Cleveland Foundation Expands Arts Mastery Initiative to Include Tri-C Vocal Program
College receives $150,000 for program in partnership with Cleveland Public Library
Release Date: 3.1.2019
CLEVELAND — As part of its continued commitment to community arts mastery programs across nearly 20 Cleveland neighborhoods, the Cleveland Foundation has awarded a $150,000 grant to Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) to expand the College’s vocal arts program in partnership with Cleveland Public Library.
The grant will allow Tri-C’s Creative Arts Academy to provide free vocal and choral training to an additional 150 students in grades 3 to 12. The new program will launch this spring at Cleveland Public Library’s Glenville and South branches.
Tri-C’s Vocal Arts Mastery program builds upon the success of the Dance Mastery program, which flourished after the Cleveland Foundation awarded the College a 2017 grant to support an expansion into Cleveland neighborhoods.
“The success of the Dance Mastery program has been nothing short of phenomenal, and we are thrilled to welcome the Vocal Mastery initiative to the ever-growing selection of Arts Mastery programming,” said Courtenay Barton, Cleveland Foundation program manager for arts and culture. “Our recent study showed a significant interest at the neighborhood level for access to rigorous vocal training, and we believe this program has the chance to really take off beyond the initial sites.”
Students will build vocal skills and receive training in music theory, sight-singing and keyboard playing. A one-week summer camp is also planned. The program will operate under the artistic direction of renowned music educator William Henry Caldwell.
“A community that sings together stays together,” said Paul Cox, Tri-C’s dean of creative arts. “Thanks to generous support from the Cleveland Foundation, we will be able to reach more youth by connecting with them where they live.”
The Arts Mastery initiative gives Cleveland children access to high-quality arts programs in their neighborhoods. The Cleveland Foundation partners with organizations to deliver year-round, mastery-level arts programs that allow youth to develop qualities they need in adulthood.
Over the next year, more than 3,000 young people will have access to rigorous, high-quality arts mastery programming in 18 Cleveland neighborhoods. The free programming includes classical music, theater, dance, literary arts, photography and museum curation.
Registration is open and classes begin the week of March 18. For more information, call 216-987-6145 or visit www.tri-c.edu/creative-arts-academy.