Seeking musicians of all kinds

New Hope Fellowship is poised to open a performing arts center (PAC) in January inside their church, and they’re on the lookout for teachers to give a variety of music lessons for all ages and faiths.

“We’re obviously a church, but we’re not requiring our teachers to have the same faith as us,” said Katie Larson, the PAC administrator and worship leader on the church side of things.

According to a written statement from the church, “The teachers would not be required to affirm the church’s statement of faith in their personal lives; however, they would be required to maintain the statement of faith and discussions with the students.

“Our purpose is to help teach students to serve others instead of glorifying the self,” it says.

For example, a recently hired voice teacher does not share the same faith as the church, Larson said.

The church’s pastor, Travis Becknell, used to be a traveling musician before becoming a pastor and had experience starting a PAC in Onalaska before the congregation moved to Sparta about two years ago. Increasing the size of their building here inspired Becknell to expand into the performing arts center idea, he said.

Instead of traditional recitals, there will be open mic nights on the first Wednesday of the month.

“It would be more of a community get-together to showcase all these kids’ and adults’ talents,” said Larson.

So far, they have a piano and voice teacher, and Becknell will conduct guitar lessons until another teacher steps forward. But they’re looking for all types of music and even visual art and dance teachers.

“I had somebody reach out who asked if we could do trombone lessons,” said Larson, and another woman who thought about teaching jujitsu, a style of martial arts.

There are five rooms available for lessons in what used to be a chiropractor’s office, according to Becknell.

Half-hour private lessons and half-hour group lessons will be available, and gift certificates for lessons are available now at the church at 211 N. Black River St., Sparta.

Teachers will enjoy flexibility in scheduling, and depending on the number of students, they could work four to 15 hours a week.

Becknell worked with a performing arts center just outside of Nashville, Tennessee, and “It was a great way of bringing a community together, all ages together.”

With the church’s proximity to the high school, Becknell said, it seemed like a “no-brainer.”

“So once we acquired the classroom area in August, we started putting in the plans to utilize them for a performing arts center,” Becknell said.

He was inspired also by a group of musicians in Syracuse, New York, that attended each other’s performances and supported each other.

“So that’s our whole goal here, is between the performing arts center, the open mics and when we start pulling the Monroe County musicians together, it’ll be more of a community that supports each other,” Becknell said.

The idea is not only to bring in students but it’s steeped in a bigger mission.

“The overall wholistic idea is to … cultivate a musician community here,” he said.

If you’re interested in lessons or becoming an instructor, email PAC@newhopecouleeregion.org.