Mobile Opera InSchool Arts Education - Let Freedom Ring

Feb 19th, 2004

Mobile Opera is reaching out to the community through its InSchool Arts Education program. Let Freedom Ring is an educational program for schools throughout the Mobile and Baldwin county communities.

Christina DeVaughn is the soloist educating area students through the gift of music. The forty-five minute program focuses on Black History Month. Through song, Ms. DeVaughn teaches elementary to high school level children the importance of music in American history. Students learn how spiritual and work songs were used as both an emotional outlet and communication device for African-American slaves, as well as how the arts helped to open doors for African-American performers today. Ms. DeVaughn is accompanied in her performance by Fred Baldwin, well known to area patrons of the arts.

Ms. DeVaughn is a Boston native, and has earned a masters degree from The Boston Conservatory in Opera Performance. She has held operatic roles in numerous programs. For the past six years she has performed as a soloist in Langston Hughes’ Black Nativity, an annual Christmas favorite. In 2003 Ms. DeVaughn debuted in performances of Verdi’s Aida and Brahms Requiem. She also debuted as the soprano soloist in Michael Trippett’s A Child of Our Time.

Christina DeVaughn and Mobile Opera will be celebrating Black History month at local schools throughout the month of February. See the next page for times and locations. The InSchool Arts Education program continues in April, when Mobile Opera will present the classic children’s story of Hansel and Gretel. These programs are provided by Mobile Opera free-of-charge to the schools through the generous support of the following program sponsors.

Mobile Opera Education Sponsors:
Alabama State Council on the Arts, Mobile Arts Council, The City of Mobile, Mobile County Commission, Mobile Gas, Sybil H. Smith Charitable Trust, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Alabama, Alabama Power, Target Stores, SSI Group and Mrs. Ivey Williamson.

WED 11-Feb
9:00AM/9:45AM Maryvale Elementary
12:30/1:15PM Castlen Elementary

THUR 12-Feb
7:30AM WAVH
8:00AM WGOK
8:30AM WBLX
9:00AM/9:45AM Eichold/Mertz Elementary
1:00PM/1:45PM O'Rourke Elementary

FRI 13-Feb
9:00AM Semmes Elementary
1:15/2:00PM Martha Thomas Elementary

SAT 14-Feb Artist Day Off

SUN 15-Feb Artist Day Off

MON 16-Feb
11:00AM Blount High School
12:30PM WHIL

TUES 17-Feb
9:30AM/10:15AM Vaughn Elementary
1:00PM/1:45PM Dodge Elementary

WED 18-Feb
9:00AM Shaw High School
1:50PM Chastang Middle School

THUR 19-Feb
9:15AM Davidson High School
1:30PM Christ the King School

FRI 20-Feb
9:00AM Nan Gray Davis Elementary
1:00/1:45PM J. E. Turner Elementary