Overture Awards Introductory Workshop Comes to Pleasant Hill Academy

CINCINNATI ARTS ASSOCIATION NEWS RELEASE
June 20, 2006

Talented Minority Student Artists Sought
OVERTURE AWARDS INTRODUCTORY WORKSHOP

Thursday, July 20
Pleasant Hill Academy

Do you know a talented student who is looking for an artistic summer adventure? The Cincinnati Arts Association (CAA) is presenting a special OVERTURE AWARDS INTRODUCTORY WORKSHOP on Thursday, July 20 at 5 PM at Pleasant Hill Academy, located at 1350 North Bend Road. The program is designed to encourage minority high school students to participate in CAA’s Overture Awards – the largest high school arts scholarship competition of its kind in the nation.

In addition to preparing students for the Overture Awards competition, the workshop offers information about pursuing a college education in the arts, and provides access to local performers, writers, and artists who will share their real-world experiences. Students will also have an opportunity to present their performance or visual art to professionals, who will evaluate and critique the students’ work.

The workshop was presented for the first time in the summer of 2003 by CAA’s Building Diverse Audiences Advisory Committee (BDAAC), resulting in the selection of more than twenty students to participate in the 2004 Overture Awards Competition. One of these students has since established a mentorship with the Cincinnati Opera. Another student, Rachel Edwards, was awarded a special Vocal Music scholarship from the Overture Awards in 2003, which she used to pursue private voice lessons. Later that year, Rachel was a finalist in CAA’s presentation of Showtime at the Apollo on Tour at the Aronoff Center.

Each year, the Overture Awards provides $24,000 in scholarships to local students in recognition of their talent and achievements in six artistic disciplines: Creative Writing, Dance, Instrumental Music, Theater, Visual Art or Vocal Music. Twenty-four Overture Awards finalists are guaranteed to win at least $500, and the winner in each discipline is awarded a $2,500 scholarship.

CAA’s Overture Awards offers much more than an opportunity to win scholarships. Through the Overture Academy – a series of free master classes and workshops – students learn about careers in the arts, post-secondary education options, and other scholarship assistance. In addition, students have access to personal coaching and evaluation from area professionals and university instructors.

Overture Award Program Co-sponsors include: The Cinergy Foundation; The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation; and the Eleanora C. U. Alms Trust, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee. Scholarship Sponsors include: Citigroup, Toyota Motor Manufacturing North America, Inc., The William O. Purdy, Jr., Foundation-Dance Scholarship and U.S. Bank. Competition Sponsors include: The Corbett Foundation, The Western & Southern Financial Fund and SiteRightNow.com.

For more information, call (513) 977-4168 or email Dbango@CincinnatiArts.ORG

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CONTACT:
Van Ackerman
Director of Marketing / PR
CINCINNATI ARTS ASSOCIATION
650 Walnut Street
Cincinnati, OH 45202
(513) 977-4108 / office
(513) 477-8856 / cell
vackerman@cincinnatiarts.org
http://www.cincinnatiarts.org/