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Alums help foundation mark 50 years of arts in Fairfield schools

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By Steven Matthews, Staff Writer 10:07 PM Tuesday, November 15, 2011

FAIRFIELD — Nick Cearley wasn’t nervous about singing at the Fairfield Community Foundation’s annual celebration until he saw his old teachers.

That’s when the 1999 Fairfield High School graduate felt a little pressure.

“If they weren’t so encouraging and supportive of me,” said Cearley, 31, “I don’t think I’d be doing what I’m doing. I’ve never done a show just for them. It’s a little nerve-racking, but I’m very honored.”

Cearley — a professional actor and musician who lives in Brooklyn — was one of three Fairfield grads invited to be a part of the “Celebrating the Arts at the Fairfield City Schools” Tuesday night at the Receptions Conference Center.

Janet Davies (1970), an entertainment reporter for Chicago’s ABC affiliate for the past 27 years, was the emcee of the event, while Lisa Biales (1976), a singer and songwriter, also sang for the audience that numbered more than 200.

“This is special,” said Davies, 59. “What I learned at Fairfield in terms of music, art, theater, it really shaped the person I am today, and I mean that sincerely.”

Biales, 53, lives in Oxford, and is preparing to release her seventh album next year.

“This is for a great cause,” Biales said. “I’ve had so many wonderful things happen to me, and I couldn’t say no. I wanted to give back to Fairfield. I don’t want to see the arts go away in some way, shape or form. It was a life-saver for me.”

Among the other featured performances were the Fairfield High School Jazz Band and the Rhythm Express show choir.

Betsy Hope, president of the Fairfield Community Foundation, said she hopes the event raised $25,000 for the foundation, which has been in existence since 1999 and awarded more than $1 million in grants and scholarships.

Tuesday’s theme coincided with the Fairfield City Schools celebrating its 50th year of the Arts Fair, which is scheduled for May 6, 2012.

“For future generations, you’re just putting your feet in the water of the arts community,” Davies told the crowd. “But you’re swimming toward glorious futures. Arts make you alive, make you a full human being, and I got that at Fairfield.”

Contact this reporter at (513) 755-5113 or steven.matthews@coxinc.com.

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