LOYAL. LOCAL. COMPLETE.
PARIS—A crown jewel to the city of Paris and Edgar County is the state-of-the-art Paris Center of Fine Arts (PCOFA) complex at Paris Cooperative High School. On Jan. 11, a crowd of avid art aesthetes walked onto the center’s stage to participate in the second annual PCOFA Gala Night: an event filled with magnificent music, dinner, awards and the unique opportunity to dine on the illuminated stage.
This year, the event also served as the final moment of the 2025 ‘Scapes on the Stage’ contest, an introduction to the PCOFA’s lineup of performances for next season and an opportunity to induct two new art heroes into the PCOFA Hall of Fame.
“The individuals we honor tonight were chosen because of their extraordinary devotion to the fine arts in our community,” PCOFA manager Tanner Laughlin said. “Their contributions have not only enriched our local culture but have also left a lasting legacy that continues to inspire and shape the future of the arts here in Paris. We are truly grateful for their dedication and the lasting impact that they've had on our community.”
The first Hall of Fame induction of the evening was presented by Susan Farris.
“This evening, we gather to celebrate and honor the legacy of a man whose contributions to the world of music and fine arts have touched generations of lives in Paris and beyond, Moke Collins Owens,” she said. “For decades, Moke served as a gateway to the world of music, drama, dance and the arts for students in our community. His influence as a musician, educator and mentor has left a lasting impression on the culture of Paris and Edgar County.”
Owens was born in Paris on April 18, 1922. His mother, a pianist herself, taught him the piano at the age of three and he began performing in public while still in elementary school.
Owens graduated from Paris High School in 1940. He was an honor roll student who excelled in chorus and drama, laying the foundation for a life dedicated to the arts. After high school, he pursued studies at Millikin University in Decatur before World War ll interrupted his plans.
During the war, Owens' musical talent led him to the Army's specialized training program. He was later appointed as a Warrant Officer Band Master with the De Par Infantry Chorus, a 35-member ensemble.
In the years following the war, Owens made the difficult decision to return to Paris to care for his aging parents. He chose to complete his degree at Millikin University, commuting daily from Paris while also offering private lessons to young musicians in the community.
“One particularly notable event in 1965 saw a benefit concert held at Paris High School, raising the funds Moke needed to complete his Bachelor of Arts in music,” Farris said. “His return to Paris wasn't just about academic completion, Moke poured himself into teaching, both through private lessons and as an educator at Mayo Middle School, where he established a chorus program that grew into one of the largest in the region.”
Owens also founded the Argonauts, a study group dedicated to gifted students who wanted to deepen their understanding of the arts. The Illinois State Board of Education later recognized the program for its excellence.
“Moke was known for the depth and passion he brought to his teaching. He didn't just ask his students to play the right notes; he urged them to understand the emotions behind the music,” Farris said. “His students will always remember the probing questions he would ask during lessons, ‘How does this piece make you feel?’ ‘What do you think the composer wanted to convey here?’ These weren't just questions about technique. They were about soul.”
Owens’ mastery of the piano was legendary. According to Farris and several others in attendance at the Gala Night, when he played, “the music wasn't just heard, it was felt.”
Owens played, composed and mentored young musicians until his passing in 1988.
In 2018, thanks to the generous contributions of his former students and the Edgar County Community Foundation, a grand piano was donated to PCOFA to honor the musician's lasting legacy.
“This beautiful instrument stands as a tribute to his passion for music and his dedication to sharing that passion with others. Many of the pianists and music teachers who now shape young lives throughout our community owe much of their success to his guidance,” Farris said. “This evening, it is with great pride that we induct Moke Collins Owens into the Paris Center of Fine Arts Hall of Fame as an educator, musician, director and pianist. Moke’s contributions to our community are profound and far-reaching. His dedication to music, his students and the arts as a whole shaped the lives of so many who had the privilege of learning from him.”
The second inductee of the evening was Ethel Marie Crabtree, whose accomplishments were presented by Nancy Zeman.
“It is with profound admiration and deep gratitude that we gather here today to celebrate and honor the life and legacy of a truly remarkable woman, a pillar of our community and a transformative figure in the world of dance,” Zeman said. “Ethel Marie Crabtree, affectionately known by generations of Paris girls and boys simply as Miss Ethel Marie.”
Crabtree’s journey as an educator and artist began again shortly after she graduated from Paris High School. In the early 1930s, she opened the Ethel Marie Crabtree School of Dance, a “haven for creative expression and discipline” according to Zeman.
