Engaging and fun school assemblies that can focus on Kindness, PBIS, Growth Mindset, Leadership, Anti-Bullying and Reading. Three "Basketball" Jones presenters with over 15,000 assemblies performed all over the country. This is a highly recommended assembly that is extremely engaging for both the students and staff.

Megan Litwin is an award-winning children's book author and former educator with over ten years of classroom experience. She believes that reading is magic, writing is fun, and creativity is contagious! Megan offers a range of programs from curriculum-connected, hands-on classroom workshops centered around poetry or catching ideas to inspirational and interactive assemblies focused on the journey of a book from idea to publication. She also offers professional development workshops on the power of poetry and picture books in the classroom, singing/movement-based storytimes for preschool or kindergarten, and much more. Born and raised in the Capital Region, Megan loves coming back to work with New York schools.

EF Educational Tours is the Global Leader in International Education. Our focus is helping educators bring the classroom to life for their middle and high school students through travel opportunities. We provide a wide range of educator-led, international educational travel programs that support curricular priorities and social emotional learning as well as align with the New York State’s Portrait of a Graduate – specifically reinforcing Global Citizenship, Cultural Competency as well as the essential skill development. With over 300 itineraries across 50 different countries, EF has something that aligns with your priorities for your district. Arts education is woven throughout most all of our tour themes including: Language & Culture, Service Learning, STEM, CTE, Social Studies, Leadership and more. Every tour provides students with in-depth exploration, authentic connections and hands-on experience. For questions and to get a program started in your district – please contact Michele Ahouse: michele.ahouse@ef.com or 617-429-7554. To learn more about the types of programs we offer, please check out our collections page here: https://www.eftours.com/educational-tours/collections To learn more about our educational philosophy and alignment, please go here: https://www.eftours.com/our-story/educational-approach This performance supports the following NYS Learning Standards: Next Generation Learning Standards: English Language Arts: Comprehension and Collaboration (speaking and listening) Presentation of knowledge of ideas (speaking and listening) Next Generation Learning Standards: Mathematical Practices: Making sense of problems and persevere in solving them Learning Standards for Physical Education: Resource management Science and Engineering Practices: • Asking questions (for science) and defining problems (for engineering) • Planning and carrying out investigations • Analyzing and Interpreting data • Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information Learning Standards for the Arts: Creating (imagine, plan, make, envision, develop) Performing (rehearse, evaluate, refine, prepare, share) Responding (reflect, interpret, evaluate, critique) Connecting (relate artistic ideas with societal, cultural & historical context) Learning Standards for Technology Education: Tools, resources, and technological processes History and evolution of technology Impacts of technology Management of technology Program Categories: Animals / Environmental Education / Farms / Nature / Art / English / Language Arts / History / Math / Multicultural / Museums / Exhibits / Poetry / Science / Teamwork / Leadership Skills / Tourism / Wellness / Life Skills / Bully Prevention / Character Education Cost: Costs are dependent on destination, length of tour and time of year.

Lisa David offers a fun, engaging experience teaching oil painting or pottery to high school students. Lisa is an award winning artist from Saratoga County, NY. After a long career as a production potter, Lisa became an art teacher and earned National Board Certification. Lisa taught at Schenectady School District and at Shenendehowa in Clifton Park, NY where she instructed hundreds of students in advanced drawing & painting and craft classes. She took up painting still life, landscape and narrative paintings. Her simple approach to still life painting has advanced her hundreds of high school students into acceptance into the best art schools. Her emphasis on observational drawing, seeing color, using value and composition to engage the viewer are taught during instruction. Lisa’s vintage-inspired still life is sold online and through her gallery representation at Spa Fine Art, Saratoga. She often plein air paints (paint outside from life) and has taught numerous workshops and classes at Saratoga Arts Center. Her numerous high school students have recalled their plein air painting as their “best art experience." Her pottery skills are also exemplary. Lisa once owned Picket Pottery, a production pottery business, selling her functional wares across the country. Once represented with over 18 salespeople, her pottery was sold in hundreds of stores nationwide. Lisa still throws pots, although does so for enjoyment rather rather than for profit. If you are interested in having Lisa demonstrate painting or pottery and talk about the art of business, please reach out! She is a natural with students of all ages.

Marica Monori and Patrick Durkin (owners of Capital Ceramic Supply) offer a deep dive workshop into ceramics, firings, with an emphasis on wood-firings. The workshop consists of lecture time (a slideshow about the different types of clay and firings/kilns, all things wood-firing related), a question and answer section, and a 30 minute of hands-on work for students with wood-fire clay that we provide. Later on their creations will be fired in our wood kiln then returned to them as a unique piece of art and memory.

