ABOUT FOCUS
History
In 1964, through the visionary efforts of Dr. John W. Price, Shirley M. Hartz, and Ruth Esserman, Highland Park High School developed a program aimed at exposing students and the community to high-quality visual and performing arts.
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The goal was to foster an appreciation and understanding of the arts and art professionals by the students and the community of Highland Park. Thanks to the twenty years of leadership by retired coordinator & HPHS visual art teacher, Ann Slavick, Focus has grown to include communication arts and more cutting-edge artists. Focus has created the opportunity for students to work side-by-side with professionals in their field of expertise.
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Focus is a unique collaboration of city, school, students, staff, and community members. It is our hope that discoveries at Focus will ignite a spark that will fuel lifelong journeys in the arts – whether it be as an artist or arts supporter.
Core Values
Focus on the Arts is dedicated to upholding the following core values:
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Community: We believe in the power of collaboration and strive to build bonds between students and artists, community and school, and artists and community.
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Excellence: We strive to present the highest caliber professional artists in all of our programming.
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Integrity: We believe in respectful, equitable treatment of students, artists, and volunteers while valuing the opinions and ideas of all. Transparency is vital in all our endeavors.
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Diversity and Accessibility: We believe that diversity, equity, and inclusion are essential. We value multiculturalism and accessibility for every member of the community.
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Legacy: We strive to honor the legacy of our program while continuing to innovate and grow.
Board Leadership
Focus on the Arts is a 501c3 non-profit organization that is led by the efforts, commitment, and collaboration of our dedicated staff and board.
Executive Director
Tamara Jenkins
Prior to her role as 'Director of Festivals of the Arts' for District 113, Ms. Jenkins produced 29 Equity productions in NYC at The Harbor Lights Theater Company featuring over 100 Broadway credited artists, including Oscar, Emmy, Grammy, TONY, and Obie award winners and nominees.(Founder and Executive Artistic Director). She has enjoyed a successful career as an actor for over 30 years on Broadway/Tours, Off-Broadway, and Regionally. Major credits include: CATS, LES MISERABLES, MY FAIR LADY (with Richard Chamberlain) and CHICAGO. She is a graduate of Deerfield High School and University of Illinois Vocal Performance High Honors. She is the recipient of multiple awards for her non profit work and her activities for peace through culture.
President
Stacey Kolthammer
Stacey Kolthammer, MA Music Education, is an educator, humanitarian, and arts advocate. After training at Case Western Reserve University, she directed public school bands, taught post-secondary music technology, and branched into early childhood music education at The Music Settlement in Cleveland. Her current work at Montessori Connection East & West emphasizes the use of music play to introduce timbres, rhythms, and tonalities from around the world, with a goal of fostering growth in young learners through a language that is universal, regardless of backgrounds and differences. When not musicking around Highland Park with her family, Stacey can be found volunteering in local schools and community service organizations.
Treasurer
Chelsea Duggan
Chelsea has over 20 years of experience in education including music performance, composition, and most recently health and wellness. Post studies at Indiana University and Northwestern University, Chelsea spent time living in Europe and absorbing as much art and culture as possible through her travels and work with Point Blank and the British Academy of New Music. Chelsea has long been a patron of the arts holding board positions with Northshore Concert Band and Fifth House Ensemble. Encouraging her clients to live their best lives, Chelsea works as a personal trainer and wellness confidant while actively competing in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. You can find Chelsea enjoying a cappuccino, being dragged past Ravinia with her two dogs, while laughing with her husband and three boys.
Director
Amy Haggarty
As a firm believer in experiential and arts education and an HPHS alum, Amy is thrilled to support Focus on the Arts and knows first-hand the impact it can have on young minds. Amy's professional endeavors have centered around improving access to learning for organizations and individuals, with a focus on helping nonprofits leverage online tools and resources to further their missions and expand their reach. She has an MA in Learning, Design, and Technology from Stanford University and a BA in Cultural Anthropology from Duke University. She has lived in many parts of the country and is a bit surprised, but extremely grateful, to have happily landed back in her hometown of Highland Park, IL, where she lives with her husband Mark, teenagers Kai and Caleb, and their thanks-to-COVID cat Juno.
Director
Barbara Hinde
Independent art historian, private art collections, Barbara Hinde Art Collection Management.
Community Advisor
Nicholas Degrazia
Nicolas DeGrazia (HPHS class of '97) is Co-Owner/Creative Director of Bitter Jester Studios, an HP-based production company. Nic is a 37-time Emmy® nominated, 7-time Emmy® winning Writer/Producer/Director and a James Beard Award nominee. He is also Founder & Producer of the Bitter Jester Music Festival, the nation's oldest multi-state “battle of the bands' style” competition and concert series for young musicians. The Bitter Jester Foundation for the Arts (which produces BJMF) received the 2024 "Highland Park Arts Award" presented by the City Council. But of all his accolades, Nic is most proud of having a sandwich named after him. "The Nicky D" was hailed as "a cannon ball of meat" and weighed over a pound and a half, fully loaded.