Esther Stilwell, Lewis Grosso accompanied by the Sing Liberty 125!

Choir Contest Winners – Brooklyn High School of the Arts performed “Huddled Masses”

the Brooklyn High School of the Arts!

We are pleased to announce that the choir from the Brooklyn High School of the Arts has been chosen as the winner of the You Sing Liberty 125! Choir Contest, and will be performing with us at the 125th Anniversary Celebration at the Statue of Liberty National Monument on October 28th, 2011! We want to extend our thanks to all who entered and congratulations to the Brooklyn High School of the Arts on their achievement.”

BHSA in Brooklyn, choir director Avid Williams

The Brooklyn High School of the Arts Vocal Department is designed to develop the singer as a complete artist who will be able to audition for any arts university in the world. Students accepted into the program will participate in a challenging and rigorous course of study. The program offers music theory, including rhythmic, harmonic, solfege-graded exercises; and vocal production five days a week. Our repertoire is a broad selection of musical styles, which include classical, ethnic, folk, and pop music. There is an emphasis on choral singing, as well as Solo singing. Repertoire for Solo singing including the five main languages (Italian, French, German, English, and Russian). Through the leadership of Mr. Williams, graduates of this program have furthered studies in music including institutions such as Morehouse College, Nyack College, SUNY Plattsburgh, University of Bridgeport, Kingsborough Community College, Hobart and William Smith College, American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA), New York State School Music Association Summer Music Institute.

Featured Finalists:

PS1 in the Bronx, conductor/submitter Iris Yi Chen Cheng

MS216 in Queens, conductor/submitter Eva Liang

To read more about our performance at the Gala, click HERE.

As citizens of the United States, it is our responsibility to uphold this principle in our everyday lives and to stand up when our individual freedoms are compromised. As an elected official, I strive to ensure that the most vulnerable among us are treated equally and in accordance with their civil rights and liberties. Today, immigrants in our country face barriers that, at times, appear insurmountable. It is imperative that we provide social services and support  to recent immigrants worthy of the ideals that our country was founded on. We cannot let these newcomers fall through the cracks. We must provide language and job training to those who require it as well as make sure that all citizens of this country know their rights under the law. As the representative of the historic seat of the story of immigrants in our country, I take this responsibility very seriously.  For thirty years I have fought to ensure resources for underserved immigrant populations and to encourage political organization and participation in these communities. In this time, we have seen new political and community organizations take root in our immigrant communities. While there has been significant progress, we must continue to make our voices heard. I thank those behind Liberty: A Musical, for this  poignant reminder of how the experiences of those who came before us continue to echo in our society today.

At his bar mitzvah at the Park Slope Jewish Center last fall, Jesse Naranjo said to himself the words that are so integral to the coming-of-age ritual: “Today, I am a man.”

By giving his bar mitzvah money to a musical about the Statue of Liberty, this immigrant’s son proved he’s also a mensch.

The Middle School 51 eighth-grader is donating $2,700 he got as gifts to help producers of “Liberty: The Musical” take it to a major Manhattan venue.

Click HERE to read more!

Contest Rules:

• Video contest for School Choir / Grades K-12. Music Educators will submit a video recording of their school choir (or choirs) performing the song HUDDLED MASSES from LIBERTY: A Monumental New Musical.

• Submission deadline has been extended to October 1, 2011*.

• All video submissions will be posted on LIBERTY: A Monumental New Musical’s website and YouTube Channel.

• 5 winning choirs will be chosen for the final video compilation. Announcement of winners will be made by December 1, 2011.

• All contest winners will be invited to perform in a performance of LIBERTY during the 2011-2012 school year. All students will also be offered a discount to the show for participating.
  

• All Teachers (or submitting Educators) who submit a choir video will receive one complimentary pair of tickets to see LIBERTY: A Monumental New Musical.**

• Questions? Please write us at Liberty@LaVieProductions.com

• The Submission Form & Waiver Forms are available HERE for download. Please be sure that every participating student (ie: singer, videographer, editor, etc…) completes a Waiver Form.

• The Sheet Music for Huddled Masses is available for download HERE and Recorded Piano Accompaniment can be downloaded HERE.

Thank you for participating in the PSS Liberty 125! Choir Contest! We look forward to receiving your videos and experiencing your and your students’ talents!

Please take a moment to LISTEN to the demo recording featuring American Idol finalist Diana DeGarmo. You can also visit us on Facebook.

* contest closing date may be extended or reduced by Producers if necessary – announcement to participating entries will be made.

** subject to availability. All efforts will be made to accommodate all date requests, but alternatives may be required. Upon the opening of the show in NYC, all submitting teachers will be contacted by Producer ‘s representative.

PS1 in the Bronx, conductor/submitter Iris Yi Chen Cheng

MS216 in Queens, conductor/submitter Eva Liang

We work to:

• Create a humane society – one that puts the needs of people over profits, responsibility over power and democracy over institutions.
• Eliminate injustice, discrimination, ageism wherever they exist.
• Bring together young and old, women and men of all backgrounds and orientations, to work in unison, with mutual trust and respect.

For more information on Gray Panthers, click HERE.

The cast was accompanied by Music Director Jeffrey Lodin on keyboards.

The creative team behind the production consisted of:

Dana Leslie Goldstein – Book and Lyrics
Jon Goldstein – Music
Ryan Ratelle – Publicity
The Pekoe Group – Marketing & Advertising
Michael Cassara, CSA – Casting
Heather Hogan* – Stage Manager
Jason Pelusio* – Assistant Stage Manager
Sean Hagerty – Sound Engineer
Erin Craig/La Vie Productions – General Management
Music Direction – Jeffrey Lodin
Director – Igor Goldin
Producer – Theresa Wozunk

*Member of Actors Equity

The performance will last approximately 90 minutes.

The staged readings will be at The Beckett Theatre at Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street between 9th and 10th Avenues) and starring Mark Aldrich, Ryan Duncan, Suzanne Grodner, C. Mingo Long, Beth McVey, Adam Monley and Emma Rosenthal.

For more information, please contact liberty@lavieproductions.com.