The public is invited to a free awards ceremony and concert on Sunday, March 3rd at 3pm in Rosemary Beach’s Town Hall.

As part of Rosemary Beach Foundation’s 2nd Annual Music in Pictures, approximately 1,300 students from 14 Walton County schools listened to and visually interpreted musical selections from Carnival of the Animals by French composer Camille Saint-Saens. The grand prize winners will be recognized at the March 3rd ceremony followed by a concert with international award winner and assistant violin professor at Florida State University, Benjamin Sung, along with principal cello of the Tallahassee Symphony, Gregory Sauer.

The musical program will feature selections from different eras and different cultures.

“Arts education gives students a tangible way to experience the purpose of all learning,” said Sauer. “Not simply to receive and store information and skills, but to be enabled to synthesize those gifts in a new and creative way that continues the process of cultural growth.”

Educators received their teacher’s manuals and musical CDs in September 2012. The students studied the composer, Camille Saint-Saens, and his musical style then listened to 6 selections from Carnival of the Animals. Students were asked to interpret one or more of the selections in a piece of artwork. This adventure produced many creative interpretations of: The Royal March of the Lion, The Aviary, The Aquarium, The Kangaroo, The Elephant and The Swan.

The art was submitted to Rosemary Beach Foundation in January 2013, and a panel of judges selected 12 grand prize winners based upon the interpretation of the music:

— Mate Thomas, Van R. Butler Elementary, Pre K – K

— Jala Thorne, Maude Saunders Elementary, 1st Grade

— Lissette Robles, Van R. Butler Elementary, 2nd Grade

— Aiden Tidwell, West Defuniak Elementary, 3rd Grade

— Maria Flores, West Defuniak Elementary, 4th Grade

— Connor Price, Maude Saunders Elementary, 5th Grade

— Elizabeth Pippin, Paxton School, 6th Grade

— Cristian Ciuche, Emerald Coast Middle, 7th Grade

— Wylie Martin, Seaside Neighborhood School, 8th – 9th Grades

— Joanna LaQuerre, TESLA, 10th – 12th Grades

— Malyia Dorsey, Walton Middle School, Masterpiece Award (All Grades)

— Justus Castillo, Paxton School, Chairman’s Award (All Grades)

The artwork will be exhibited in March in Rosemary Beach at Amavida Coffee, The Hidden Lantern Gallery, Summer Kitchen and Wild Olives, and in Wells Fargo branches in Carillon Beach, Redfish Village and Sandestin. In April, their work will be on display at Sacred Heart Hospital, and in May at the Coastal Branch Library and Cultural Arts Alliance’s Bayou Arts Center.

Music in Pictures is presented by Rosemary Beach Foundation and sponsored by Wells Fargo, St. Joe Community Foundation, The Hidden Lantern Gallery, Winky and Bill Dowdle, and The Merchants of Rosemary Beach.