Mackenzie Wolcott is a typical nine year-old, but with the volume turned up! Ticket holders for this year’s summer concert, Upon A Star: The Music of Disney, will have the pleasure of hearing her sing. But even more exciting is that Mackenzie’s Muse experience won’t end when the curtain falls for the final time in August. A fourth grade student, Mackenzie loves everything about the Muse Machine. And she’s a great person to judge because once school begins she will have another Muse life entirely!

Mackenzie is one of 70,000 students throughout the Miami Valley who are impacted by the Muse Machine’s school programs. While the Muse Machine is best known for its summer concert and annual student musical, it’s the Elementary and Secondary Programs that do a phenomenal job of providing integrated arts experiences that are meaningful and affordable and have a lasting impact on students’ achievement.  

At Smith Elementary School, Mackenzie will be one of 250 students who participate in the Muse Machine’s Dayton Power and Light Company Foundation Elementary Program. The Elementary Program is a partnership between teachers and a resident artist that uses the arts to enhance classroom instruction in content areas like math, science and social studies. Two years ago, visual artist Michael Bashaw worked with Mackenzie’s classroom as part of a social studies unit on communities. Last year, Michael Kenwood Lippert was the Muse Machine artist-in-residence at Mackenzie’s school and under his direction students wrote and performed an original play about micro- and macro-economics.  Says Missy Wolcott, Mackenzie’s mother, “I can guarantee you that when Mackenzie’s class graduates almost a decade from now, the Muse Machine program will be one of the experiences students remember most.”

“It’s true,” laughs Mackenzie.  “Last year, my class got to write the scenes about ‘wants and needs’. I got to say ‘Harley Davidson’ and Lily got to say ‘a new BlackBerry’. Those are both wants.” When asked to define a need, Mackenzie was quick to say, “food, water, air and shelter”….and Muse Machine, of course! 

Come see for yourself how vital the Muse Machine is for students throughout the Miami Valley. Every ticket you purchase for Upon A Star: The Music of Disney supports our school programs, too. Treat yourself to a perfect August evening and make it possible for students like Mackenzie to experience Muse Machine all year long. This is something you NEED to do!