The dance school first opened in the second story of the Masonic building on South Main Street. It later moved to a basement on North Central, beneath Quinn's Jewelry. There, alongside her sister and business manager, Miss Ann Goff, she laid the foundation of a legacy, shaping the lives of her students and the fabric of the community for decades to come.
“The first time I encountered Miss Ethel Marie I was among the young kindergartners stepping nervously into the world of dance. Little did I know, as I stood at the bottom of those stairs leading to the studio, that this dynamic woman would profoundly impact my life and the lives of so many others,” Zeman said. “The studio became a sanctuary for creative expression, a place where hundreds of boys and girls, from kindergarteners to high school seniors learned not only the art of ballet, tap, jazz, acrobatics and gymnastics, but the values of discipline, focus and self-expression.”
Crabtree's influence was not confined to the four walls of her studio; her annual recitals in the PCHS Auditorium became legendary. The performances sold out each year and were seen as a celebration of the creative spirit.
“It was a true community effort, and the results were nothing short of magical,” Zeman said. “But Miss Ellen Marie's vision did not stop at the city limits. She expanded her studio, traveling by bus to Chrisman once a week and eventually establishing a second studio in Mattoon; both became highly successful extensions of her passion and dedication.”
Crabtree continually sought to refine her craft, attending master classes with some of the most renowned choreographers, including Gower Champion, Nick Castle, June Taylor and Bob Fauci. From these classes, she brought the latest trends, techniques and choreographies from cities like Chicago, California and New York back to Paris, infusing her studio with the same professionalism and precision found in the world's top dance companies.
“She was an embodiment of energy and focus, always impeccably dressed in her signature three-quarter sleeve leotard and short ruffled skirt. She would be on her feet from the beginning of each clap each lesson until the last tap step was completed,” Zeman said. “Her students were taught the importance of discipline, no whispering, no distractions, just the dance. She instilled in them the importance of grace, strength and precision. And under her guidance, every dancer moved with purpose, every arm extension, every step deliberate, every hand, just so.”
The proceeds from the Cool Water Review, a musical and dance extravaganza choreographed and created by Crabtree, helped fund the first water fountain at Paris High School, a testament to the last impact of her school on our community. She continued to choreograph the performing arts seen in Paris, even lending her expertise to high school drama productions like “Annie and Oliver,” ensuring that her students would have the opportunity to shine, both on stage and in life.
“Today, it is with great pride that we induct Ethel Marie Crabtree into the Paris Center of Fine Arts Hall of Fame, recognizing her profound and lasting contributions to the cultural fabric of Paris and Edgar County,” Zeman said. “Her passion for dance, her commitment to excellence and her love for young people she mentored have left an indelible mark on our community. We pledge to carry forth her legacy, a legacy rooted in the belief that the arts are an essential part of life, that creativity is a gift to be nurtured and that every child has the potential to soar.”
Crabtree was also honored with a special display in the tablescape portion of the evening. A festive table covered in photographs, ballet shoes, letters and priceless mementos shared with the city of Paris and dance fans the impact of her talent and passion.
Before letting the curtain drop for the evening, Laughlin took a moment to thank the multitude of people who made the event possible. He expressed gratitude to the various members of the PCOFA board, the high school students waiting tables, the musicians and the talented voices of Erin Hutchison and Megan Carroll, who performed throughout the evening.
“I can't help but reflect on how this theater has been a second home to so many of us, including my own family. In fact, my kids have a stash of toys here,” he said. “This space has not only shaped who I am but it's become an integral part of my life and so many of our lives … This center isn't just a building; it's a living, breathing part of our community, a space where creativity thrives and where so many lives are touched young and old alike. It's a place where our children, like the high school drama students that we had here with us tonight, who were your servers, can grow, take risks and explore their passions.”
Maintaining this center is not without its challenges. A season of performances and the maintenance of the facility can easily push $100,000, an amount Laughlin said is “a huge amount for any organization.”
“While ticket sales do help, it's simply not enough to sustain us. That's where events like tonight come in,” he explained. “It's through your donations and the generosity of our sponsors that were able to keep the doors open and continue offering incredible programs and provide a space for the arts to flourish here in Paris … Let's remember the good that we do together, the good that resonates long after the music stops and the lights dim. Thank you all for being here, for supporting the arts and for helping to make this community and the Paris Center of Fine Arts what it is.”
For more information on supporting PCOFA and details on performances, visit pcofa.net.