CRESENDONEWSLETTER

“The CAAPA programs

are fabulous.” ~~~ Courtney Pringle

CAAPA Patron

...CAAPA

provides

The CAAPA Cause.

Community Outreach

Arts Education

Audience Development

Performance Opportunities

Arts Partnerships

In This Issue

Men in Black

NEA Funding

MasterClass Series

On One Accord

PG Council

Music Scholarships

2018-2019 Sneak

Peek!

Visit www.4caapa.org for the full CAAPA story and video

Men in Black take center stage CAAPA brings together ten talented men to perform a family-friendly variety of se-lections including opera, classical, musical theatre, jazz, and Motown with fun narra-tion throughout.

(SUNDAY, JUNE 3, 2018, CHEVERLY, MD) CAAPA presents “Men in Black: Mozart to Motown Concert” on Sunday, June 3, 2018 at 4:00 pm at the

The multi-genre musical event features internationally known Black classical musicians including (shown

above) tenors Anthony Ballard; Antonio Chase; Keith Craig; and Wayne Jennings; and baritones Jarrod Lee; William Powell, III; Aaron Reeder; Daniel Rich; and Dar-rick Speller. Dr. Lester Green serves as the Artistic Director and pianist; with tenor Daniel Burston representing the youth; and DC talent Norris Wiggins serving as the Master of Ceremonies. Visuals accompanying the program are created by Norjay Wiggins the owner of NorrisWORKS Productions.

“We are excited to present this musical concert to showcase some of the most tal-ented classically trained Black men in our region”, stated CAAPA Board Chair Pam-ela Simonson who currently performs with Washington National Opera. Si-monson and her brother Victor Simonson, a composer, music director, and piano virtuoso co-founded CAAPA almost 15 years ago to give back to the community.

“This is one way we want to celebrate the Black male voice as an example of the talent available to audiences”, Simonson a native Long Island, New Yorker contin-ued by pointing out that most of the men have performed with the Washington Na-tional Opera and opera companies around the world. “This concert is indeed repre-sentative of the African American male voice to not only perform R&B, jazz, or hip hop”, Simonson concluded, “but Black men sing opera and classical music also”.

Tickets available The performance is the last concert for CAAPA’s 2017-2018 season, which present-ed over 30 events since September. The season kickoff is scheduled for Tues., Sep. 18th at 7pm at Georgetown Piano Bar, 3287 M St NW, Washington, DC, which is also in celebration of the Congressional Black Caucus Annual Conference. Men in Black Concert tickets may be purchased for $15.00 at 301-277-1710 with free park-ing available to patrons.

Coalition for African Americans in the Performing Arts Quarterly Newsletter Spring 2018

COALITION FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THE PERFORMING ARTS “Bringing Color to the Classics!”

1.

The

NEA Funding helps build national CAAPA MasterClass Series for HBCU’s National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Chairman Jane Chu has approved more than $25 million in grants as part of the NEA’s first major funding announce-ment for fiscal year 2018. Included in this announcement is an Art Works grant of $10,000.00 to the Coalition for African Americans in the Performing Arts (CAAPA) for the national Master Class Series. The Art Works category is the NEA’s largest funding category and supports projects that focus on the creation of art that meets the highest standards of excellence, public engagement with diverse and excellent art, lifelong learning in the arts, and/or the strengthening of communities through the arts.

“It is energizing to see the impact that the arts are making throughout the United States. These NEA-supported projects, such as this one to CAAPA, are good examples of how the arts build stronger and more vibrant communities, improve well-being, prepare our children to succeed, and increase the quality of our lives,” said NEA Chairman Jane Chu. “At the National Endowment for the Arts, we believe that all people should have access to the joy, opportunities and connections the arts bring.”

CAAPA Board Chair and Co-Founder Pamela Simonson agrees with Chairman Chu stating, “The MasterClass Series focuses on the creation of art that meets the highest stand-ard of excellence by partnering with Historically Black Col-leges and Universities (HBCU’s) to help bring classical music to a diverse group of college students.” Simonson described the program, which coordinates MasterClasses

throughout the nation as an opportuni-ty for Black music students to gain exposure from experienced and re-nowned classically trained African American MusicMasters such as tenor George Shirley (above left), bass/baritone Morris Robinson, and soprano Angela M. Brown (at far

left), all of whom have facilitated CAAPA Master Class ses-sions in the past. The “informances” (informational perfor-

