HEARTS PW Grants $30K in Arts Funding to Port School Programs

Port Washington children have cause to celebrate this week on the news that HEARTS PW has awarded more than $30,000 in grant funding to 17 applicants this year for a wide variety of programs.

HEARTS PW, a nonprofit organization which stands for Helping Enrich the Arts in Port Washington’s schools announced the list of recipients this week. Through the application process, each pitched their creative ideas for arts programming in connection with the schools to a rigorous review by the HEARTS Executive Board. 

Among the winners are: “Curtain’s Up!”, an after-school program where fourth and fifth grade students district wide will participate in a full musical production “Night of 1000 Strings” in which an original piece of music has been commissioned for string students in grades 4-12 to be performed during the Night of 1000 Strings Concert; Visiting author Thanhha Lai, whose book, Inside Out and Back Again, recently won the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature, will share her experiences as a writer and Vietnamese refugee with tenth grade English classes and students pursuing honors projects in English and social studies.

“We commend our 2014 grant recipients for their wonderfully creative new initiatives, that bring new opportunities and add value to existing visual and performing arts programs in the Port Washington School,” says Michele Posner Goldman, president of HEARTS. “We are looking forward to seeing the positive impact that it has on the students in all of our elementary schools, as well as middle and high school.” 

All recipients will be honored at The Red Party, HEARTS PW’s first annual winter party to be held at Diwan on Feb. 13 from 7-10 p.m. Admission is $40 per person, and includes live music, wine and beer, as well as American and Indian hors d’oeuvres and desserts. Red is the recommended attire. A student jazz band will be on hand to entertain the group.

For a $5 contribution, patrons may fill out a personalized Love Note which HEARTS will hand-deliver it for Valentine’s Day.  

Donations are also being accepted online at www.heartspw.org.

The list of recipients include:

Curtain’s Up: An Elementary Musical Theatre Experience! (District Wide)

Allison Friedman & Stacey Baker

Fourth and fifth grade students district wide will take part in an afterschool musical theater program/club. Students will put on a full musical production containing singing, dancing, costumes, and scenery.

Night of 1000 Strings (District Wide)

Anthony Pinelli, Diane Fish, Carol Garofalo, Nicole Brunetto, Carly Valentine, John Aikos, Sheri Suzzan.

An original piece of music will be commissioned for string students in grades 4-12 to be performed during the Night of 1000 Strings Concert.

Let’s Play Ukulele (South Salem Elementary)

Allison Friedman

The purchase of 30 ukuleles will be used as part of a new six-eight week music unit for fourth and fifth grade Salem students. Students will learn how to play a new instrument, be able to play as soloist and as part of an ensemble, and apply the musical skills they have been learning since kindergarten.

Broadway Workshop (Manorhaven)

Stacey Drucker

Fifth grade students will experience and actively participate in a hands-on, real Broadway rehearsal with staging, choreography and music led by actual performers from the show that they will see later the same day.

Art of Collaboration (Guggenheim Elementary)

Maribeth Betsch, Teresa Marussich & Dennis Trottier

“Theatre Moves” will bring their nationally recognized program “The Three Cs” (Concentration, Collaboration and Commitment) to Guggenheim’s 4th Graders. Students will write, analyze and interpret stories for ensemble stage performance while building self-discipline and teamwork.

The Song Within Us (Daly)

Ruth Addeo

Renowned choral composer, Jim Papoulis, will work collaboratively with fifth graders to write and record an original song for their spring concert.

Color Printer (Daly)

Lisa Heath

A color printer will be used to enhance the art department for all Daly students.

Select Pop Choir (Weber Middle School)

Matthew Gawronski

Current Chamber Choir members in grades six, seven, and eight will have the opportunity to audition for and join a select choir focused on the elevated performance of popular music. 

Expanding Needs of Drumline (Weber Middle School)

John Meyer, Jr.

The purchase of marching band symbols for sixth grade students will help rebuild and expand the high school marching band.

Artist in Residence Program: Tile Mural – World Peace (Weber Middle School)

Trish Wright

Eighth grade art students will have the opportunity to work with a professional artist to create a clay tile mural with a theme of world peace to be displayed permanently in the halls of Weber. 

Author Visit: Thanhha Lai (Schreiber High School)

Sara Brock

Author Thanhha Lai, author of Inside Out and Back Again, which recently won the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature, will share her experiences as a writer and Vietnamese refugee with tenth grade English classes and students pursuing honors projects in English and Social Studies.

From Band Room to Broadway (Schreiber)

Mark Brenner

Acclaimed French Hornist and Broadway veteran Sheelagh Abate currently rehearsing for Broadway’s "Little Miss Sunshine," will share insights into becoming a musician with the band and orchestra as well as hold a two-hour in school clinic for all Schreiber French horn players.

Investigating a Cohesive Series of Artwork: Form, Narrative & Context (Schreiber)

Marisa DeMarco

Guest lecturer and contemporary artist Claudia Trombin will lead a hands-on, interactive demonstration of painting techniques for AP Art and Advanced Painting students highlighting the importance of personal narrative and creating thematic works of art in connection to AP Concentration Portfolios and Mini Painting Series.

Hey Let’s Jam! (Schreiber)

Anthony Pinelli, Jr.

Sara Caswell and Joe Brent, an accomplished jazz violinist/mandolin duo based in NYC, will lead a day long workshop teaching students how to collaborate with friends to create their own sound, style, and genre of music and to organize their needs as an ensemble or duo.

The Memory Project (Schreiber)

Miranda Best

The Art Honor Society will create portraits of teens and children around the world who have been orphaned, neglected, or disadvantaged to provide them with special memories that capture their childhood.

Our Life Through Pictures: Photographic Documentation through Personal Narrative (Schreiber)

Kris Murphy

Robin Miller, folk artist and educator, will present a lecture and hands-on workshop that highlights the Harlem Renaissance and a survey of 20th century photographers in the development of personal narrative works through photography and design.

Main Stage Productions (Schreiber)

Lauren Foster-Holzer & Christine Nelson

Funds will help offset the cost of the theatre program at Schreiber.