Newark School of the Arts students present "Concert for Healing", raising funds for local hunger relief, abused and neglected children

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Newark School of the Arts students present "Concert for Healing", raising funds for local hunger relief, abused and neglected children

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Larry Tamburri

ltamburri@newarkschoolofthearts.org

NEWARK SCHOOL OF THE ARTS STUDENTS PRESENTS "CONCERT FOR HEALING," RAISING FUNDS FOR LOCAL HUNGER RELIEF, ABUSED and NEGLECTED CHILDREN

Newark School of the Arts (NSA) students recently used their talents to support hunger relief and child advocacy in Newark, NJ, with a special online "Concert for Healing". For this first-time effort in responding to the pandemic, more than $4,000 was raised and has been distributed to the MEND Hunger Relief Network, Wynona's House Child Advocacy Center, and the Newark School of the Arts scholarship fund. "These are unprecedented times," noted Carmen Santos-Robson, assistant director and development director of the NSA. "We are grateful that the NSA Board of Trustees urged us to be proactive and to provide assistance that goes beyond programs the school offers". The concert featured performances by students in the music, dance, and media departments of the school. Viewers contributed more than $2,000, which was matched by $2,000 from NSA Trustee Curtis Johnson and Melissa Hager, in honor of Richard Stiga. Students, staff, and trustees chose two community partners with strong track records assisting citizens in Newark. MEND Hunger Network strengthens and supports a network of 20 Essex County food pantries, including nine in Newark. Wynona's House Child Advocacy Center serves children who have been abused or neglected. "Music is a tonic that has always soothed and lifts our spirits," commented Martin Berkowitz, president of the NSA Board of Trustees. "We are all stronger when our communities are healthy and sustainable. The NSA plans to continue this tradition of community support over the coming months".

Dominic Prophete, CEO of Wynona’s House said: “I would like to thank NSA for designating Wynona’s House as a beneficiary of their first Concert for Healing. This event could not have come at a better time. As the pandemic continues to rage in our community, leaving much upheaval in its wake, we continue to find ways to ensure our families adjust to daily changes and new insecurities, as they heal from the impact of abuse. The healing and trans-formative properties of music are what our families and our staff needed to reassure that brighter days are near and a supportive community is by their side." https://wynonashouse.org/

Robin Peacock, executive director of MEND stated: “We are honored that the school and students chose to support MEND so generously! Now, more than ever, community support for our member food pantries makes such a difference. Funds from the NSA Concert for Healing will enable us to source, store, and transport more fresh and healthy food and other essentials for member pantries, so that they may continue to serve their growing numbers of patrons with dignity.” https://mendnj.org

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7.16.20

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Letter to Our Families and Donors

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Letter to Our Families and Donors

Dear Newark School of the Arts Community:

With our end-of-the-year performances, we completed our 2019-2020 school year. What an unusual year it was! Switching to all-remote lessons and classes would not have been possible without your adaptability, understanding and passion for your art form. Now as we prepare for our summer session and plan for the fall, we want to provide you with an update on our school’s plans going forward. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, March 14 was our last day of lessons and classes in our facility at 89 Lincoln Park, and at the Link School on Pennsylvania Avenue. Since then we have been providing lessons and classes remotely. We will continue with remote teaching over the summer. Our faculty has done an outstanding job learning new tricks, i.e. how to teach while being in a totally different location. We monitor the quality of the instruction and the progress of the students to ensure we are maintaining the high standards of instruction on which you have been able to count at the school. All we know right now is that a level of uncertainty will continue. With that in mind, we plan to begin the fall session with all lessons and classes being taught remotely. In late October we will assess the situation. If the pandemic has waned significantly, we will consider a partial opening of the facility for the spring session, mainly for instrumental lessons. This being contingent, of course, on guidance received from federal, state and local health officials. Voice lessons and wind instruments among other classes will still be taught remotely. Only lessons and classes where social distancing is possible will be taught in the facility. The building will be sanitized and spaces being used will be cleaned every day, more frequently as required. Temperatures will be taken on entrance and masks worn by all. Again, all of the guidelines provided by the City of Newark will be strictly enforced. The safety of the students, our faculty and staff will always be paramount. Once it is determined safe, either because the pandemic is depleted or a vaccine becomes available, we will begin moving instruction back into our facilities. Our hope is to be completely back in our facility by the fall of 2021. During this time open communication is crucial. We look forward to another exciting year of exploring art. We will continue to share updates with you. If you have questions, concerns or suggestions, please do not hesitate to contact us; the best way is through email.