mances) enhance classically trained voices, acting, diction, repertoire, and move-ment for aspiring singers. The MusicMasters share their knowledge and skills with students, emerging and aspiring, while showcasing to audience members and the community the strength and vigor of the aspiring Black classical singer supporting young and developing professional careers in opera, recitals, and the concert stage and in particular the audition process. “Master Classes made a huge difference in my vocal development”, Simonson described while talking about her own experience as an aspiring soprano who attended master classes and as an undergraduate and graduate student. The pro-gram’s coordinator and CAAPA Board Member Angela Renee Simpson (both photos at right) and also a soprano agrees. She understands the importance of how master classes can positively influence a music student’s career. Simpson is the engine that helps make the MasterClass Series work. She communicates directly with each HBCU music department and the Music Masters. She then coordinates a date with both the school and facilitator. Simpson, who often attends the sessions was also the brainchild behind instituting a CAAPA educational outreach program for college students. She along with Shirley and tenor Issachah Savage, also a CAAPA Board Member suggested an outreach program during a board meeting several years ago. CAAPA Executive Director Terri Allen tailored the program to target HBCUs with Simpson curating the program making it happen ever since. Simpson’s efforts in collaborating with HBCU’s have successfully partnered with Howard University, Morgan State University, Morehouse College, Clark-Atlanta University, Texas Southern University, Spelman College, Livingstone College, Winston-Salem University, Jackson State University, Hampton University, Norfolk State University, and University of Kentucky. Other schools including Detroit School for the Arts, Nyack College, and University of California at Ervine have also hosted CAAPA Master Classes. Next season Simpson is adding to the roster of schools including Virginia State University and Southern University. To partner with CAAPA contact Simpson at angela@4caapa.org. For more information on projects included in the NEA grant announcement, visit arts.gov/news.

2018 Winners! CAAPA 2018 Music Scholarship applicants performed beautifully before adjudicators on Saturday, May 5, 2018 at the Oxon Hill Li-brary. The new Scholarship Chair, Dr. Emory Andrews, along with judges Kelvin Page, William Jones, and Valencia Howard, shared encouraging words to the four participanting high school seniors following their performanc-es. Each will be attending a music school or participating in ta music program in the Fall and receive a financial scholarship. Student showcase performers included:

Enih Agwe - Soprano Melissa Constantin - Soprano

Samaria Currie - Soprano Lalibela Faraba - Violin

DeMarco Granger - Bass Zakiyyah Thompson - Clarinet

Each student who performs in the CAAPA Student Showcase will receive a cash award, once all criteria has been met with top three getting a larger sum.

Donate now and support our youth. Needed: * Interns

*Volunteers* Office Workers* Concert Help*

Community Service Hours for Students!

.

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS AND SEASONED PROFESSIONALS FOR THE 2018-2019 SEASON.

Contact for dates when you can help bring color to the classics! 301-839-1444 or caapa@aol.com

Positions Needed:

PROJECT MANAGERS

EVENT PERSONNEL

MEMBERSHIP COORDINATORS

PUBLICTY DIRECTOR

RETENTION COORDINATOR

MARKETING ASSISTANT

OFFICE ASSISTANT

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

PROJECT COORDINATOR

GRANTS COORDINATOR

2.

For CAAPA

We are still growing...Join the CAAPA team! DARNELL WISE-LIGHTBOURN, Board Member: music

teacher, composer, lead teacher for Arts in Arlington.

DR. EVERETT WILLIAMS, JR., Board Member: music educa-

tor, pianist, organist, composer, grad of Oberlin Conservatory .

SOLOMAN HOWARD, Advisory Board. Kennedy Center’s

Washington National Opera’s Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist grad.

HAROLD STEPHEN, Marketing Director: banking, marketing,

financial, and business development expert.

MICHELE GUTRICK COBER, Political Liaison &

Community Outreach Coordinator. Litigation Attorney.

DR. EMORY ANDREWS, Scholarship Coordinator. Stellar

Award Winner, musician, educator, conductor.

WYVONNA WHITE, Volunteer Coordinator: Florida State

University, pharmaceuticals.

APRIL JOHNSON, Office Assistant: student, retail,

Memphis, Tennessee.

Left to right:: Sam Gold, composer; Betty Entzminger, narrator; Issachah Savage, tenor; Terri Allen, CAAPA Executive Director; Pamela Simonson, CAAPA Co-Founder and Board Chair; Arianna Zukerman, soprano; Dr. Lester Green, Artistic Director / pianist after the Kennedy Center concert.

DONATE TODAY TO ANY OR ALL OF CAAPA’s PROGRAMS Call today to make a donation 301-839-1444, visit www.4caapa.org, or send your check to

CAAPA, PO Box 44954 Fort Washington, MD 20744.

3.

A concert for the ages…On One Accord: Jewish American and African American Composers Concert

Non-profit arts organization brought together two cultures in celebration of Black and Jewish composers including Bernstein, Joplin, Previn, and more.

On Wednesday, May 2, 2018 CAAPA presented “On One Accord: Musical Tribute to Jewish American and African American Composers” at 6:00 pm

