Hamilton Wings' SCORE! celebrates 15th annual original opera
Two brothers from Mexico believe luck is on their side. Spurred by tragic events and jealousy, over time, their luck runs out. Discover how a cursed violin, family traditions and memories of lost loved ones heal one brother and allow him to touch other souls with his heavenly inspired music in "The Violin of Destiny."
How many people do you know that have created, developed and produced an original opera from scratch? Since 1999, Hamilton Wings, an education and arts-based 501(c)3 located in Elgin, has nurtured 800 students, age 10 to 13, through this daunting, yet achievable, accomplishment.
On July 18, 60 more students' names will be added to this list as SCORE! (Students Creating Opera to Reinforce Education) celebrates the premiere of the 15th original opera, "Violin of Destiny."
As a culmination of the yearlong process, the 2014-15 SCORE! students will be performing their original opera at 7 p.m. Saturday, July 18, at ECC's Building H/Blizzard Theater, 1700 Spartan Drive. Tickets for $10 are available for the Saturday, July 18, performance by calling the ECC box office at (847) 622-0300.
SCORE! is a 10-month, after-school program that involves up to 60 Elgin-area socially and/or economically challenged students (although all students are encouraged to apply). The youth, age 10-13, create, develop and produce an original opera. SCORE! places students in direct working relationships with professional singers, actors, composers, instrumentalists, creative writers, designers and directors. The production of the opera is a by-product of participation in SCORE! The overall goal of the program 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."
Through the program, students learn the value of collaboration, group dynamics and leadership skills through the process of creating an original opera.
All participants receive over of 140 hours intensive arts-based youth development workshops with professional arts-educators and artists. Students develop their one-hour opera over the course of 9 months during two, two-week long intensive camps, bi-weekly workshops and other working group meetings throughout the year.
At the end of the program, each student will be able to demonstrate the following knowledge and skills: effective decision-making, basic music theory; composition in the creation of written, visual, and/or musical works, and effective group leadership. Several evaluation tools are utilized throughout the program to measure the program's effectiveness.
SCORE! is the brainchild of Risé Jones, executive director of Hamilton Wings. Its mission is to promote leadership, self-development and academic readiness of socially and/or economically challenged children through the use of and access to the arts. Its core values and education strategies are based on best practices/principles of positive youth development. SCORE! is just one of Hamilton Wings' many programs serving Elgin's youth and families in which young people hold the primary responsibility for all decision-making related to the creative process and product development.
Other Hamilton Wings' programs include "Girls in Motion", "I'm Just Sayin': A Theatrical Experience for Girls," "Whassup?: A Theatrical Experience for Boys," "Mechanical Mayhem," "Project Journey" and "Development by Design."
Over the past 15 years, Hamilton Wings' SCORE! has received both national and local awards. The President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities has named Hamilton Wings' SCORE! as a Coming Up Taller semifinalist four times, distinguishing the SCORE! program as one of the top after-school and out-of-school arts- and humanities-based programs in the United States.
SCORE! was also selected by Learning Point Associates (formerly NCREL) as a high-quality academic enrichment activity, and is listed online at www.afterschool.org with a select group of nationally recognized programs (one of 44 nationally and the only one in Illinois at the time of the award).
Hamilton Wings received the 2001 Elgin Image Award due to its efforts in promoting a positive image of Elgin and also presented a 2002 Elgin Image Award for participation in the City of Elgin's successful All American City application.
This season is made possible through the generous support of Elgin Township/Summer Programs for Youth At-Risk, Elgin Cultural Arts Commission, Florence B. Palmer and Cornelia A. Palmer Foundation, Bethlehem Lutheran/Strawberry Festival and corporate and individual contributions. Hamilton Wings is an In-Residence Ensemble of Elgin Community College's Arts Center.
For more information on Hamilton Wings, its programs, or to make a tax-deductible contribution, contact Deanna Cates, director of operations and programs, at (847) 697-0876 or visit our newly designed website at www.hamiltonwings.org.