(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- Hub City Opera and Dance Company Inc. has announced its first successful large-scale outreach project, made possible by grants from Church and Dwight Employee Giving Fund (EFG) and Investors Foundation. Through these grants of $3,000 and $500, respectively, children were given the chance to work with a professional opera company and discover what it takes to put on an opera.
The outreach project was created with the Highland Park School System and offered the Bartle Elementary School the opportunity to have children be in a production with lights, scenery, props, orchestra and costumes. With the assistance of Highland Park School System’s superintendent, Dr. Scott Taylor, the elementary school students were given the chance to perform or play an instrument in Paul Hindemith’s children’s opera, “We are Building a City.” The performance took place on December 6, 2018 at the Highland Park High School and was very well received.
For the project, six children performed and gained experience working with a conductor as well as a stage director, using props and building their own “city.” There were no adults performing in the production. Set designer Rory Angelicola designed the sets so the city could be built by the children. The stage went from a black and bare space to a city filled with color and lights. It was a magical night for all.
According to Géza G. Schenk, president of Hub City Opera and Dance, “For Hub City Opera, our productions are always a community creation. The grants from Church and Dwight and Investors Foundation were invaluable to the success of this project. With this kickoff project, we now have the groundwork for similar future projects. We are looking forward to expanding our reach into other school systems where music programs are not abundantly available to the children. We will be announcing other projects as the year progresses.”
Hub City Opera and Dance, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, based in Highland Park, NJ and formed in 2017, whose mission is to connect the Central Jersey community with important old and new works that educate and entertain. An important part of this community connection is bringing amateur and professional singers, musicians, dance and visual artists together to create performance art that is of a quality never before seen or heard. The company reimagines the relationship between opera and dance in innovative, integrated performances. The company’s mission includes enriching the community and bringing music education to the area through outreach programs offered to schools, colleges and civic institutions.
Investors Bank created the Investors Foundation in 2005 to support the communities Investors Bank serves. Investors Foundation supports initiatives in the arts, youth development, health and human services, education and affordable housing. Investors Foundation works to improve the lives of its customers and neighbors.
The Church & Dwight Employee Giving Fund, Inc. (EGF) is a workplace giving program that primarily supports charitable organizations in the communities in New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania. In the years since its inception, the EGF has become a cherished part of the Church & Dwight culture. Through 2017, the EGF has awarded about 1,700 grants totaling almost $10 Million to charitable organizations throughout the areas where our employees live and work.
