Congratulations to The 2021 Clifford Brown Jazz Award Winners

The content of this post comes from a press release from the City of Wilmington...

Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki and Cultural Affairs Director Tina Betz congratulated the winners of the 2021 Clifford Brown Jazz Awards presented at Cityfest, Inc.’s inaugural Clifford Brown International Jazz Day Concert on Friday, April 30, 2021. 

This year’s awardee for the Clifford Brown Top Jazz Presenter Award is the True Blue Jazz Festival; of the Clifford Brown Advocacy, Volunteerism, & Philanthropy in Jazz Award is Hortense Priest (bestowed posthumously); for the Clifford Brown Young & Swingin’ Award is Maya Belardo; and for the Clifford Brown Legacy Award is Tony “Big Cat” Smith. 

The Clifford Brown Festival Band, led by Gerald Chavis.
Photo by Moonloop Photography.

The awards ceremony and concert, held virtually and in person at the Delaware Theater Company, featured performances by trumpeter Terell Stafford and the Clifford Brown Festival Band led by Gerald Chavis as part of the City of Wilmington’s International Jazz Day Festivities.

“We believe that music and the arts are extremely important contributors to recovering from the personal, artistic, and economic pandemic-related stressors of this past year,” said Betz. “With that and the continuing loosening of COVID restrictions in mind, we are planning to return to Rodney Square on August 4-8, 2021 for the 34th Annual Clifford Brown Jazz Festival. It is important to note that the dates are subject to change or the Festival cancelled in response to changing State public health mandates.”

Clifford Brown Year Round is presented by Cityfest, Inc. and the City of Wilmington with generous support from The Delaware Theatre Company, The Delaware Division of the Arts, WRTI 90.1 FM, The Kenny Family Foundation, Delmarva Power, An Excelon Company, Gerald Chavis Music, Flux Creative Consulting, The Christina Cultural Arts Center, and The Delaware Contemporary.

Proceeds from the Clifford Brown Year Round series support programs like the Urban Artist Exchange, the Arts Work Summer Youth Apprenticeship Program, and the Clifford Brown Jazz Festival.

Rebecca Wisniewski Named Delaware Poetry Out Loud Champion

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

Rebecca Wisniewski of Milford, Delaware's Poetry Out Loud Champion

From a field of 10 Delaware high school students, Rebecca Wisniewski, a senior from Milford High School, earned the title of 2021 Poetry Out Loud Delaware State Champion at the state finals held virtually on March 2, 2021. The first runner-up was Lia Dougherty from Sanford School in Wilmington, and the second runner-up was Janelle Carter of Delaware Valley Classical School in New Castle.

Rebecca is a member of the school drama club and has acted in plays and musical for years. She unexpectedly found that learning poetry has made her a better performer in general, stating, “...you have to put yourself in the background – while you are forming a deeper connection to the pieces. Reciting a poem means you have to pull from your emotions. It’s about being self-aware, even while forming a deep connection to the voices in the poems.” Ms. Wisniewski also took part in Poetry Out Loud previously in her junior year.

Wisniewski chose poems this year with very different energies. “Domestic Situation” by Ernest Hilbert, which Wisniewski calls “a tricky poem,” challenged her with its seeming sarcasm about a somber subject – domestic abuse. “I Felt a Funeral, in my Brain” by Emily Dickinson felt manic and mournful, and “has so much room inside it to perform.” Her favorite, “How to Triumph Like a Girl”, by Ada Limon, was, in Rebecca’s words, “fun, upbeat and has a positive message.” All of the poems scored high marks with the judges.

For her winning presentation, Wisniewski will receive $200 and will compete at the National Semifinals which will be held virtually on Sunday, May 2nd beginning at Noon on the National Endowment for the Arts website, arts.gov. Milford High School will receive a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry materials for its school library. Lia Dougherty, the first runner-up will receive $100, and Sanford School will receive $200 for its school library.

The Poetry Out Loud state competition, sponsored by the Delaware Division of the Arts in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation, is part of a national program that encourages high school students to learn about great poetry through memorization, performance, and competition.

First State Ballet Theatre Hires Molly Rooney as New Managing Director

First State Ballet Theatre has announced that Molly Rooney will be joining the company as Managing Director, effective March 15. Prior to joining First State Ballet Theatre, Molly was an Account Manager at Dandelions Digital. Molly has served as Director for the National Ballet Competition for the past three years.

As the creator of National Ballet Competition, Molly will be bringing her unique skills in communications, digital marketing, fundraising and community relations, as well as her passion for ballet, to First State Ballet Theatre. Molly is a former professional ballet dancer and a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania with a BA in Communications.

“I am beyond excited to join First State Ballet Theatre, a company dear to my heart, as their Manager Director. As a former dancer, I am excited to be on the administrative side and be a part of developing this wonderful organization,” says Molly. “We are super excited about bringing Molly on to the First State Ballet Theatre team. She shows a lot of enthusiasm and passion and we think she will bring great things to the organization,” says Kristina Kambalov, Executive Director.

“Molly is an exceptional person in all aspects of her life. She is very detailed and precise and can provide exactly what is needed,” added Paige Obara, Business Manager.

ABOUT FIRST STATE BALLET THEATRE
First State Ballet Theatre (FSBT) was founded in 1999 with the mission to present professional ballet performances throughout Delaware, offer high-quality ballet training and performing experiences to aspiring dancers, and educate the Delaware dance audience of the future. 

Founded in 1999, FSBT is Delaware's only professional ballet company and this season employs professional dancers under the artistic direction of Pasha Kambalov, a graduate of the esteemed Vaganova Academy in St. Petersburg, Russia. FSBT presents classical ballets and commissions contemporary works from both local and internationally-recognized choreographers. 

FSBT is based in Wilmington's Grand Opera House and attracts thousands of patrons to the City of Wilmington each season, in addition to performances statewide. The School of First State Ballet Theatre enrolls over 100 students ages 3 and up, and offers classes six days a week in its studios in the Grand Opera House and at its satellite location at the Dupont County Club. FSBT students have won awards in international ballet competitions, been accepted at some of the country's elite ballet schools, and danced professionally all over the world.