China Patterns Spectacular athleticism one moment, pure grace and precision the next. This program features a new interactive movement theater portion that will bring the Chinese classical poem of the folktale of Mulan to life, as well as a diverse selection of Chinese dances performed in full, traditional costumes. Students will get to learn Mandarin phrases, traditions, and dance movements through interactive segments included in the program. Program Length: 45 min

The Music Hall is committed to supporting arts education in our schools and throughout our community. By offering free and discounted performances for students, outreach opportunities with artists and masterclasses, we help to leverage our creative assets to make a difference in the lives of children and adults of all ages. Unison: Student & Families Membership Program The Music Hall is committed to welcoming all people into our performance space to enjoy the arts. The Unison Student & Families Program is designed to bring all members of the community together to enjoy the varied musical performances we present throughout the season by providing free seats to qualifying students and families. Learn more about the Unison Program here. School and District Partnerships The Music Hall works with teaching artists throughout the community to bring hundreds of arts enrichment, interactive programming into schools each year. The Music Hall is committed to integrating the arts into academic curricula, and works to design workshops that best serve our partnering educators in the classroom. Arts-Integrated Learning Approach The Music Hall values student engagement in a creative process that connects the arts to their academic studies. We provide a wide variety of arts programming to create inclusive and responsive learning opportunities in schools and at our venue. Artist Masterclasses and Workshops We strive to provide as many opportunities as possible for students of all ages to work with local and world-renowned artists. Students cultivate their skills and build valuable artistic experiences through the varied workshops and classes we offer each year. Connecting the Arts to the Classroom The Arts Matter! Live performances and interactive learning experiences give students the opportunity to be inspired, to create, and reflect. These fundamental experiences enrich students' academic studies; to equip students with the foundations for achievement both inside and outside the classroom by developing their creative capacity, thinking skills, and knowledge essential for lifelong success. Our Educational Performance Series, workshops, and matinee shows connect with classroom Academic Standards to allow educators the opportunity for scaffolding the student learning process. Teaching Artist Workshops: The Music Hall values the support of students and educators in our community by providing performing arts learning opportunities. Our exclusive Teaching Artist programs feature local artists and various arts organizations who, in collaboration with the Music Hall, work to provide artistic enrichment to teach and inspire a lifelong appreciation for the arts. By providing varied educational programming to the Capital Region, we strive to inspire meaningful learning, interactive exploration of the arts, and memorable experiences for students of all ages. Educational Performances & Activities at the Hall The Troy Savings Bank Music Hall is committed to supporting arts education in our schools and throughout our community. By offering free and discounted performances for students, outreach opportunities with artists and masterclasses, we help to leverage our creative assets to make a difference in the lives of children and adults of all ages. 2024-2025 Student Activities & Performances Thursday, March 27, 2025 11AM Frida Kahlo and the Bravest Niña in el Mundo Composer: Joe Illick, Librettist: Mark Campbell Program Date: Thursday, March 27, 2025 Program Time: Doors Open: 10:30a, Performance: 11:00a-12:00p 45 minute program with 5-10 minute Q&A at the end Short Summary: Frida Kahlo and the Bravest Niña in el Mundo is an interactive children’s opera composed by Joe Illick with libretto written by Mark Campbell. The story is about Mariana, a young girl living in Mexico City in the late 1940s. Mariana’s family encourages her to have her portrait painted by the renowned artist, Frida Kahlo. Mariana is initially frightened, but is emboldened and charmed by Kahlo, the animals in her household including a monkey, a parrot and a dog, and a visit by the exuberant artist Diego Rivera. As Mariana sits for her portrait, she learns all about Frida’s life, and begins to understand the meaning of bravery. The opera is appropriate for ages 5-11. $5 Tickets. Student Pricing to Mainstage Performances Interested in bringing your class to a mainstage performance at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall! Many of our shows throughout the season have exclusive student pricing: Date & Time Performance Tickets Tuesday, February 4 Troy Chromatic Concerts presents Steven Isserlis, Cello Recital *pre-concert activity: Prelude Conversations $15 Student Tickets Sunday, March 9 APM: Considering Matthew Shepard $15 Student Tickets Friday, March 22 Direct from Sweden: The Music of ABBA $15 Student Tickets Thursday, March 27 [STUDENT MATINEE] Frida Kahlo and the Bravest Nina in el mundo $5 Tickets Wednesday, March 26 Big Bad Voodoo Daddy $15 Student Tickets Friday, March 28 Gaelic Storm $20 Student Tickets Ordering Tickets: Call or email Jessica Bowen, Director of Education & Outreach with your request. (518) 479-9623 or jessica@troymusichall.org Payment Payment is accepted by check, major credit card or BOCES purchase order and is due no later than 14 days in advance of each show. Reservations not paid by the 14-day deadline will be canceled. Changes and cancellations No refunds or exchanges will be made after the 14-day deadline. We cannot guarantee seating for additional students if the show is sold out, but will accommodate as best we can to ensure all students have a seat at the show! Please be sure to reserve seating for all teachers and chaperones in addition to students. If your school district is closed or dismisses early due to weather, a credit will be issued to your account for the cost of your tickets. Communication regarding cancellation must be received by our box office prior to the performance. ADA Accommodations Please advise the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall of accessible seating needs when the order is place so we can make arrangements prior to your arrival. Interested in learning more about educational opportunities for your students? Please Contact Jessica Bowen, Director of Education & Outreach at jessica@troymusichall.org or call (518) 629 - 4016. ETUDE Student Volunteer Program REGISTRATION FOR 2024-2025 is NOW OPEN! Click the link below to register. Etude participants develop the skills needed for today’s workforce while engaging in a fun, fast-paced work environment. Participating students will work amongst event staff team at performances throughout our season. Students involved in this year’s Etude Volunteer Program will have opportunities to participate in many more of the departments on site including: Box Office and Ticketing House Management and Merchandise Stage Crew and Backstage Sound and Lighting Front of House and Seating The Etude Program is a great way to explore different career paths in the arts. Join us! All registered students must attend an ORIENTATION before their first volunteer session. This is included in the arrival times for your first show, which you'll find on the sign up form below. Eligible students in Grades 9 - 12 and/or undergraduate students will: Fulfill community service credits; Enhance their resume with valuable experience; Pursue the development of personal and professional skills; Explore varying career paths in the arts.

