2021 Individual Artist Fellowships Awardees Announced by the Delaware Division of the Arts

This post content comes from a press release from the Delaware Division of the Arts...

The prestigious Individual Artist Fellowships from the Delaware Division of the Arts recognize artists in a variety of disciplines for their outstanding quality of work and provide monetary awards.

This year 121 artists applied and 25 were awarded fellowships in the following categories: one Masters; 14 Established; and 10 Emerging. Because of limited programing due to COVID in some of the Division’s regular grant categories, the Division was able to allocate additional funds to the Fellowship categories, thereby enabling the Division to recognize more artists this year. 

Awards are given in three categories: $10,000 for the Masters Award, $6,000 for the Established Professional Award, and $3,000 for the Emerging Professional Award. Fellows are required to offer at least one exhibit or performance during the upcoming year, providing an opportunity for the public to experience their work. Additionally, the work of the Fellows will be featured in a group exhibition, Award Winners XXI at the Biggs Museum tentatively set for June 4-July 25, 2021.

“Individual Artist Fellowship grants provide the recognition and exposure that artists need to successfully promote their work,” said Paul Weagraff, director of Delaware Division of the Arts. “The financial award allows them to pursue advanced training, purchase equipment and materials, or fulfill other needs to advance their careers. The Division was pleased to be able to allocate some additional funds to the Fellowship categories this year, thereby enabling the Division to recognize more artists this year.”

Masters Award ($10,000)

• Jennifer Margaret Barker, Newark, Music: Composition

Established Award ($6,000)

• Fostina Dixon (Bear), Jazz: Performance
• Howard Eberle (Lewes), Visual Arts: Painting
• Knicoma Frederick (Wilmington), Folk Art: Visual Arts
• Mara Gorman (Newark), Literature: Fiction
• Eliezer Gutman (Wilmington), Music: Solo Recital
• Harold Kalmus (Arden), Visual Arts: Crafts
• Kim Klabe (Rehoboth Beach), Visual Arts: Works on Paper
• Jack Knight (Long Neck), Visual Arts: Sculpture
• Cassandra Lewis (Wilmington), Literature: Playwriting
• Jame McCray (Smyrna), Dance: Choreography
• Terry Miller (Milton), Literature: Creative Nonfiction
• Jane C. Miller (Wilmington), Literature: Poetry
• Richard Raw (Wilmington), Folk Art: Music
• Eric Zippe (Wilmington), Visual Arts: Photography

Emerging Professional Award ($3,000)

• Ann Marie Brzozowski (Wilmington), Literature: Fiction
• Shari Dierkes (Clayton), Visual Arts: Crafts
• Siobhan Duggan (Lewes), Visual Arts: Works on Paper
• Denise Eno Ernest (Newark), Visual Arts: Painting
• Jason Jellick (Wilmington), Visual Arts: Photography
• Carrie Sz. Keane (Milton), Literature: Creative Nonfiction
• Todd Kilgoe (Bear), Jazz: Composition
• Jack Mackey (Rehoboth Beach), Literature: Poetry
• Theresa Taylor (Dover), Folk Art: Visual Arts
• Njideka Wiggins (Wilmington), Literature: Playwriting

Not Your Grandmother’s Nutcracker: Wilmington Ballet Announces Virtual Nutcracker Experience

Information in this post comes from a press release from The Wilmington Ballet Academy of the Dance.

While COVID-19 and socially distant restrictions have shut down the majority of arts organizations around the world, the Wilmington Ballet have been pirouetting full force into the new – a new philosophy, new staff, and a new way to bring the holiday tradition of The Nutcracker to families across Delaware for the 53th year. 

From December 7-12, sugarplums will dazzle, mice and soldiers will battle, and snowflakes will swirl as the Wilmington Ballet presents their completely virtual Nutcracker Experience. This five-night, online event will feature a mix of pre-recorded and live videos. The ballet will be performed in venues across the Greater Wilmington area, including The Delaware Art Museum and The Playhouse on Rodney Square.

Viewers can expect to be blown away by this year’s guest stars:
• Akua Parker - Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Academy of the Dance alumna
• Georgina Pazcoguin - New York City Ballet Soloist
• Lateef Williams – Royal Ballet of Flanders, Wilm Ballet Alumni
• Amanda Smith - Dance Theater of Harlem
• Anthony Santos – Dance Theater of Harlem
• The Voloshky Ukranian Dance Ensemble

“We really had to test our creativity this year and expand the performance to fit the current times we find ourselves in,” said Benjamin Cannon, Wilmington Ballet’s new Executive and Artistic Director. “It was important to us to keep this tradition alive for our community. Now more than ever, a sense of ‘normal’ and familiarity is so needed, and our hope is that by presenting The Nutcracker in a new and innovative way, we can help families hang on to a holiday tradition they may have otherwise had to forego.” 

This year’s ballet will be presented virtually on new virtual events platform Markee – created locally in Downtown Wilmington. Since quietly launching in June 2020, Markee has hosted more than 100 events, including the New Castle County Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner, EasterSeals Delaware and Maryland’s Easter Shore Annual Caregiver Conference, and an event for The Future Party.

Other local organizations involved in this year’s production include:
• DelawareArt Museum
• Pieces of a Dream Academy of Dance
• McAlleer-Paulson School of Irish Dance
• Stage Lights Dance Academy
• The Playhouse on Rodney Square

“Including and becoming more a part of our local community was imperative to us,” said Christopher Davis, the ballet’s Associate Artistic Director. “We were floored when we were introduced to Markee and could not sign up fast enough when we learned it was built just a mile from our studio! The Delaware Art Museum has been an incredible partner, and we fully intend to include as many community organizations as possible in our programming going forward.”

