brian@urbanfusiononline
03-15-2008, 09:23 AM
My name is Brian Martins, a long time supporter,
instructor, and participant in the performing arts. I
am also a Director with Urban Fusion, an independent
winter percussion ensemble, and Encore, an independent
winter guard program. Both programs work diligently
to provide a great opportunity for our area's youth
and to assist them with preparing for a successful
life through the performing arts. Recently I have had
numerous emails and phone calls from the staff and
members of the Durfee High School Winter Guard and
Winter Percussion Ensemble, led by the Durfee High
School Band Director, Matt MacMullen. All these
letters of concern are about the lack of courtesy
and/or respect the members, staff, and parents are
getting from Mr. MacMullen and Director of Performing
Arts, Elizabeth Yokell. These concerns include
leaving the school performing arts completely because
Mr. MacMullen and Mrs. Yokell are not allowing the
members to compete a complete season with their
respective competition circuit, meaning they are not
going to be given the opportunity to finish what they
started. They would have worked for weeks and even
months to prepare for the competition season and yet
not be given the chance to compete in championships,
take a group photo for memories, or being recorded on
a dvd. This is the equivalent to the New England
Patriots going 18-0 and declaring they need not go to
the Superbowl, or the Red Sox stopping before game 4
of the World Series. These competition circuits have
a series of competitions leading to championship
finals to allow the kids to work hard at perfecting
their competitive shows/pieces over time and to work
as a team to strive for the utmost in perfection. It
allows the children to learn extremely fundamental
processes in life that they can not learn in a
classroom, or at home. It prepares them by teaching
them dedication to oneself, to a community,
commitment, desire to be the best, to work hard.
Unfortunately, these kids are not going to be allowed
to attend championships because Mr. Mac Mullen had
scheduled a trip on the same weekend. Let, me rephrase
that, the winter percussion ensemble can not
participate in championships because of this planned
trip, the winter guard can not because the winter
percussion can not go and they have "to go together".
But the championships are separate, winter percussion
on Saturday (4/5/2008) at Dartmouth High School and
winter guard championships are on Sunday(4/6/2008) at
Salem High School. To cut all this short, besides the
discouragement of the youth and demoralizing of the
youth's hopes to complete a season, this has become a
waste of tax-payer's DOLLARS!!
Both Encore Winter Guard and Urban Fusion winter
percussion ensembles are independent programs that
many of these youth would love to participate in to be
given a better educational experience and to compete
in championships, including international
championships. They are independent, meaning our
membership is open and we raise our own funds. To
have a demoralized group of youth in your schools and
to waste anywhere between $10,000 -$40,000 of
tax-payers dollars to hold a program like this is
unbelievable. I am outraged!! Why can not these
funds be used to purchase needed instruments to
continue a music education program in the schools or
to use these waisted funds for more walking police
officers, a better drug busting service, or to remove
the prostitutes from Rodman Street? If there exists a
chance to allow these youth a better opportunity with
an independent organization with endorsements from
some of the world's best musical companies (Vic Firth,
Sabian, Dynasty, to name a few) and to have schools
systems use the funds saved to better their computers,
add one more teacher, or add protection to the
streets, why not? Also, because of the availability,
Encore has offered to allow the kids of the winter
guard full services for them to compete in
championships. But, Mr. MacMullen has already
treatened the members and staff and told them they are
not to go.
Parents, friends, members, and staff members of the
program have started a petition to dismiss the Durfee
High School Winter Guard and Winter Percussion
Programs to allow these kids a better chance and to
allow the school system/city to better use the funds.
Signed by over 140 people in just 4 days time, this
petition is rising in numbers fast for corrective
action to be taken for the benefit of the children
from our poor leaders of Mr. MacMullen and Mrs.
Yokell. This petition also indicates that instead of
any more disputes like this, to allow Encore and Urban
Fusion to work with the city, rather than against
because of Mrs. Yokell and Mr. MacMullen blockade, to
provide this great opportunity for our youth and our
future.
