To the editor:

Now that our annual Youth in Arts Week is over I want to thank the many people who helped out.

The staff at the Whidbey Island Academy, Sharla and Vivian and Ashley McConnaughey plus student Geoffrey Wilson who designed the poster, and my dear husband Leonard who helped with the student photography exhibit at WICA.

Thanks to my longtime friend Diane Fraser who took the leadership and organized the Monday night Showcase of student talent. She had help from her daughter Heather Dubendorf and her granddaughter Isla, who made the picture which was on the program.

Thanks to marimba instructor Dana Moffett for her loan of instruments and support of her students. Thanks to Jessica Foley who put together everything for the Tuesday night performance, which included both middle school and high school students, and thanks to Kat Fritz who did everything for the Wednesday Strings night.

Thanks to the musicians from the Whidbey Island Community Orchestra who played with the students and the adult students who also helped. Thanks to Quinn Fitzpatrick for coaching the guitar students from Bayview School, and the other music teachers, like Kathy Fox, who encouraged her students to perform.

Thanks to Patricia Duff for her excellent article in The South Whidbey Record, and to Kris Rodden for her fantastic job of organizing the visual arts display, including the reception for the artists.

She had help from some Waldorf parents, plus Linda Racicot showed work of middle school students at the Langley Post Office. Thanks to Kris McRea and Susan Milan who supported the display of Primary School student art at WICA and Mary McLeod who set up Intermediate School art at the post office. Their art will be on display through the month of May.

And parents, a huge thanks to you for all you did to support student art, ushering at WICA, helping with flowers for soloists, helping with the fundraising raffle on Wednesday night, and, of course, your support for music lessons, art classes and chauffeuring your students to all their activities!

Merci beaucoup to Josette Hendrix of the Northwest Language Academy for her support, and to Gyoko Weeks for the Japanese students who participated. We were also delighted with the Russian songs by Heather’s class. Gracias to the WICA staff for their gracious support, and to house managers Linda O’Brochta and Karen McInerny.

Those who were in attendance Wednesday night witnessed a serendipity event. David Ossman stepped up and awarded a scholarship to the well-qualified student who had applied for the Island Arts Council Scholarship, and was not one of the three chosen by the judges. This is the first scholarship awarded in the memory of Devin Ossman.

Thanks also to the sponsors who donated generously, especially Frank Rose, Ric Prael and Fred Lundahl of the Island Arts Council. Thanks to Ahren Bader who gave of his time to manage sound and lights, and even performed on Monday night!

And finally, kudos to the hard working teachers in the district who work with students in music, drama and visual arts all year long.

Let us all keep up support for the arts!

Linda Good

Langley