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ENOCH — In an effort to raise money for her students to have instruments, a teacher has turned to unconventional artwork.
Rebekah Hughes has been the music director for Gateway Preparatory Academy since it opened in 2009. She teaches orchestra, choir and general music. Hughes said she loves teaching at the charter school, but she began to notice a troubling trend — many of the students didn't have the needed funds to buy or rent instruments.
"Money is always an issue and instruments cost so much money, just for the school even to purchase," Hughes said. "It's an issue for the students and parents that they can't rent them, and they do want to do music, but they just can't afford to. I don't want it to be an issue."
Hughes said the school purchased two double basses in 2013 and they cost $3,000 each. Now, she said the students need more saxophones, cellos, violins and violas. She decided to implement a fundraiser that she created in 2013, the "artful orchestra."
"I had all these broken instruments on my desk at the end of the school year, and I just couldn't throw them away so I thought, 'What if we turn them into art?’ ” Hughes said. "And the instruments will then provide money to buy more instruments."
For the fundraiser in 2013, Hughes petitioned local artists to paint the instruments. But this year, Hughes said she wanted to open the fundraiser and participation to everyone. She began emailing and calling artists she found on Instagram and various sites online.
Hughes rounded up artists from as far away as Sweden to donate their talents for the fundraiser. Sixteen instruments were shipped, painted and are now waiting to be auctioned on Tuesday, April 15.
Most of the painted instruments were violins, but the artwork also included a bugle, clarinet and the scroll of a violin that was painted into a snail. Hughes said most of the instrument artwork took the artists three to five months to complete.
"I wanted (the work) to be quality and not just something that just anyone can do," Hughes said.
The "Artful Orchestra" auction will be held online and will run from April 15 to May 1. A concert for the Gateway Preparatory Academy students will be held Wednesday, April 23, from 6-7 p.m. The painted instruments will be on exhibit in the foyer.
A concert for the general public will be Thursday, April 17, from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. showcasing the Orchestra of Southern Utah. It will be held at the Heritage Theater in Cedar City. The painted instruments will be on display in the foyer.
Individuals can also donate money or instruments to go toward the fundraiser. They can donate online or contact rebekahhughes@gpacharter.org to donate an instrument.
Video Contributor: Alex Cabrero
