The West Virginia University College of Creative Arts has established a new Department of Community Arts to expand the outreach programs and classes in the arts that it currently provides to the local community.

Jeanne Frieben, former director of the Community Music Program, has been named director of community arts, Dean Bernie Schultz said.

Jeanne is the talented and gracious person whose leadership has advanced our Community Music Program these past years,Schultz said.We are most fortunate that Jeanne, and her consummate professionalism, will guide our Community Arts Department to an even higher level of service for our community.

Frieben has bachelors and masters degrees from the WVU Division of Music and was formerly a WVU instructor of clarinet. She is an active performer and adjudicator throughout the region, principal clarinetist in the Johnstown Symphony in Pennsylvania and a member of the West Virginia Symphony.

I am very excited about the class offerings available to our community this year, and I look forward to expanding our art opportunities to a wider range of people so everyone can enjoy the many benefits the arts have to offer,Frieben said.

The WVU Community Arts Department provides high-quality, affordable instruction in music, theatre, dance and art to Morgantown and the surrounding area,she added.Our teachers are committed to providing the best possible instruction and to sharing their enthusiasm and love of the arts with their students.

In addition to providing arts classes at the Creative Arts Center, the department will be working with the WVU Center for Excellence in Disabilities, Preston County after-school programs and other groups to help promote the arts in the local community.

The department is currently holding registration for fall classes at the Creative Arts Center.

Community arts classes available this fall include:

• TheatreTheatre Production:Peter Pan(ages 10-15); voice for communication on stage and in life (adults); puppetry (ages 9-14)

• ArtYoung Peoples Saturday Art Studio (ages 5-8 and 9-14)

• DanceBallet (ages 6-adult); jazz and tap (ages 6-12); creative modern dance (ages 3-6 and 7-12)

• MusicMusic for Babies (infants and toddlers); Explore&Enjoy (ages 2-3); Musicland Express (ages 4-6); beginning group piano (ages 6-9); Percussion Ensemble (ages 11-adult); Steel Band Ensemble (ages 9-adult); Community Arts Orchestra (intermediate to advanced); Elementary Choir (ages 7-8); Youth Choir (ages 9-14); Flute Ensemble (junior high to adult); Pop Stars of the Future (ages 13-18); introductory harp class; Suzuki violin (ages 4 and up); Maestro in the Making (conducting class); theory (ages 8-12 and 13-adult); jazz improvisation (ages 9-adult); group piano (adults); Alexander Technique workshops (performance enhancement)

• Private lessonsPiano, organ, voice, brass, woodwind, percussion, strings, guitar, jazz singing, improvisation, harp, theory and composition, conducting and the Alexander Technique.

For more information about classes, contact the Community Arts Department at 304-293-4841 ext. 3168 or visit the Web site atwww.ccarts.wvu.edu/community_arts/.