Unbelievably, it's been THREE YEARS since we began working with the North Rampart Community Center. Amazin things have happened in those three years for both our Foundation and the Center. But this weekend we were able to send down five songwriters to work with about 20 kids in the WE ARE THE SONG songwriting workshop. Below is a report from our own Lesley Mazzotta who is down there with Randy Redd, Robin Sky and several others.
"Yesterday was joyous chaos here, but things are going really well. We had about 22 kids show up... we started the day with a lot of round robin talking... everyone introduced themselves, and Randy (Redd) lead two quick writing exercises... write four lines... to get the creative juices flowing. Then, we broke off into small groups for 8 line exercises and each of our teaching artists presented their works to the whole group as inspiration. We ended the evening with pizza and the film. Hannah & mom, Ashley & mom, Griffin & mom, Annie & mom, Eric (who's doing the program) & mom and April & granddad all came and enjoyed the film! There was really no Q&A afterwards... no real time. All of our OOTI kids looks great and are doing well.
Today, 16 kids came back, with more trickling in. Randy started by asking each kid to write a commercial about themselves and present it back to the group... to personalize the writing process and create a silly, fun environment. Everyone loved it - lots of laughter - and it brought the kids back into the work. Now, everyone is divided into small groups of 3-4, and they are taking all of their ideas from the past writing assignments and putting them together. Robin (Sky) has tons of great footage of the kids... I haven't taken lots of pictures yet but certainly will. We are still waiting for the MTI box, so we're going to get the kids in t-shirts to take photos from them. I'll send some along as soon as I have them.
Things are really good.... the workshop is really working, all the kids are participating... there is tons of diversity... they are into rap, R&B, soul, old school...kids from all around town. The kids are open and creative and excited and trusting our staff and the process. There is so much great energy in this place today! In fact, one kid, LuckyLou, just canceled going to watch the Saints at the Superdome because he's "having fun!" WOW!
Our team is totally jazzed and excited to be here. It's a great variety of talents and backgrounds, which makes them work well together and gives many different points of view to make the experience richer for the kids. Randy is overseeing the creative process brilliantly... shaking things up to see what works, how to make everything even better.
I've talked a lot with Coach and Joanne. Coach told us once again how happy he is that we are here, and thankful for all we are doing. They are "back in business" with over 200 kids... serving 50-60 a day. As you know, they still need money, but things are slowly moving forward. They have a new heating system, fire alarm system, the gym is newly painted and cleaned, the pool is completely renovated with the leak fixed, the shelves are packed with books.
Peg is making us cookies and buying us snacks.
Showing posts with label We Are The Song. Show all posts
Showing posts with label We Are The Song. Show all posts
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Thursday, December 17, 2009
December 2009
What an amazing year it has been for The After The Storm Foundation.
As many of you know, Hilla Medalia's film (AFTER THE STORM) premiered at The LA Film Festival in June, and it has already won several of awards including the Audience Favorite Award at The Woodstock Film Festival and at The Heartland Festival. Hilla also won a Crystal Heart Award for best Documentary feature at Heartland. Hawaii was a major stop on our film tour, especially because it was the first place we were able to screen the film for a theater full of kids, ages 8 to 18 (and the scenery wasn't bad either.) Our next scheduled screening is at The Windrider Forum, which is part of The Sundance Film Festival on January 30th if you happen to be in Park City, Utah. We also have a NYC screening at the JCC Manhattan on March 2nd.
Keeping the doors of the North Rampart Community Center open is the primary goal of The Foundation. Thanks to the efforts of the wonderful Deaconess, Joanne Finley, and the dedication of Coach Parker as well as the entire board of North Rampart Community Center (formerly St. Mark's), the kids in the neighborhood continue to have a safe and creative place to go after school.
Randy Redd has also been doing his part. He organized two very successful benefit performances this year at Joe's Pub in NYC to raise money for the Center. Singer/songwriters came together to celebrate New Orleans. This past Monday, December 7th, Randy Redd presented We Are The Song 2, a second helping of extraordinary new music at Joe's Pub to benefit North Rampart Community Center. This concert featured new songs by songwriters Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, Chris Miller, Sam Willmott, Rob Rokicki, Jason Loffredo, David Sisco and Tom Gualtieri, Michael Walker and Kyle Ewalt, Barbara Anselmi and Ken Clifton. Save the date for the next Song/Storm concert. On Monday, February 15th, during Mardi Gras, We Are The Song 3: After The Storm will be presented at Symphony Space in New York City and will feature all new songs.
Not only did this concert raise money for NRCC but also raised awareness and introduced even more New York City singers, songwriters and musicians to The After The Storm Foundation and the new We Are The Song Songwriting Workshops. Thanks to a generous contribution from Freddie and Myrna Gershon and, Music Theater International, our first Song/Storm workshop will be held January 15-17 in New Orleans. During this 3-day workshop, local students (ages 13-18) will learn how a song is created from start to finish. Through games, singing, discussion, and exercises led by professional singers, songwriters and Broadway teaching artist, students will explore the components of basic songwriting: rhythm, rhyme, song structure, lyrics, and melody. After an introduction to songwriting basics, students will listen to a variety of well-known songs examining point of view, melody, lyrics, structure and arrangement. Then, using these tools students will write an original song of their own. This workshop is not about writing a hit song. In fact, no prior songwriting experience or musical training is necessary in order to participate. Students will be encouraged to share ideas, express themselves and tell stories thru songwriting. The students will also discuss individuality and community and how they might be able to express their individuality through song.
