Cuyahoga Community College's ArtsPrep program provides year-round weekly dance and theater arts classes. The program also offers instrumental classes in orchestral, rock, or jazz music. And beginning in January, children as young as three years old can participate because Suzuki education is coming to ArtsPrep T.O.P. (The Orchestra Program). Suzuki students have started music lessons as young as age two.

John Eby, ArtsPrep Director of Arts Administration, welcomed audience members before the December 17 Fall Open House performance got under way at Tri-C's Metropolitan Campus. Eby quoted the ArtsPrep website saying a key goal of the program is that students "regardless of artistic talent, will be fully prepared to enter the college of their choosing."

The Spring 2012 ArtsPrep session goes from Jan. 17 to May 12 with fees ranging from $125 to $300. For enrollment information, visit tricpresents.com/arts-prep, call 216-987-6145, or email artsprep @tri-c.edu.

Young novice violinists show what they know at the ArtsPrep Fall Open House December 17 in the Tri-C Metro auditorium.

By M. LaVora Perry