I have spent my entire youth involved in band, music lessons and attending music camps. I excelled at all things music. I even chose to go to college and received my BMus and MMus in music. I have a musical and theatrical family and I am a professional photographer.  Success story, right?

 What most people don't see in this story was the struggle of my daily family life, and the sexual and emotional abuse that I experienced growing up. The Arts and music were my lifeline.

Music helped me stay focused in school and gave me something to hold on to when I felt there was no hope. It kept me from becoming a runaway or worse, gave me an outlet for my big emotions and gave me a space to belong and feel loved and accepted. It gave me family when mine wasn't always the safest place to be. 

As a youth, I've had several opportunities outside of school to continue my musical pursuits, was fortunate enough to have had adults and teachers along the way that kept the fire for music lit in me, encouraged me and on occasion, set me back on the right path. Music quite simply, saved my life.

I’ve been a music and Arts educator for 30 years now. I see the impact of Arts in the lives of students, every day.

This is why I started our organization, The sNoBalls.

It’s my goal and the mission of our group, to help raise money for youth scholarships to help students attend summer arts camps so that they too can have access to the arts, and have their lives transformed by the Arts.

Marcia Arceneaux

Director, The sNoBalls