Program Theme Our concert program “Place” explores diverse geographies, languages and musical /cultural traditions from all over the globe, featuring a fusion of original and traditional music from our 6-7 piece ensemble, with a focus on Ghanaian/West African influences. West African dancing is included is showcased in our performance, featuring 1-2 dancers originally from Accra, Ghana. Program Description “Place” takes the original music of Heard and brings the audience somewhere special and distinct in each piece– like the crowded bustle of an Accra open-air market (Market Song), a winding wintry boulevard in Montreal (Cotes des Neiges) or the summer streets of Brazil. (Danca Verao) Through narrative storytelling around our compositional inspirations, we explore cultural, geographical and environmental dimensions of other countries and places. A slideshow featuring maps and photos from our group's recent trip to Ghana provide a beautiful visual backdrop to our performance. Heard musicians include: Elizabeth Woodbury Kasius, keyboards, Laura Andrea Leguía, woodwinds, Bobby Kendall, bass, Brian Melick, percussion, Zorkie Nelson, percussion, Forsino Nelson, dance, Augustina Nelson, dance. All of our members sing! Breakout workshops in West African dance and world percussion can accompany the residency experience. Some of the schools/libraries/museums we’ve performed for include: Troy City School District, Troy, NY--Schools 2, 14, 16, 18 and Carroll Hill Elementary schools Van Rensselaer Elem, Rensselaer, NY Lake George Elementary Lake George, NY Samaritan Children’s Center, Troy, NY Susan Odell Taylor School, Troy, NY Paige Elementary, Schenectady, NY North Colonie Schools, Albany, NY--Boght Hills and Latham Ridge Elementary Schools Saratoga Springs Public Schools- Division St. Elementary Robert C. Parker School, East Greenbush, NY Abram Lansing School, Cohoes, NY Salem State College, Salem, MA ACC, Queensbury, NY HVCC, Troy, NY College of St. Rose, Albany, NY World Awareness Children’s Museum, Glens Falls, NY Guilderland Public Library, Guilderland, NY Albany Public Library–Arbor Hill and Delaware Ave. branches Millbrook, NY Library Silver Bay YMCA Resort Camp Chingachgook YMCA camp

Offering a local author visit. The author will read the story aloud and talk about the process of writing and publishing a story. She will answer student questions and sign any books purchased.

Andre Chevalier offers various music based school assemblies on the topics of Anti-Bullying/Character Building, Mindfulness, Reading Celebration Show and a Multicultural assembly. From start to finish Andre will have your students engaged by utilizing lines of inquiry, storytelling and interactive songs to deliver the theme of the assembly. Andre's music styles range from Rock to Blues to Reggae to Folk and will have your Kindergarten through Eighth Grade classes up and moving. He specializes in working with Elementary aged children and has worked with educators to make sure his connection to curriculum is spot on. Andre was born and raised in Glens Falls NY and graduated from Sierra Nevada College in Lake Tahoe where he earned a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies Sustainability with a focus on music and education. Having recently moved back to the North Country, Andre has been traveling the west coast performing his assemblies in cities from San Diego to Seattle.

Musical assembly and Artist in residence programs. Songwriting can cover any topic you choose, character, SEL, school song, etc. Assembly topics include character, antibully, mindfulness, multicultural, health, respect tour, reading celebration and fun family nights. Very interactive and fun!

Sweet Sprig: Hands-On Natural Skincare Workshops for Teens With 25 years of artisan skincare experience Give your students the chance to connect science, creativity, and self-care with Sweet Sprig’s natural skincare workshops. Led by a seasoned maker with 25 years in the skincare industry, these engaging, hands-on classes teach teens how to craft their own facial care products, body scrubs, and candles—using safe, eco-friendly ingredients. Each workshop blends elements of chemistry, sustainability, and wellness in a way that resonates with today’s students. Teens will learn: How to make customized skincare using natural ingredients The science behind emulsions, essential oils, and preservation Responsible sourcing and sustainable packaging practices The importance of self-care and self-expression Workshops are ideal for health, science, family & consumer science, or art classes, and can be tailored to your curriculum or event. All materials are provided. Students leave with finished products, newfound confidence, and real-world skills they can use at home.

The Arts Engagement and Education Department serves as a vital bridge between artistic expression and community involvement. Rooted in the belief that art is transformative and essential for personal and societal growth, the department is dedicated to fostering creativity, nurturing talent, and promoting cultural understanding through various educational and engagement initiatives. Our mission is to enrich lives and strengthen communities through the power of the arts. By providing accessible and inclusive arts education, innovative programs, and meaningful community engagements, we aim to inspire creativity, cultivate diverse talents, and foster a deep appreciation for the arts. We offer many programs such as Junior Theatre Celebration, On School Time performances, a high school musical theatre awards program, residencies, 4 theatre camps, and more.

