After over 20 years of serving as the Early Childhood Department Chair at Colburn’s Community School of Performing Arts, Christine Martin (affectionately known as “Ms. Martin”) is retiring. We invite our Colburn community to join us in celebrating her legacy and honoring the impact of her selfless leadership of the Early Childhood program.
Prior to joining Colburn in September 2000, just a year after the School moved to its new Grand Avenue location, Christine taught within the Los Angeles Unified School District for over 30 years. A graduate of Mount Saint Mary’s College and Boston University, her 50+ years in education are studded with achievements including: her lifetime Standard California Teaching Credential, her State Bilingual Certificate of Competency in Spanish, her Level I Orff-Schulwerk Certification, and her lifetime membership in the Dalcroze Society of America. Christine is also a member of the Loyola Marymount University Concert Choir and is a church pianist in her parish.
With Christine at the helm of Early Childhood, the program grew and flourished in beautiful ways. Parents became more involved in their children’s artistic development, the core group of Early Childhood faculty was cultivated with intention, and most importantly, the program expanded to welcome students younger than two years old. The inclusion of these younger students further solidified Colburn’s commitment to the beginning of the artistic pipeline, with students being introduced to music and movement before they could even walk.
For those of us who were fortunate enough to have crossed paths with Christine during her time at Colburn, we understand the fundamental ways in which her teaching has defined who our children are as artists and as people. Below, we invite you to share your memories of Christine with any photos or videos you may have, along with well wishes as she steps into her well-deserved retirement. We will pass this collection on to her at the end of the month.
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We are forever grateful for Christine’s dedication to Colburn families and faculty during her two decades at the School. In honor of her influence on our community, a generous Early Childhood family has created a scholarship endowment in Christine’s name this summer. We hope you will join them in honoring her by adding your gift to this endowment in support of the long-term trajectory and education of Colburn students—one of Christine’s dearest aspirations.
The Christine Martin Endowment Fund will support scholarships for Early Childhood students who wish to continue their artistic journeys in the Community School and otherwise could not afford to do so. Thank you!
Make a Gift for Ms. Martin