Creating the opportunity to develop a love of music and the fine arts that will last a lifetime
How We Started
The Des Moines Festival of Music and Fine Arts is a 501 ( c ) 3 non-profit organization born out of a need faced by private music teachers in the challenge of post-COVID/2020. Private music studios often use their own resources to fund special events and recitals, and before 2020, places like nursing homes and churches were open for our use. Many of these venues have closed their doors to recitals since 2020, or renting large enough facilities has become prohibitively expensive.
With the clear understanding that this gift was multifaceted, Amy Jo Wrobel, founder of the Des Moines Festival of Music and Fine Arts, donated a Young Chang grand piano to the Franklin Events Center in 2022 to overcome the dilemma of finding a venue for recitals and concerts again. To share the gift of music with the community, the piano was to provide a venue for multiple piano/music recitals throughout the year at no cost to small private studios. In addition, the piano has been provided to enhance the music of the multiple musical entities that practice or perform there. Normally, renting a piano is quite expensive for organizations, but now it is a permanent part of the auditorium that can be used in any musical capacity. Furthermore, several displaced people groups gather at the Franklin Events Center for church services and activities; before this donation, they had no access to a musical instrument. Finally, we can teach "the teachers" of these people groups how to teach piano/music/fine arts
without a language barrier.
With this donation, the Des Moines Festival of Music and Fine Arts can impact our community with the gift of music. Nevertheless, due to the relationships that had been formed, several local colleges offered musical scholarships to students based on an essay rather than a level of talent. We realize that since 2020, many families have struggled financially, and the fine arts are the first extra-curricular secondary education to be cut. To encourage private music teachers, the DMFMFA offers a scholarship to help enhance their studio and student scholarships who desire to continue their music careers.
How We Started
The Des Moines Festival of Music and Fine Arts is a 501 ( c ) 3 non-profit organization born out of a need faced by private music teachers in the challenge of post-COVID/2020. Private music studios often use their own resources to fund special events and recitals, and before 2020, places like nursing homes and churches were open for our use. Many of these venues have closed their doors to recitals since 2020, or renting large enough facilities has become prohibitively expensive.
With the clear understanding that this gift was multifaceted, Amy Jo Wrobel, founder of the Des Moines Festival of Music and Fine Arts, donated a Young Chang grand piano to the Franklin Events Center in 2022 to overcome the dilemma of finding a venue for recitals and concerts again. To share the gift of music with the community, the piano was to provide a venue for multiple piano/music recitals throughout the year at no cost to small private studios. In addition, the piano has been provided to enhance the music of the multiple musical entities that practice or perform there. Normally, renting a piano is quite expensive for organizations, but now it is a permanent part of the auditorium that can be used in any musical capacity. Furthermore, several displaced people groups gather at the Franklin Events Center for church services and activities; before this donation, they had no access to a musical instrument. Finally, we can teach "the teachers" of these people groups how to teach piano/music/fine arts
without a language barrier.
With this donation, the Des Moines Festival of Music and Fine Arts can impact our community with the gift of music. Nevertheless, due to the relationships that had been formed, several local colleges offered musical scholarships to students based on an essay rather than a level of talent. We realize that since 2020, many families have struggled financially, and the fine arts are the first extra-curricular secondary education to be cut. To encourage private music teachers, the DMFMFA offers a scholarship to help enhance their studio and student scholarships who desire to continue their music careers.
OUR Mission
Our mission is to help students develop a passion for music and the arts that will last a lifetime.
We strive to Achieve this through providing:
- performance opportunities
- supplies, materials, and instruments
- scholarships for lessons and master classes
- scholarships to attend summer camps or retreats
Students are given the wings to grow into a better version of themselves through authentic creativity and concentrated passion, expressing themselves freely with their feelings and emotions through expression of the Fine Arts.
THEIR Future
Fine arts education includes many different types of art, including, but not limited to: dance, drama, painting, pottery, music, jewelry, photography and so much more.
The Fine Arts matter because they help students understand how we matter as individuals and enable them to positively contribute to society.
- Engage with school and reduce stress.
- Develop social-emotional and interpersonal skills.
- Enrich their experiences.
- Handle constructive criticism.
- Bolster academic achievement.
- Improve focus.
YOUR Contributions
Funding to the DMFMFA is used for Festival operations including:
- private lessons
- continuing education courses through summer camps or retreats
- enhancing opportunities such as master classes
- providing concert opportunities
- operating expenses
- maintaining and upgrading instruments
- securing professional musicions for future events
OUR Mission
Our mission is to help students develop a passion for music and the arts that will last a lifetime.
We strive to Achieve this through providing:
- performance opportunities
- supplies, materials, and instruments
- scholarships for lessons and master classes
- scholarships to attend summer camps or retreats
Students are given the wings to grow into a better version of themselves through authentic creativity and concentrated passion, expressing themselves freely with their feelings and emotions through expression of the Fine Arts.
THEIR Future
Fine arts education includes many different types of art, including, but not limited to: dance, drama, painting, pottery, music, jewelry, photography and so much more.
The Fine Arts matter because they help students understand how we matter as individuals and enable them to positively contribute to society.
- Engage with school and reduce stress.
- Develop social-emotional and interpersonal skills.
- Enrich their experiences.
- Handle constructive criticism.
- Bolster academic achievement.
- Improve focus.
YOUR Contributions
Funding to the DMFMFA is used for Festival operations including:
- private lessons
- continuing education courses through summer camps or retreats
- enhancing opportunities such as master classes
- providing concert opportunities
- operating expenses
- maintaining and upgrading instruments
- securing professional musicions for future events
