We have through our tax dollars

provided our youth with some of the finest athletic facilities in the

state, and my children have certainly been beneficiaries of our generosity.

However, there continues to grow a sizeable number of our youth who are

seriously pursuing their love of the arts.

Dance, musical theater, drama,

instrumental music performance and the visual arts provide many of our

youth with the outlets they need to reach their full potential and to

give them an avenue for their artistic expression. We have students in

this city who participate in the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra, the

Spivey Hall Children's Chorus, the Music Teachers National Association

spring and fall auditions, All-State Band, Chorus and Orchestra, Governor's

Honors Program in Music and Art, and so on.

This group is far less vocal

than the athletic segment of the population but no less deserving of state

of the art facilities and affirmation of their accomplishments.

In these past 10 years I have

watched several groups, including Off-Shoot Productions, Fayette Youth

Chorale, Fayette Community Theater, The Georgia Youth Ballet, struggle

to find venues not only for rehearsals but for performance as well. Numerous

individual music teachers throughout town annually struggle to find performance

space for their student recitals.

Our churches, which used to

provide such space, are taxed to the limit with their own activities and

are no longer an option.

The Braelinn Baptist Church

has a small auditorium with a stage and theatrical lighting which could

be used as an intimate venue for concerts or small dramatic productions.

The 27 classrooms at Braelinn Baptist Church can be used for music, drama,

dance and art classes, providing much-needed space for some of the organizations

already mentioned as well as the martial arts, arts and crafts, gardening

and cooking classes as suggested by Randy Gaddo of Leisure Services.

Furthermore, individual teachers

or groups could rent specific facilities, such as the auditorium, for

a nominal fee, helping to cover the operating costs. Parking is ample.

The proposed civic auditorium

will provide the additional performance space desperately needed for full-scale

theatrical and ballet productions. With the additional purchase of a good

quality grand piano to have on site on a permanent basis for rehearsals

and performances, Braelinn Fine Arts Center could become a centerpiece

for the arts community of Peachtree City and Fayette County.

Pamela Martin, artistic director,

Cirrus, and private certified teacher of piano

Kay Fry, Lorra Cotton and

Jeanne Blood, directors of Fayette Fiddlers and Fortissimo

Susan Steadman, Ph.D., artistic

director, Off-Shoot Productions

Millie Tureck, director,

Fayette Youth Chorale and choral director, Sandy Creek High School

Emily Webb, director, Blue

Ridge Suzuki Flute Program

Joan Velsmid, director,

Fayette Community Theater

Magdalena Maury, director,

Georgia Youth Ballet and The Studio

Robert Wiemann, 2001-2002

president of the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra Parents Association,

initiator of the Fayette County public school string program and parent

of four artistically talented youth

Cheryl and Karl Dietmeyer,

parents of two artistically talented youth

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