The multi-cultural event featured internationally known classical musicians soprano Arianna Zukerman and tenor Issachah Savage, with composer Sam Post, and narrator Betty Entzminger. Dr. Lester Green accompanied the singers on the piano with visuals by Norjay Wiggins. “We are excited to present this musical tribute, which also ties in poignant narration and a moving visual presentation”, stated CAAPA Board Chair Pamela Simonson prior to the program. Simonson currently performs with the Washington National Opera. She and her brother Victor Simonson, a composer, music director, and piano virtuoso co-founded the organization almost 15 years ago to give back to the community. “We wanted to celebrate cultural similarities by featuring renowned musicians from both the Jewish and Black communities”, Simonson a native Long Island, New Yorker continued by pointing out that Zukerman is considered one of the premiere vocal artists of her generation and hailed by The Washington Post for her “round high notes and exquisite pianissimos (that) would make any soprano jealous”, while Savage was praised for his “impressive natural instrument” by Opera News. Simonson went on to hail award-winning pianist and composer Post who performed two Scott Joplin pieces during the concert and narrator Entzminger a dramatic actress who starred in For The Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf and Don't Sing No Blues For Me. Simonson went on to explain that even in the concert’s title “On One Accord”, signified the coming together of two…on one accord and a chord, as in music, any harmonic set of pitches consisting of two or more notes that are heard as if sounding simultaneously. “This concert was indeed symbolic in many ways”, Simonson concluded, “the mu-sical melding together of two cultures”.

We’ve Named our

Newsletter Contest

WINNER ANNOUNCED!

We have a winner for the

“Name our Newsletter

Contest!” CAAPA’s own staff person

Norjay Wiggins, Jr. came up with the

name “The CAAPA Cresendo News-

letter” which depicts an increase or

growth! How perfect. The new name

ties into how CAAPA is growing.

Wiggins has served as Video Production

Supervisor for the past five years and

creates all the videos for CAAPA pro-

grams, social media, and marketing.

Sing for Senior Recitals presented in libraries Sing for Seniors Recitals

Program coordinator Alex Strachan, violinist (at near right with violin) enjoyed performing for aging residents at the South Bowie Library, Bowie, Maryland. Strachan was joined by tenor Wayne Jennings for the afternoon performance. The two have done several recitals together for the retired community consisting of solos and duets, as well as sing-a-longs. To schedule a recital call Alex at 301-509-0697.

Contact Us

CAAPA

Post Office Box 44954

Fort Wash., MD 20744

301-839-1444

info@4caapa.org

Visit us on the web at

www.4caapa.org

CAAPA - Coalition for African Americans in the Performing Arts

Post Office Box 44954

Fort Washington, MD 20744

PLACE STAMP HERE

“Bringing Color to the Classics!”

CAAPA is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) arts organization (FEIN 26-0093440).

2018-2019…SNEAK PEAK! (Subject to change) 2018 Aug-June Opera for Fun Youth Outreach Sep-June Sing for Seniors Program July 30th-Aug 3rd CAAPA C.A.M.P. Tue, Sep. 18th Melody of Art Season Kick-Off Wed, Sep. 19th Ain’t Misbehavin’ Musical Wed, Oct 3rd Hispanic Heritage Month Concert Sun, Oct 7th OLE! Spanish, Cuban, and Afro Classical Music Concert Sat,, Oct 27, Goin’ Up Together: Youth and the Great Migration Sun, Oct 28th O is for Opera: National Opera Week Family Concert Celebration Nov. 8th Musical Tribute to Shirley Chisholm Nov. 11th Emerging Artists Recital Fri, Nov. 23 rd The Nutcracker Ballet Sun. Dec 9th Handel & Hamilton for the Holidays Concert Sun. Dec 16th Handel & Hamilton for the Holidays Concert

2019 Sat, Jan. 12th Sopranos Slay Concert Wed. Jan. 23rd Classical Music Concert & Tea Jan. TBD MLK Scholarship Breakfast and Musical Tribute Feb – May MasterClass Series Sat. Feb. 2nd PANEL: The Impact of Black Music During the Great Migration Sun. Feb. 3rd Giving Voices to Hope Concert: Celebration of Human Rights Sat, Feb, 9th, Opera Goes to Church Sun. Feb. 10th Black History Month Concert Tue. Feb. 13th Ain't a That Good News: Musical Tribute to Moses Hogan Sat Feb 16th Cotton Field to Concert Hall Musical Extravaganza Sun. Feb. 17th Voices of the Past: Sissieretta Jones Concert Sat. Feb. 23rd Arias and Shanties Concert Sun. Feb. 24th The Movin’ On Up Concert Wed, Feb. 27th Deep River Violin Recital Mar TBD N’Kenge in Concert Sat. March TBD Black Women and Music During the Great Migration Sun, Mar 10th Opera Shorts Composers Showcase March TBD Black Women's Journey Through the Migration in Music Mar. 31st Deadline for CAAPA Music Scholarship Applications Sat,, Apr 6th Goin’ North: Spoken Word Presentation Sun. Apr. 21st Seoul to Soul Musical Extravaganza Thu, Apr 25th Paintings, Poetry, Puccini, and Pasta Tues, Apr 17th Poetry and Puccini Recital Sat. May 4th Student Showcase May 19th Songs of Titus Cornelius: Blacks in the Revolutionary War May 18th Musica Africa Concert June 1st New Orleans 300th Birthday Musical Celebration Sat, Jun 8th 2nd Annual Men in Black: Mozart to Motown Concert Jun TBD Soiree en Blanc All White GALA /Silent Auction 2019-2020: Nov. 19-24th 2nd Arias at Sea: Blacks in Classical Music Cruise

DETAILS TO BE

ANNOUNCED

SAVE THE

DATES!