WITNESS School Program

View one of our Teaching Artists in the classroom.

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 2009-2010 WITNESS School Program will celebrate the musical contributions that Sweet Honey In The Rock has made to bring about justice and freedom. The program has three components: Artist Workshops, Teacher Resources, and Young People's Concerts.

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 music of Sweet Honey In the Rock 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 a continental breakfast, lunch, and parking. Each participant also receives three clock hours of professional development credit and a copy of the WITNESS Teachers Guide

WITNESS Young People's Concerts

For over 25 years, Sweet Honey In The Rock has embodied the message of hope and positive change, with themes of personal development and social activism interwoven in their music. This Grammy Award-winning acappella ensemble will perform alongside VocalEssence highlighting the connection between music and activism.

For more information, contact VocalEssence Education Programs Manager, Julie Worden, at 612-547-1453 (jworden@vocalessence.org).