WITNESS School Program

The WITNESS School Program is an exciting opportunity for students and teachers to learn more abut the contributions African Americans have made, and are making, to the fine arts. The 2010-2011 WITNESS School Program will explore the impact and influence spirituals have had on American culture.  The program has three components: Artist Workshops, Teacher Resources, and Young People's Concerts.

View one of our Teaching Artists in the classroom.

WITNESS Artist Workshops

Partner schools host two visits from a WITNESS Teaching Artist who interacts with students for a 50-minute class period. Teaching Artists explore an artistic discipline using the American Spiritual as a framework. Depending on the artist, workshop activities may include composing a song; expressing a poem through movement; or painting a mural about hope and courage. VocalEssence provides workshops free of charge to all partner schools. Subsidies are available for schools seeking to further enrich students experience through extended workshops or residencies.

Teacher Resources

Participating Teachers must attend a half-day orientation seminar, which includes an introduction to the VocalEssence WITNESS School Program, an overview of the VocalEssence Teacher Resource Guide, the opportunity to engage with WITNESS Teaching Artists and strategies on incorporating WITNESS materials in the school curricula. The cost of the seminar is $20, which includes three clock hours of professional development credit and a copy of the WITNESS Teachers Guide.

WITNESS Young People's Concerts

A 50-minute concert designed to engage students in the music of American Spirituals. Special Guest Dr. André Thomas will lead the VocalEssence choir and special guest choirs in singing what some have called “America’s greatest art form.”

For more information, contact Kimberly Meisten at kmeisten@vocalessence.org, or 612-547-1456.