Stay tuned for more in the coming year.
We can't do it without you.
What an amazing year it has been for The After The Storm Foundation.
As many of you know, Hilla Medalia's film (AFTER THE STORM) premiered at The LA Film Festival in June, and it has already won several of awards including the Audience Favorite Award at The Woodstock Film Festival and at The Heartland Festival. Hilla also won a Crystal Heart Award for best Documentary feature at Heartland. Hawaii was a major stop on our film tour, especially because it was the first place we were able to screen the film for a theater full of kids, ages 8 to 18 (and the scenery wasn't bad either.) Our next scheduled screening is at The Windrider Forum, which is part of The Sundance Film Festival on January 30th if you happen to be in Park City, Utah. We also have a NYC screening at the JCC Manhattan on March 2nd.
Keeping the doors of the North Rampart Community Center open is the primary goal of The Foundation. Thanks to the efforts of the wonderful Deaconess, Joanne Finley, and the dedication of Coach Parker as well as the entire board of North Rampart Community Center (formerly St. Mark's), the kids in the neighborhood continue to have a safe and creative place to go after school.
Randy Redd has also been doing his part. He organized two very successful benefit performances this year at Joe's Pub in NYC to raise money for the Center. Singer/songwriters came together to celebrate New Orleans. This past Monday, December 7th, Randy Redd presented We Are The Song 2, a second helping of extraordinary new music at Joe's Pub to benefit North Rampart Community Center. This concert featured new songs by songwriters Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, Chris Miller, Sam Willmott, Rob Rokicki, Jason Loffredo, David Sisco and Tom Gualtieri, Michael Walker and Kyle Ewalt, Barbara Anselmi and Ken Clifton. Save the date for the next Song/Storm concert. On Monday, February 15th, during Mardi Gras, We Are The Song 3: After The Storm will be presented at Symphony Space in New York City and will feature all new songs.
Not only did this concert raise money for NRCC but also raised awareness and introduced even more New York City singers, songwriters and musicians to The After The Storm Foundation and the new We Are The Song Songwriting Workshops. Thanks to a generous contribution from Freddie and Myrna Gershon and, Music Theater International, our first Song/Storm workshop will be held January 15-17 in New Orleans. During this 3-day workshop, local students (ages 13-18) will learn how a song is created from start to finish. Through games, singing, discussion, and exercises led by professional singers, songwriters and Broadway teaching artist, students will explore the components of basic songwriting: rhythm, rhyme, song structure, lyrics, and melody. After an introduction to songwriting basics, students will listen to a variety of well-known songs examining point of view, melody, lyrics, structure and arrangement. Then, using these tools students will write an original song of their own. This workshop is not about writing a hit song. In fact, no prior songwriting experience or musical training is necessary in order to participate. Students will be encouraged to share ideas, express themselves and tell stories thru songwriting. The students will also discuss individuality and community and how they might be able to express their individuality through song.
Stay tuned for more in the coming year.
We can't do it without you.
Monday, November 2, 2009
We Are The Song: After The Storm #2 December 7th at Joes Pub
We Are The Song: After The Storm (#1), an extraordinary night of new music was presented at Joe's Pub on August 31st to benefit The North Rampart Community Center and to celebrate the work that began in New Orleans...After The Storm.
The concert featured new songs by many songwriters.
We Are The Song 2!
will be presented at Joe's Pub on Monday, December 7th at 7 PM and will feature encore performances of the new songs sung by Broadway performers as well as a very special musical tribute to Once On This Island and a thank you to that show's creators Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty. Tickets are on sale now and are available at www.joespub.com.
Some of the people that were involved in We Are The Song: After The Storm #1:Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey, Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, Chris Miller, Sam Willmott, Rob Rokicki, Bill Schermerhorn and Doug Katsaros, Craig Fols and Fred Thaler, Michael Cooper and Hyeyoung Kim, Michael Walker and Kyle Ewalt, Kevin Hammonds, Lance Horne and Debra Barsha, Zach Zadek, Ken Clifton
and performances by songwriters Duncan Sheik, Jenny Giering, Wesley Whatley, Randy Redd, singers Cole Burden (Applause), Anderson Davis (Les Miserables), Kathy Deitch (Wicked, Footloose), Matt Doyle (Spring Awakening, Bye Bye Birdie), Julie Foldesi (South Pacific, Little Women), Aaron Simon Gross (13), Jeremy Hays (Les Miserables), Rachel Bay Jones (Showfolk, Hair), Fabio Monteiro, Brooke Sunny Moriber (The Wild Party, Parade), Jill Paice (The 39 Steps, Curtains, The Woman In White), Megan Reinking (Hair), Rashidra Scott (Avenue Q, Finian’s Rainbow), Antonique Smith, Robin Skye (Parade, Cyrano), Ali Stroker, Michael Winther (33 Variations, Mamma Mia, 1776) and LaChanze (The Color Purple, Once On This Island). Musical Director and Coordinator Aaron Jodoin led a seven-piece band with singers Brandon Michael Arrington, Molly Hager, Justin Lopez and Mary Catherine McDonald providing background vocals and a new song by Barbara Anselmi.
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