Zannini committed to art and education

The fine arts have been a part of Audrey Zannini’s life since childhood, and she wants to make sure they’re a part of life for the next generation of children, as well.

Zannini, a music and studio art major from Flagstaff, Arizona, is going to teach pre-kindergarten in Tulsa, Oklahoma, through the Teach for America program. Her decision to join Teach for America was influenced by her father’s career as a teacher for 35 years and by her passion for social justice.

“I want to help address the inequality in educational opportunities,” she said. “Teach for America focuses on fixing educational inequality, so this is a path toward that.”

She’s excited to work with a pre-k class because she sees it as an opportunity to expose young children to the benefits of education. It’s also a chance to get resources to their parents and help reinforce the importance of staying in school.

Studies over the past few decades have shown that students who took part in high-quality pre-kindergarten programs do better on tests and are held back less often, and there’s even an effect on high school graduation and college attendance, she said.

Zannini’s plans to bring her own passion for the arts to her teaching. She started playing the flute in fifth grade and has played or sung in nearly every ensemble on campus, from the concert choir and chamber singers to the orchestra and wind ensemble. She also took lessons in voice, piano, and, of course, flute, throughout her time at Cornell.

During her senior year she prepared for two major events—her senior recital and her senior art exhibit. She chose the pieces for her recital at the end of her junior year and spent hundreds of hours preparing for the recital during her senior year. At the same time she was creating realistic colored pencil drawings of people and landscapes for her art thesis exhibition. That led to a rigorous schedule, with time set aside for practice and lessons and long stretches in the studio, which depended on access to her studio space any time, day or night.

“I enjoyed the independent aspect of it,” she said. “It’s a huge opportunity, and it takes willpower and drive for you to take responsibility for your own projects.”

Three professors stand out in her experience. Music professor James Martin taught her first-year seminar, the first course Zannini took at Cornell. That was the start of an academic relationship that helped her think more critically about her work.

“The whole world loves art and music. Even if it isn’t their discipline, people have a lot to say about it. Professor Martin helped me look at what I want to get out of art, and what the world gets out of it. After that I noticed a big change in my performances and my art.”

Art professor Tony Plaut ’78 and the critiques he led in his courses showed her how direct, honest feedback from her professors and peers could help her grasp what was important about a piece she was working on.

Music professor Jama Stilwell was Zannini’s flute instructor, and the pair worked closely over the past four years. Stilwell used deliberate, detail-oriented practice in order to create a polished final piece of music. Zannini said that with Stilwell’s guidance she was able to achieve a high level of musicianship, professionalism, and skill.

When she finishes her two-year stint with Teach for America, Zannini is going to consider graduate school, possibly for flute performance or arts management. One of her goals is to start a music and art education program.

“Music and art education have taken a back seat in our education system. I’d like to start an after school program for little or no costs somewhere those programs have been cut.”