Can you please help? Help our youth better prepare
for a better tomorrow.
instructor, and participant in the performing arts. I
am also a Director with Urban Fusion, an independent
winter percussion ensemble, and Encore, an independent
winter guard program. Both programs work diligently
to provide a great opportunity for our area's youth
and to assist them with preparing for a successful
life through the performing arts. Recently I have had
numerous emails and phone calls from the staff and
members of the Durfee High School Winter Guard and
Winter Percussion Ensemble, led by the Durfee High
School Band Director, Matt MacMullen. All these
letters of concern are about the lack of courtesy
and/or respect the members, staff, and parents are
getting from Mr. MacMullen and Director of Performing
Arts, Elizabeth Yokell. These concerns include
leaving the school performing arts completely because
Mr. MacMullen and Mrs. Yokell are not allowing the
members to compete a complete season with their
respective competition circuit, meaning they are not
going to be given the opportunity to finish what they
started. They would have worked for weeks and even
months to prepare for the competition season and yet
not be given the chance to compete in championships,
take a group photo for memories, or being recorded on
a dvd. This is the equivalent to the New England
Patriots going 18-0 and declaring they need not go to
the Superbowl, or the Red Sox stopping before game 4
of the World Series. These competition circuits have
a series of competitions leading to championship
finals to allow the kids to work hard at perfecting
their competitive shows/pieces over time and to work
as a team to strive for the utmost in perfection. It
allows the children to learn extremely fundamental
processes in life that they can not learn in a
classroom, or at home. It prepares them by teaching
them dedication to oneself, to a community,
commitment, desire to be the best, to work hard.
Unfortunately, these kids are not going to be allowed
to attend championships because Mr. Mac Mullen had
scheduled a trip on the same weekend. Let, me rephrase
that, the winter percussion ensemble can not
participate in championships because of this planned
trip, the winter guard can not because the winter
percussion can not go and they have "to go together".
But the championships are separate, winter percussion
on Saturday (4/5/2008) at Dartmouth High School and
winter guard championships are on Sunday(4/6/2008) at
Salem High School. To cut all this short, besides the
discouragement of the youth and demoralizing of the
youth's hopes to complete a season, this has become a
waste of tax-payer's DOLLARS!!
Both Encore Winter Guard and Urban Fusion winter
percussion ensembles are independent programs that
many of these youth would love to participate in to be
given a better educational experience and to compete
in championships, including international
championships. They are independent, meaning our
membership is open and we raise our own funds. To
have a demoralized group of youth in your schools and
to waste anywhere between $10,000 -$40,000 of
tax-payers dollars to hold a program like this is
unbelievable. I am outraged!! Why can not these
funds be used to purchase needed instruments to
continue a music education program in the schools or
to use these waisted funds for more walking police
officers, a better drug busting service, or to remove
the prostitutes from Rodman Street? If there exists a
chance to allow these youth a better opportunity with
an independent organization with endorsements from
some of the world's best musical companies (Vic Firth,
Sabian, Dynasty, to name a few) and to have schools
systems use the funds saved to better their computers,
add one more teacher, or add protection to the
streets, why not? Also, because of the availability,
Encore has offered to allow the kids of the winter
guard full services for them to compete in
championships. But, Mr. MacMullen has already
treatened the members and staff and told them they are
not to go.
Parents, friends, members, and staff members of the
program have started a petition to dismiss the Durfee
High School Winter Guard and Winter Percussion
Programs to allow these kids a better chance and to
allow the school system/city to better use the funds.
Signed by over 140 people in just 4 days time, this
petition is rising in numbers fast for corrective
action to be taken for the benefit of the children
from our poor leaders of Mr. MacMullen and Mrs.
Yokell. This petition also indicates that instead of
any more disputes like this, to allow Encore and Urban
Fusion to work with the city, rather than against
because of Mrs. Yokell and Mr. MacMullen blockade, to
provide this great opportunity for our youth and our
future.
Can you please help? Help our youth better prepare
for a better tomorrow.