Cannon and Davis, both with impressive backgrounds featuring Broadway and professional dance companies, are hoping to use this year’s performance as an introduction to the new Wilmington Ballet and Academy of the Dance. The long-term plans for the dance company include adding more diverse class options, community programming, extensive building updates, and an exciting rebranding project with local branding agency BrandSwan.

The Tuttleman Foundation Presents: The Nutcracker Experience
• Monday, Dec. 7 – Wednesday, Dec 9: 7pm
• Thursday, Dec. 10: 8:30pm (Special presentation in conjunction with Delaware Art Museum)
• Friday, Dec. 11: 7pm
• Saturday, Dec. 12: 2pm (Special matinee with guest stars from the historic Playhouse on Rodney Square)

Tickets ($75 per single household) are on sale now at https://events.wilmingtonballet.org/the-nutcracker-experience.

(The Wilmington Ballet asks that viewers continue to follow the Delaware State of Emergency guidelines that have been put in place. They have priced tickets per household to encourage social distancing. Once purchased, ticket links are unique and cannot be shared.)

About The Wilmington Ballet at the Academy of the Dance
Founded in 1956, as the Academy of the Dance, Wilmington Ballet has the longest-standing tradition of excellence in dance training in the region. Wilmington Ballet’s professional faculty is dedicated to providing exceptional ballet training to students of all ages. Wilmington Ballet students have advanced to the world’s top companies, including American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Martha Graham Company, Royal Ballet Flanders, Boston Ballet, Dance Theatre of Harlem, as well as Broadway and more. Since 1967, the annual performance of The Nutcracker at the Playhouse on Rodney Square has provided our students the opportunity to perform with world-class professional artists and live orchestra. Wilmington Ballet is conveniently located in the Trolley Square neighborhood at 1709 Gilpin Avenue. The Wilmington Ballet is supported, in part, by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts.  More Information: www.wilmingtonballet.org.

Arts in Media Clients Create Virtual Music This Fall

By Morgan Silvers
Morgan is a high school senior who enjoys playing sports like field hockey and soccer, and loves spending time with friends. She notes she's happy to have a chance to help write about events and media! In the future, she hopes to pursue a career in either Fashion Merchandising or STEM.

BRANDYWINE BAROQUE
Delaware's ensemble where "early music lives" has shifted performances into the virtual realm. Currently in the middle of their 2020-2021 Virtual Concert Series, their "Concerts at the Flint Collection" can be viewed virtually. 

Their series includes performances by ensemble and guest artists and features works from their recently released CDs. All performances premiere Sundays at 3:00pm (EST) on Brandywine Baroque's new Vimeo channel.

The ensemble schedule premieres new performances approximately every two weeks. Each performance is about 30 minutes in length and is free to view.

The next concert will premiere Sunday, November 22 at 3:00pm and will feature Brandywine Baroque Artistic Director Karen Flint, performing Pieces in G minor by Jean Henry D’Anglebert on the 17th-Century French Ruckers harpsichord.

To join and view this (and each new) performance, visit https://vimeo.com/475203801. All of Brandywine Baroque’s virtual concerts are available to watch anytime on Vimeo throughout the 2020-2021 season about a day after they have premiered. Be sure to watch!

MARKET STREET MUSIC
Downtown Wilmington's most diverse musical series, Market Street Music, has moved to an online platform as well. Three performances will be offered this fall, each in a two-part concert on their new YouTube channel.

Part One of the first performance has already premiered this weekend (Saturday, November 14) and featured cellist Ovidiu Marinescu — a seasoned player of the beloved Bach solo cello suites. In this concert, patrons can enjoy some of those suites along with new music from Ovidiu himself. Part Two premieres Tuesday, November 17 at 7:45pm.

Later this month, Market Street Music presents Marlissa Hudson, soprano and Marvin Mills, piano. These brilliant Baltimore-area musicians perform a program of remarkably beautiful and timely music by Black composers. Part One of their concert premieres Saturday, November 21 at 7:45pm, and Part Two premieres Tuesday, November 24 at 7:45pm.

Finally in December, viewers can celebrate the beloved-by-all Market Street Music tradition — the return of the Cartoon Christmas Trio! This fun-loving trio performs Jazz music from A Charlie Brown Christmas and so much more. Part One of the Cartoon Christmas Trio premieres Saturday, December 12 at 7:45pm; Part Two premieres Tuesday, December 15 at 7:45pm.

Patrons who join at the premiere times can chat live with Market Street Music and fellow patrons during the performance! CLICK TO WATCH!

MÉLOMANIE
For their 2020-2021 season, the ‘provocative pairings’ ensemble presents a series of five 30-minute streamed concerts, called Mélomanie's Virtual Series, putting fans in the 'virtual front row'! Their performances will include the ensemble's signature baroque and contemporary repertoire as well as interviews with guest composers.

The first concert premieres Saturday, November 21, at 3:00pm via their new Vimeo channel. The first program will include Mélomanie performing Telemann’s Paris Quartet in A Major and Aegean Airs by Robert Maggio; a cello solo by Ismar Gomes of Abraham's Sons - In Memoriam: Trayvon Martin, composed by James Lee III; and brief interviews with composers Robert Maggio and Mark Hagerty with guest percussionist Chris Hanning. Patrons need only click on the Vimeo link on November 21 to view the premiere performance!

Their follow-up concert is scheduled for Saturday, December 12, at 3:00pm.

All concerts will include post-performance "virtual receptions" via Zoom with the artists, and fans can also participate in live chat with each other during performances. After each performance, fans can also enjoy access to full-length, in-depth interviews with guest composers by clicking here.