Hi all! Tomorrow at 1:00 we will be meeting with representatives from Washington Performing Arts. Here is some introductory info on the organization before we start our discussion. You can also check out this introductory video.
Washington Performing Arts is a non profit organization based in Washington D.C. The organization was founded in 1947 and originally titled the ‘Hayes Concert Bureau’, after its founder, Patrick Hayes. Hayes Concert Bureau was founded with a goal of presenting the best in the performing arts, while fulfilling a commitment to inclusi
on. In 1966, Hayes converted his for-profit organization into a non-profit, and rebranded it as the’Washington Performing Arts Society’, one of the first institutions of its kind. Through the organizations time as ‘Hayes Concert Bureau’ and as the ‘Washington Performing Arts Society’, it has always been praised for being ahead of its time on social issues, and for having a diverse board of directors. Patrick Hayes passed away in1998 after many years of hard work in the field, and was succeeded by Douglas H. Wheeler, and then by Jenny Bilfield, who is currently the President and CEO.
Men and Women of the Gospel Choir
The work that the organization does for the community is vast. They help to facilitate and fund performances, inviting in artists nationally and internationally, and helping to introduce local artists to wider audiences. They also do a lot of work in education of the arts, hosting programs and other educational opportunities year round for youth, adults, and seniors. One of their biggest programs they run is their gospel choir program. The organization has two gospel choirs, the ‘Children of the GospelChoir’, which runs from age 9-18, and the ‘Men & Women of the Gospel Choir’, which holds anybody older than 18. The choirs are run by Music Director Anthony “Tony” Walker, and they have many performances a year, including in the Kennedy Center.
Picture from an education program hosted by Washington Performing Arts
As for the guests that we will have joining us tomorrow, both of them work in the education department of Washington Performing Arts. Michelle Hoffmann is the Director of Education and Community Engagement for the company. Michelle got a BM in flute performance from Duquesne University, and since then has worked for various companies as an arts administrator, including Washington National Opera, and the DC Arts and Humanities Education Collaborative. There is not explicit information on the specifics of Michelle’s work, but as the Director of Education and Community Engagement she likely oversees a lot of the programs in DC schools and works with a lot of folks outside of the company.
The Navy Sea Chanters
Our second guest, Trisha Taylor, is the assistant director of Education at Washington Performing Arts. Trisha did her undergraduate work at Central Michigan University, where she acquired a BM degree in Music Education, and degree in Business Administration. She then got a masters degree in Arts management at American University. Before working at Washington Performing Arts, where she’s been for almost 7 years, Trisha worked at Sitar Arts Center, which is another D.C based non-profit organization which seeks to bring arts into the lives of children who have unequal access and opportunities. In her current role at Washington performing arts, Trisha manages the Embassy Adoption Program, which matches over 80 Embassies and partners with 5th and 6th grade classrooms for a year, she local artists, such as the US air force band’s singing sergeants and the Navy Sea Chanters with as many classrooms as possible to enhance learning of the arts, and is the main point of contact for diplomatic recruitment and stewardship.
Thanks for reading- I hope you all look forward as I do to our discussion with our representatives tomorrow!
-Will Fecko