree defined and expanded its vision in 1993. "Our primary focus is arts education. We envision this school as a place where children are free to learn, to think, to move, to explore, to make mistakes and to be inspired. Our vision is to be a center for early childhood education in the arts. This vision further expands to include a partnership with or enhancement of the public school system. We seek to be a tireless advocate of the arts in education, to enable children to reach their full human potential. In addition, we hope to be a community resource, to afford all ages opportunities to participate in the arts, from early childhood through senior citizens. The Apple Tree will be fun, accessible, educationally enlightening, relaxing, motivating, inspiring, and full of life." In 1997, through the efforts of a newly expanding board, under the direction of Gail Elmore, Kathy Vandenengel, Jan Barlow and Donna, The Apple Tree became legally incorporated, including Articles of Organization and By-Laws, formal policies and procedures, establishing bookkeeping procedures and business cards. In 1998 we became a non-profit organization. In these years our faculty grew to include private instrumental and voice instruction. In addition to early childhood, our programming offered student instrumental brown bag concerts, summer programs and faculty concerts, as well as a community concert series. This same year, under the direction of Jan Barlow, we became involved with Community Partnership for Children, Circle of Friends, offering music as the enrichment component in service to the local network of area preschools and daycares; and have serviced this grant yearly ever since. Through Jan's dedication and leadership and the training of additional faculty, our outreach program has grown to bring quality music education to over 3500 children annually. Currently, Apple Tree Arts is a vibrant, committed, non-profit, community arts organization. With the coming of each new year, we see our program growing in the field of early childhood music, helping many children all over the Blackstone and Assabet Valleys grow to reach their musical potential. We bring many parents and children together through musical experiences. Our organization continues to add to the vitality of our community by offering music lessons, art programs, writing programs, recitals, and family concerts. Our seven member board is comprised of educated, community- minded professionals who have brought us to new levels of advertising, grant-writing, budgeting, and strategic planning. We are energetic about future possibilities for our mission in bringing the arts to our surrounding communities.

MISSION & VISION

HISTORY OF ORGANIZATION