Doris Rolland of Pandorie Productions Brings Music to Chicago Schools

Since the early ’80s, Doris Rolland’s mission has been to fill Chicago public school classrooms with the “sound of music.” Because of the school system’s difficulty keeping certified professional arts and music teachers, and a lack of access and awareness of how to integrate arts in schools, Rolland wrote a proposal that provides a bridge for certified teachers to creatively teach arts education in schools. She also works to develop funding and partnerships for teachers and entertainers in design, music, theater, arts and education. –t. binns

You’ve been involved with the Chicago arts community for a long time.  Why did you start Pandorie Productions?

I saw a need for teachers and arts professionals to collaborate and partner with each other. I saw that many artists perform and entertain; however, they did not have the support or funding or visibility in the community or schools. My area of expertise was to bring together (through my circle of friends, mentors, partnerships and teaching experience) everyone through their websites under the umbrella of Pandorie Productions. Through Pandorie Productions, I wanted everyone to see quality arts and education in progress and provide a pathway for attitudes about arts to be reformed.

What about the Creative Breaks Workshop?
It developed from an idea for incorporating the efforts of Pandorie Productions: design, music, theater, arts. It is a workshop where certified teachers can become interactive in the arts through music and arts education. Through Pandorie Productions and the Creative Breaks Workshop, I want to show that arts education is meaningful to our children and parents (who sometimes are overlooked for their skills) … The drama is in creating positive goals for all of our children.

What’s in store for Pandorie Productions for the New Year?

I plan to start a foundation and partner with some of the senior citizen homes so artists can perform for them whenever they have a need, develop workshops in schools and communities in Bronzeville, and [produce] a documentary featuring the artists and teachers on the website.

For more information, visit www.PandorieProducations.com or www.CreativeBreaksWorkshop.com.