from our December 2007 newsletter

Stacey Robinson with students Forest Heights Elementary January 2007 Residency.

Dear Friends and Supporters of FBN,

As we are all rush around this time of year, I hope we can pause to remember things that are important to us. Obviously, FBN is important to our young singers as they hone their performance skills. Take a moment to catch up on the incredible variety of work they are engaged in everywhere, from their hometowns to the stages of the opera houses and concert halls all over the world. And please note a first for one of our alums -this year Jessica Rivera was featured on the 2007 Grammy Award winning best opera album.  FBN Productions, Inc. is extremely proud of all our talented and hardworking alumni; their work in opera, music, theatre and education bestows honor on what we continue to do.

And FBN is important to our young audiences, although most of them probably don’t even know it yet. Last January FBN was privileged to participate in a residency at Forest Heights Elementary School in Columbia. During our week together it became clear once again how important it is to have good teachers. The music teacher at Forest Heights, Sally Utley, is excellent and the young people are lucky to have her. It was such fun to watch these students learn the basics of opera story telling and listen to some of our singers, including Greg Jebaily who plays the papa in our new production of The Coffee Cantata.

How many of us have thought about our teachers, not necessarily the ones we liked the best, but the ones from whom we learned something special, something that has stuck with us? We dedicate our 2008 season to all teachers, but especially those who embrace arts education and know its value in the lives of our young people. I know I have been fortunate to have so many wonderful teachers and I’d like to thank a just few of them right here – Miss Elise Currell, Shirlee Teuber-Goins, Dr. Marianne Holland, Dr. Mary C. Anderson, Dr. Rupert Barber, Joe St. Germaine, Dr. Tony Abbott, Dr. Bob Avinger and especially Julie Blakeley (JBT). Education is a lifelong process for all of us, but for opera singers, it is constant lessons and coachings – piano lessons maybe, voice lessons, acting lessons, role coachings, dance lessons. FBN provides a bridge for young singers from the academic world to the professional world and a chance to put those lessons into practice.

Many singers will go onto become teachers themselves and I’d like to salute several FBN singers who have done just that – Copeland Woodruff Assistant Director of Opera Theater, at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Ohio; Rhoda J. Paschal Director of Vocal Activities at A. C. Flora High School in Columbia; Dr. Kerry Jennings chair of the voice division at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA; Joe Dan Harper voice faculty at SUNY Fredonia School of Music in Fredonia, NY. 

Ladies and Gentlemen, FBN Productions has been a part of the education of young people for 11 years now. Won’t you help us continue? Our fund raising goal this year is ambitious - $150,000.  That’s less than a dollar a child for each child who has seen a production since 1996.  Please consider increasing your contribution. Or if you haven’t helped FBN in the past, but you believe in arts education and music as a vital part of the fabric of life, please consider donating this year.

We wish you joy of the season. Be well.  
Sincerely,
Ellen Douglas Schlaefer

 
FBN Productions
Ellen Douglas Schlaefer, General Director
716 Old Forge Road
Chapin, SC 29036
803-345-6638 or 888-4 FBN KIDS
email: ellen@operaforkids.org