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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Advertisement Email Story to a Friend March 20, 2006 South Medford High School senior Emily Marshall laughs as she forgets the words to a song she was singing to classmates Jamie Smith and Grant Nelson. Emily has organized a student concert for her senior project in part to raise money for the music progra Mail Tribune / Jim Craven South senior organizes a concert to raise funds and support for music By PARIS ACHEN Mail Tribune Emily Marshall sits at a piano in the choir room at South Medford High School and softly sings a song she wrote about a girl longing for love. Her voice rises sweetly as she sways slightly to the music. Her friends, junior Jamie Smith and senior Grant Nelson, give her applause, but this performance is just for practice. Tuesday is the big debut. "I Believe In Love" is one of four songs Emily will perform in a concert Tuesday she organized for her senior project. Advertisement "We want to show people how music has affected us in a positive way," Emily said. The concert will showcase about a dozen student musicians, many of whom gained interest and knowledge in music in the public school system. They include Jamie and Grant. Called "Artists in the Shadows," the event is meant to raise money for the high school’s music program and illustrate the benefits of such programs, Emily said. Most of the concert songs are original works by students, their genres including Christian contemporary, hard rock, country, jazz and rap. Music programs have been dramatically cut at Medford elementary schools, where band, choir and orchestra are now held only after classes. "I’m really passionate about music, and I’m upset about the elementary music programs being cut," Emily said. "Elementary school, that’s when my passion for music started developing." High school students in the district have to pay a $50 fee to participate in arts activities, such as choir and drama, and $100 to participate in sports. "That gets really expensive," Emily said. "I know kids who are not in choir because they don’t have the money to pay for it." Emily plans to major in music and education at Southern Oregon University and wants to be a teacher, possibly a music teacher. She is concerned Medford schools’ music programs might continue to ebb away, and by the time she graduates, the district won’t have any positions for music teachers. "I love Medford, and I want to stay around," she said. If you go What: "Artists in the Shadows," an original composition concert by 16 students. When: 7 p.m. Tuesday. Where: South Medford High School auditorium, 815 S. Oakdale Ave. Cost: $3 for students; $5 for adults. Reach reporter Paris Achen at 776-4459 or e-mail South senior organizes a concert to raise funds and support for music ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Discount Hotel Reservations online casinos news Ashley Furniture HomeStore Send Flowers Southern Oregon Loans California Casinos GMAT Prep Windermere Van Vleet Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Online Casino Fundraisers Sudoku Online Casinos Canada Online Pharmacy Advertisement s