Clearwater offers a variety of Hudson River-based environmental education programs. Our signature program is the "Sailing Classroom" aboard the Sloop Clearwater which has become a model for onboard education programs across the country. Clearwater also offers a variety of onshore programming along the Hudson River in our "Tideline" program as well as in-class programming during which we bring a bit of the Hudson River to you. Clearwater's interactive education programs provide hands-on learning to engage students and promote "learning by doing." These programs can be catered to various ages and specialized to meet the needs of the students and teachers.

Brent Daniels is an entertainment industry veteran and award-winning music producer who uses the latest technology to sculpt sound and create music for Marvel Studios, Disney Studios, Netflix, Activision, Epic Records, and many more. His Virtual Music Technology assembly shows K-12 students how their everyday devices are used by professionals to create the music and sounds they love, and how they can do it too! Prepare to have your perception of virtual assemblies changed! Virtual Music Technology is a one-of-a-kind education and entertainment experience in which student volunteers contribute in real-time (rapping, shouting, singing) and help Brent create music on the spot. By the end of the show, your whole school will be up and dancing!

You Inc provides engaging programming for K-12 to encourage students to develop good money habits and growth mindsets about money early on and continuously throughout their development. Topics related to money and personal finance should be introduced to students at each grade level. Just as math and reading have several different facets and sub topics for children to master from kindergarten to 12th grade and beyond, personal finance also has its own nuances and categories that can and should be mastered early in a child's development and continue to evolve into more complex topics and subtopics as children grow and develop into young adults. By doing so, we develop a generation of financially secure adults who experience better financial outcomes due to making better financial decisions. Our workshops help students understand the basics of earning, saving, budgeting, and giving back. For younger children, we use interactive activities and storytelling to introduce financial concepts in a fun and relatable way, laying the groundwork for good habits and smart decision-making. For older students, we dive deeper, covering topics such as goal-setting, smart spending, credit, and pathways to building wealth—all tailored to prepare them for the responsibilities of adulthood. We also emphasize the importance of financial independence and provide students with tools to break free from cycles of financial instability that they may see in their communities. Our culturally competent approach ensures that all students see themselves reflected in the material, and we prioritize empathy, understanding, and real-life application in a way that fosters financial inclusion for all. Our team is certified in financial education from the National Financial Educators Council with over a decade of experience teaching financial literacy across New York State. We are also a certified NYS Minority and Woman-Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE). Our goal is to help K-12 students gain essential life skills and grow up feeling confident and capable in managing their financial lives. Let's inspire a generation of students who are not only financially aware but also equipped to pursue their dreams with a strong, sustainable financial foundation. In addition to k-12 programs, we offer Family Finance Programs for the entire family unit, including parents and caregivers. These one day programs can take place in the evening and students attend with their parents/guardians and two separate workshops take place simultaneously, equipping the family ecosystem to elevate their money conversations in the home, and providing tools and strategies to help parents optimize their family finances while nurturing a culture of healthy financial habits in the home.

Demonstration based assemblies focusing on the science of soap bubbles, light and color, and the wonder to be found in common situations. Beginning with a simple soap bubble we resist the urge to pop and instead observe as it goes through its four stages. We explain why bubbles form spheres at age appropriate levels and then show how multiple bubbles can create a variety of shapes including a cube. Participants are taught the tricks of bubble artists and in workshops they are given the opportunity to be successful. Altman taught high school physics for 35 years and traveled to science conferences speaking about his award winning programs focusing on lasers and holography. Retired, he as authored four science text books and one on the science of soap bubbles.

Deon Butler is a former NFL player, Author and Literacy Advocate.