Program gives Catholic youngsters chance to explore music

Published: 2006-07-27

EAST CHICAGO, Ind. (CNS) -- At a time when schools are balancing academic standards with tighter budgets, worrying about fine arts is usually low on the priority list. For the children of St. Patrick Parish in East Chicago, one program offers them an opportunity to step into a different experience and explore avenues of bringing beauty into their world. It is called Viva PATS, which stands for Performing Arts Theatre School. In its third year, the program currently focuses on lessons for band instruments -- drums, trumpet, trombone, clarinet, saxophone, flute and xylophone. It also offers guitar lessons. "We hope to eventually have the resources to expand the program into different areas such as dance, theater, choir and art," said the program's director, Sylvia Lopez. She said the after-school program runs throughout the school year but is also offered to children in the community for six weeks during the summer. It is a joint venture with the Merit School of Music in Chicago.

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