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In Memoriam: Inez McClendon

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In Memoriam: Inez McClendon

It is with a very heavy heart that we must report to you that recently our dear friend and colleague Inez McClendon transitioned into her new life. She carried love and sunshine in her every step. This comes as a great shock and a blow to all of us. She will be missed dearly.

Paraphrase from the obituary:

"On Wednesday, April 15, 2020, Inez Kerr McClendon returned to Glory after 86 years of service and commitment to God, family, and community. Inez McClendon was an accomplished musician, actress, writer, and performer. She was a perfectionist at her crafts and shared her time and many talents with the world. She lived a life of service through her many performances and her teaching career that spanned 50 years. Even after retirement from the Newark Public School System she never skipped a beat and continued to mold and develop students of all ages at the Newark Community School of the Arts, where she also taught for more than 30 years. Her annual Christmas Extravaganza was a testament to the love and generosity she shared with everyone she encountered. Her love was unconditional, her heart was pure, her mind was sharp, her talents were uncanny, and her faith in God was unwavering. Her life and the manner she lived and worshiped was her greatest lesson plan for us all."

read the full obituary here

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Black Lives Matter: A Message From Our Leadership

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Black Lives Matter: A Message From Our Leadership

Dear Newark School of the Arts Family and Friends,

On behalf of the staff, faculty and Board of Trustees of NSA, we want to take a moment to share some words of hope and encouragement during these unprecedented times. The devastation of the Covid-19 Pandemic has impacted all of us. Here at NSA, we have lost members of our family to this horrible virus, as has almost everyone throughout the Newark community and the region. As if dealing with the trials and challenges of Covid-19 was not enough, we are watching in real time as our country and the whole world have erupted in condemnation of the killing of George Floyd by four Minneapolis Police officers. Sadly, the death of Mr. Floyd is not the first of its kind in our country where black men and women have died at the hands of the police. Black people in America are disproportionately represented in police related killings; they must stop. The NSA family stands firm in our support of community leaders and all the citizens of Newark in calling for social justice, a demand for racial equality, the eradication of police brutality and an end to systemic racism in our country. We also support and respect the right to peaceful protest. We should be outraged about social injustice and no voice should be silenced. Injustice and inequality for some is injustice and inequality for us all. Please know that NSA is here and that we care.

Larry Tamburri, Executive Director

Martin Berkowitz, President, Board of Trustees

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Kostumes for Kids

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Kostumes for Kids

"Kostumes for Kids is an organization dedicated to giving back to the dance community, and helping dancers feel more confident on stage while also relieving some of the financial pressures that come with performing arts. The organization was founded in 2019 by Abby Heltzer, Dani Pritikin, and Allie Benjamin, three high schoolers from Essex County, New Jersey who together have been dancing a total of 29 years. Being dancers themselves, Abby, Dani, and Allie are well conditioned to performing and therefore know just how much of an impact a great costume or additional dance class can make. In this spirit, Kostumes for Kids was founded to help gift others the magic of dance and improve their spirit, skill, and performance. In 2019 Kostumes for Kids began a costume drive in which over 200 costumes, shoes, and accessories were donated to the dancers and performers at the Newark School of the Arts. This year, due to COVID-19's restrictions on social gatherings which prevented another costume drive from taking place, Kostumes for Kids held a sale of Mother's Day flowers to be able to continue to support the dancers in their community. From this sale, Kostumes for Kids was able to donate over $600 to the Student Scholarship Fund at the Newark School of the Arts and help fund two scholarships to benefit talented dance students. Abby, Dani, and Allie are dedicated to giving back to their community and helping other dancers reach their potential and achieve their dreams. With Kostumes for Kids they look forward to continuing to support the Newark School of the Arts Dance Program and are excited for what is to come."

