U-46 Youth to Premiere Hamilton Wings' SCORE! Original Opera "Destined Lives" on July 14
Hamilton Wings' SCORE! students developed every component of "Destined Lives", including the music, set and script, costumes, props and stage direction, while working directly with professional writers, composers, singers, actors, instrumentalists, designers, and directors.
"Destined Lives" takes place in present day California, amidst the ravaging wildfires. The students have developed a supernatural tale involving friendship and morality, which is ultimately overshadowed by the power of personal redemption for their opera. "Best friends. Loyal, moral and pure. Or ARE they? Supernatural forces engage the friends in a series of tests…but failing a test can cost them their souls".
SCORE! is a program of Hamilton Wings, an Elgin based not-for-profit, that works to promote leadership development and academic readiness of socially and/or economically challenged children ages 2 – 17 (although all students are encouraged to apply) through the use of and access to the arts through a variety of after-school arts integration programs throughout U-46.
Involving over 100 students annually, Hamilton Wings' SCORE! is a collaboration between Hamilton Wings, School District U-46 and Elgin Community College that uses the arts as a vehicle to promote leadership, self-development, and academic readiness among socially and economically challenged youth in the Elgin community. SCORE! students learn life skills such as the value of teamwork, group dynamics, and leadership through the 10 month process. All participants must fully participate in the intensive camps, workshops, and other small group activities throughout the year. The overall goal of SCORE! is to empower children and their families with an orientation for success through the opportunity to demonstrate their skills and abilities around a tangible public product.
Hamilton Wings' SCORE! is an In-Residence Ensemble at ECC, is a multi-year Coming Up Taller semifinalist (1 of 50 programs selected in the nation, annually) for the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities in Washington, D.C. (www.cominguptaller.org) and is recognized as a High Quality Academic Enrichment Activity by Learning Point Associates in the category of literacy (www.learningpt.org/promisingpractices/list.php).
The 2011-2012 season of Hamilton Wings' SCORE!, culminating with the debut of "Destined Lives," is funded by grants from the City of Elgin, Elgin Cultural Arts Commission, 21st Century Community Learning Centers, Section 511 of P.L. 101-166 (in partnership with District U-46), Florence B. Palmer and Cornelia A. Palmer Foundation, Target, EFS Foundation and additional corporate sponsorships and individual contributions.
Tickets for "Destined Lives" are $10 and available at the ECC box office located in the Visual and Performing Arts Center (Building "H"). To purchase tickets by phone, call 847-622-0300 or on the web at www.elgin.edu/arts. Tax deductible contributions can be made directly to Hamilton Wings. For more information about Hamilton Wings, call 847-697-0876 or visit www.hamiltonwings.org.