MONROE — The Monroe Arts Center has announced three new performance arts educational offerings for its 52nd season. With the return of The Everly Set to MAC’s stage on Sept. 11 comes a unique opportunity for area choral high school students.
“We are grateful to the Monroe Fund’s Ray and Betty L. Stamm Charitable Fund; the Etter Legacy Fund; the Sandra L. Heimann Fund; the Monroe Kiwanis Club; and, United Way of Green County for providing the funding to make these arts educational experiences possible,” said Executive Director Marie Perry.
Much planning has gone into expanding youth arts programs at MAC and there will be three distinct professional performance classes offered during MAC’s 52nd season. The first being a master class offered by Sean Altman and Jack Skuller of The Everly Set as they return to MAC’s historic Gunderson Stiles Concert Hall to showcase music by the Everly Brothers. On Sept. 11, this talented duo will host a performance class for 25 area choral high school students. Later that evening, these music students will grace MAC’s stage to perform “Chains” with The Everly Set. Students will be working ahead of time to learn the material from mp3s and lyrics provided by Sean and Jack along with musical direction from Cindy Blanc.
Blanc will again collaborate with Monroe Arts Center staff, local young singers, and visiting artists. She is grateful for MAC for providing quality music learning and performance opportunities for area youth. Blanc holds degrees in music education and performance and is so lucky to make her living doing both. She previously spent significant time in regional orchestra pits, including as music director at Timber Lake Playhouse, The Armory, and Skylight Music Theatre, but has recently shifted her freelance music work to mostly local venues. Currently, Blanc is a freelance accompanist, church musician, and private music instructor so her ability to lend her talent to performance master classes at MAC this season is most appreciated.
“Expanding our youth class offerings to provide experiences to learn from professional performance artists is vital for youth who have a passion for the arts and wish to expand their knowledge and experience,” Perry said. “I approached Sean and Jack after their sold-out show during our 50th anniversary year and have worked to create this type of educational arts offering. With funding for arts education shrinking in our public schools, now is the time to think outside-the-box to make things happen for area youth and MAC provides the perfect setting to do so. With the help of grants and donors, we learned we could do it last year when we brought 268 Monroe Middle School Music students into our space to learn from musician and composer Barron Ryan. We are expanding on this type of programming during our 2026-2027 season.”
MAC will also be providing performance master classes for area elementary students and middle school students through professional performers – Ball in the House (Dec. 12) and Native American Storyteller Leland Faulkner (March 2027). For more information, contact the Monroe Arts Center at info@monroeartscenter.