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Newark School of the Arts Celebrates  50th Anniversary April 10 at NJPAC

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media contacts: 

Carmen Santos-Robson carmen@newarkschoolofthearts.org 973.642.0133,

or Helen Paxton ahpassoc@gmail.com 973.714.0776

 

for immediate release

Newark School of the Arts Celebrates  50th Anniversary April 10 at NJPAC

Performance to Feature NSA Alumnus Savion Glover

 A half century of “changing lives through the power of the arts” in Newark will be celebrated at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) on Tues., April 10, when supporters, friends, alumni, faculty and current students gather to mark Newark School of the Arts’ (NSA) milestone anniversary.

World renowned tap dancer and NSA alumnus Savion Glover, whose dance lessons began at the school at age seven, headlines the presentation at NJPAC’s Victoria Theater.  He will be joined by other dancers, musicians and performers, many of them NSA alumni, for a variety showcase.

“I love the Newark School of the Arts and what it does for our city’s young people,” said Glover, who has made it a priority throughout his career to nurture the talents of young dancers and musicians.  High quality, affordable instruction and opportunities for Newark students in visual and performing arts have been the core mission of the school since its founding in 1968.

In addition to Glover, featured performers include vocalists Frankie Negrón, A-Larenee Davis, Carolyn Braga, and Gabriel De Los Santos; pianist-composer and NSA Conservatory Director Patricio Molina; pianists Jeffrey Swann (current NSA artist-in-residence) , Nadine Herman (NSA music director) and Alan Broadbent;  New Jersey Symphony Orchestra principal instrumentalists Erick Wyrick and Jonathan Spitz; and NSA board trustee, bass Kevin Maynor, who will perform a work by Pulitzer-prize winning New Jersey composer George Walker.

The performances will be preceded by a cocktail reception and auction of distinguished wines and followed by a formal dinner. Proceeds from the event will be used to strengthen the organizational capacity of the school and support expanded initiatives.  Those initiatives include building upgrades for the school’s home at 89 Lincoln Park and the NSA Conservatory Division, a new full-day Saturday pre-college division.

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NSA supporters Kathy Grier and her husband Mark Grier, vice chairman of Prudential Financial, Inc. and member of its Board of Directors, are gala co-chairs.  During the evening, the NSA’s success will be celebrated with stories of many of the school’s distinguished and successful alumni.  Among them are internationally-acclaimed opera singer, countertenor Derek Lee Ragin; 2017 MacArthur “genius” award winner, composer Tyshawn Sorey; concert pianist Hsing Ay-Hsu; jazz vocalist Cynthia Holiday; stage, film and television actress Kim Hawthorne; and salsa singer Frankie Negrón.

 

NSA currently offers individual, group and online classes, attended each week by 800 students of all ages.  NSA’s distinguished faculty teaches comprehensive courses in instrumental and vocal music, theory and composition, music production, theatre, dance, graphic and fine arts.

Students come primarily from the city of Newark, but also from surrounding communities.  NSA offers substantial scholarship assistance for more than half of its current students.

“We are immensely excited about showcasing the very best of what NSA offers our community,” noted Curtis Johnson, board chair of NSA, “and we are deeply indebted to the many sponsors who have made our 50th anniversary event possible.”  In addition to Prudential Financial, Inc. as the Lead Sponsor, major supporters include Inter-Atlantic Management Services, LLC; Kathy and Mark Grier, Cognizant, and PwC.

Tickets for the stage performance are available at $54 and $29 and for the entire event at $500; they are available for purchase at www.njpac.org. Information on full event tickets is available by contacting NSA Development Director Sherrie Thaler at 973.642.0133.  Media inquiries should be directed to Carmen Santos-Robson at 973.642.0133   or Helen Paxton at 973.714.0776.   
  

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