Howard Community College

HOROWITZ Howard County Arts Council Grant Engages Community in Production of Sunset Baby Howard Community College's Peter and Elizabeth Horowitz Visual and Performing Arts Center is a hub for arts and culture in Howard County. With a new grant from the Howard County Arts Council (HCAC), the Horowitz Center has the opportunity to connect even more county residents with the performing arts. The college's professional theatre in residence, Rep Stage, is one of three local arts organizations benefitting from a $25,000 grant awarded by the HCAC. In partnership with Howard County Poetry and Literature Society (HoCoPoLitSo) and Baltimore's Center Stage, HCC The Little Patuxent Opera Institute Provides Comprehensive Theatre and Music Training When most people think of opera singers, the image of a high school student probably does not come to mind. However, for aspiring vocal artists, the passion for classic vocal performances starts at a young age. The Little Patuxent Opera Institute (LPOI) is a workshop designed and managed by The Music Institute at Howard Community College for the benefit of emerging classical and will facilitate a number of community engagement activities surrounding Rep Stage's production of Sunset Baby, a play that will be presented in Smith Theatre in April and May 2015. The grant will support the implementation of community workshops, HCC co- curricular activities, and interactive performance talks, which will engage Howard County residents, national and international thinkers, online audiences, and a studio audience at Center Stage, via live streaming. The HCAC grant strives to extend the reach of arts programming to Howard County residents. Dr. Lisa Wilde, theatre faculty member and Rep Stage dramaturge, will coordinate collaboration between the three grant recipients. Sunset Baby, written by Dominique Morisseau and directed by Rep Stage co-producing artistic director, Joseph W. Ritsch, tells the story of a musical theatre singers. Over the course of five weeks, participants take a variety of classes ranging from Acting for Opera and Lyric Dictation to Alexander Technique and Movement. They also take part in a Lieder/Aria recital, a two- act event in which act one features small scenes from various operas and act two is a full production of a one-act opera. former black revolutionary and political prisoner who attempts to reconnect with his estranged daughter. The workshop offers two participant tracks: the Apprentice Program for current high school students who are studying classical singing and the Studio Program for current college students or graduates. Several participants of LPOI have gone on to pursue bachelor's and graduate degrees and are currently teaching music or performing opera and musical theatre. The Music Institute at Howard Community College is a community-based music school offering a broad range of noncredit quality music lessons, classes, coaching, and performing experiences. Visit howardcc.edu/tmi. 16 Howard Community College

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