Top U.S. youth motivational speaker Jordan Toma, who wrote the self published book: I'm Just A Kid With An IEP* that has sold over 100,00 copies, with a social media presence exceeding 3.6 million followers is looking to reach and inspire people of all ages and abilities with his story and message: My Struggle Is My Strength. jordantoma.com *IEP = Individualized Education Program

A standard visit consists of three presentations of up to an hour each. With younger children I focus the talk around my first picture book, The Foolish Giant. For grades three and up I generally use my novel The Monster's Ring. Each session begins with some high energy storytelling and includes a fair amount of humor. Along the way I address where ideas come from, issues of editing and rewriting, and demonstrate how a story is put together. The sessions are designed to include practical tips on writing that teachers can immediately put to use in the classroom.

Our publisher visits bring the world of publishing to your classroom or library! Technology has made publishing more accessible than ever before, and it's important that kids learn how books are made from start to finish by creative people, not machines. Our school visits: - show kids what publishers do and who is involved in the book-making process - teach kids how a picture book takes shape, from manuscript to printed book - give students the opportunity to ask questions - include real-life examples for students to interact with - demonstrate how kids can publish their work through a fun zine-making activity

Ten80 offers high-energy programs that use dynamic technology and hands-on experiences to inspire students about careers, STEM pathways, the trades, and leadership skills. The most popular program engages a large audience in team-based challenges and culminates in a race using scale-model electric vehicles. Other options include classroom workshops, afterschool explorations, and professional development. All Ten80 programs include the "Ten80 T-Square" pillars of Tech (such as drones, autonomous vehicles, and renewable energies), Tools (from measuring tapes to spreadsheets to digital calipers!), Teamwork, and Tenacity. Ten80 has delivered programs all over the U.S and in China, and specializes in creating the “aha” moments that break down barriers so that every student can imagine a wider range of future opportunities.

The Kalish/Walker Duo offers interactive educational violin/piano performances for kids from pre-K through high school. We currently have the following shows ready to go; these can be adapted to different formats or audiences, depending on your needs. We’re also excited to write new shows to connect music with any other curriculum or theme you want us to cover. Available for masterclasses, chamber music coaching, and sectionals as well. A Whole Wide World of Musical Moods In this interactive performance, children will respond to classical music through movement, coming up with stories or scenes that match the musical ambience, and making art in response to the music. Featuring music by important female composers and black composers, students are encouraged to believe that they too could become composers one day. Grade levels: K-2, Categories: Music, Music-Classical, Social-Emotional Learning, Diversity Equity and Inclusion Musical Adventures in American History: Thomas Jefferson, Violinist in Chief Thomas Jefferson was not only the author of the Declaration of Independence and America’s 3rd president, he was also an accomplished violinist. Students will sing, dance and clap to the music that Jefferson himself knew and played. We’ll explore the musical form of “theme and variations,” with students identifying mood and emotion in music, and explore the American Revolutionaries’ fight for independence. Grade levels: K-2, Categories: Music, Music-Classical, Social-Emotional Learning, History Musical Adventures in American History: Thomas Jefferson, Revolutionary and Violinist Students will explore music from the time of the Revolutionary War (from fiddle tunes that Thomas Jefferson actually played in the White House to beautiful ballads like Johnny Has Gone for a Soldier), as well as later musical selections that illuminate American history and the ideals of the Revolution. Students will identify changes of mood and emotion in a theme and variations and learn to create and listen for hemiola (changing between 6 8th notes being divided into 2 groups of 3 and 3 groups of 2.) Grade levels: 3-5. 6-8 Categories: Music, Music-Classical, Social-Emotional Learning, History

Ryan's Story - Get ready to witness a life-changing assembly program that will leave a profound impact on students of grades 5 and higher. No other program can match the story of how one young life has the power to inspire positive change in the fight against bullying, cyberbullying, and teen suicides. This powerful true story will encourage students to turn their gaze inward, helping them examine how they treat others. Bystanders will be inspired to step up and stand with the victims, putting a stop to bullying in all its forms. At the same time, a message of forgiveness and love will be imparted to all present. As the creator of this transformative program, I firmly believe that depression was the root cause of my son's tragic passing. While bullying cannot be excused, we must also take note of the mental health issues that are often swept under the rug. I teach students how pivotal it is to seek help without delay if they or a friend are in crisis, reinforcing the importance of suicide prevention. This sensitive and age-appropriate program is tailored for students from grades 5-12 and lasts for a captivating 60 minutes. The story takes 45 minutes to narrate, following which the students will be engaged with powerful lessons learned from the story. These lessons include how forgiveness is healing and that self-advocacy paired with advocacy for others can prevent suicide. Students will leave the program inspired to become up-standers and to apologize when owed. Finally, they will know for certain that they are loved beyond belief. Book me for this life-transforming assembly and witness how one story can bring about a positive change in the world.