Musical Arts Concert energizes audience 

At various times during the evening, Memorial Hall in Over-the-Rhine was filled with the rich sounds of violins, the rhythmic beat of drums and the melodic blending of kids’ voices as 135 students from five Cincinnati Public schools performed their Musical Arts Concert Thursday, May 24, to close out another school year.

The students—from Bond Hill Academy, Carson School in West Price Hill, Evanston Academy, Hays-Porter Elementary in West End and Withrow University High School in Hyde Park—performed for parents, grandparents, and other relatives and supporters. The concert was the annual capstone of the After-School Program conducted in the schools by FamiliesFORWARD, a nonprofit United Way agency partner founded in 1875. Click here to see some photos.

P. Ann Everson-Price, an entertainer, actress and radio/TV personality, served as mistress of ceremonies, keeping the audience roused by encouraging sing-alongs and clapping at the event. Everson-Price serves as the director of Cincinnati Super Choir, a 70-member group of singers ranging from 5 to 25 years old.

The Bond Hill, Carson, Evanston and Hays-Porter violin classes started the event with renditions of “We Will Rock You,” “Cabbage Variations,” and “Lean on Me.” Carson’s hip-hop class then performed to “Calling All the Monsters,” followed by the Bond Hill hip-hop class’ “Fireball” performance.

The Withrow choir belted out “Smile,” “Reflection,” and “Bonse Aba,” and Carson’s choir sang “How Does a Garden Grow?,” “Eve the Waters,” and “I’d Rather Be Happy.”

With grace and elegance, Evanston’s ballroom dance class engaged in swing dancing just before intermission.

After the break, the drumbeat of the African dance “Majani”—a crowd favorite—energized the audience as students from each of the elementary schools took turns performing various interpretations of the musical dance. The djembe drums were played by Aaron Martin, and Kaia and Kijai Khamisi, who have worked in the FamiliesFORWARD After-School Program for more than 10 years.

The show closed with Hays-Porter’s hip-hop class performing “Forever Young”; Bond Hill’s ballroom dance class slow-stepping to the “Rilassamento” waltz, with instructor Bud Walters participating; Evanston’s hip-hop class dancing to “Back Break”; and Withrow’s ballroom dance class performing a Zuzu samba.

“This event is a huge confidence booster for many children,” FamiliesFORWARD Executive Director/CEO Deborah Allsop said. “They practice for weeks, and when they get on stage and perform so well in front of so many people, it encourages them to go on and try other music, arts and academic pursuits. Music and the arts help the kids with creativity skills, and the kids also learn self-discipline.”

FamiliesFORWARD provides comprehensive social services to students and their families in five Cincinnati Public schools. It helps children develop good homework habits, social skills, conflict-resolution and anger-management abilities, healthy attitudes and healthy eating practices. The agency also provides parents with workshops to help them be better mothers and fathers.

The music and arts program is just one of the services offered in FamiliesFORWARD’s After-School Program. Additional information can be found at familiesforward.net.

—Bill Ferguson Jr.