Since 1987, the nonprofit Southeast Missouri Music Academy has been instructing thousands of area people, especially children, in the art of classical musicianship.

Sunday at St. Vincent's Church, the academy got a chance to show the community the results of its work with the seventh annual Standing Ovation concert.

The refined atmosphere of the church built in 1853 complemented the presentation of classical works by members of the academy's students and faculty. The church was nearly full with an audience of all ages.

The concert offered a variety of performances -- from a string quartet to a percussion solo to a classical guitar ensemble. Throughout the show, school-age children from the academy were the centerpiece, performing along with academy faculty.

"I think it's very impressive," said John Christy of Poplar Bluff, Mo. "We've attended the concert every time they've had one. It's good for the community and the kids."

Christy's granddaughter is one of the many children who've learned the art of music-making through the academy. The young musicians are taught mainly by the music faculty and students at Southeast Missouri State University.

"I really enjoy teaching," said Amy Vrbosky, a Southeast music performance major who teaches percussion for the academy. "You learn a lot when you teach."

Vrbosky instructs four students, ranging in age from 7 to 14. She's been playing percussion for nine years, specializing in orchestral percussion, which she gave an example of with her vibraphone solo at the concert.

"If the kids are in bands at their schools, the academy gives them a chance to perform outside that school setting," said Vrbosky. "They get to study with a teacher outside of school and get other opinions."

The school was started with those children and the community in mind, said director Hays Hendricks.

"It's a preparatory department for musicians of all ages," she said. "Most of our students are children, and our newest initiative is to begin instruction with infants."

The academy costs about $100,000 a year to operate, she said.

That money is spent on salaries for the more than 40 faculty and staff members as well as scholarship funds and community outreach programs, in which musicians hold concerts at places like hospitals and nursing homes, she said.

The funds for the academy are raised through tuition, at $200 to $300 per class for each student, and donations.

"The university doesn't give us any financial backing," Hendricks said. "But they are kind enough to give us the use of the facilities and equipment in Brandt Music Hall."

Until now, the only fund-raising event put on by the academy was the concert, which typically raised about $3,000 to $5,000, Hendricks said. But this year the organization added a silent auction featuring items such as ballroom dance instruction and a trip to the Florida Keys.

"The silent auction is experimental, but we hope it goes over well and allows us to raise some more money," Hendricks said.

She estimates that the auction raised about $2,000.

That money will go to aid the instruction of the 300-plus students in the academy, one of which is Hendricks' son, Ben, a student a Central Middle School.

Now 11 years old, he's been playing the cello since age four. He was one of the night's featured performers.

"Everyone in my family plays," Ben said. "They asked me which instrument I wanted to play, and I said the cello. I like it because it's an instrument that not many people play."

Ben said that he loves playing music, and he'll continue to do so throughout his life. What he enjoys most about it, though, is the prestige.

"If you perform music, then everyone will know your name," he said.

msanders@semissourian.com

335-6611, ext. 226