MIAMI, FL. (Top40 Charts/ Dranoff International Two Piano Foundation) - The Dranoff International Two Piano Foundation will host 'Piano Slam: The
Music Speaks,' a two-piano classical music and rap poetry mash-up at the
James L. Knight Concert Hall at the Arsht Center on Tuesday, May 5, culminating an in-school education and performance project in
Liberty City and
Little Haiti.
Prominent Miami rap artists Mecca aka Grimo and Deborah Magdelena will be featured performing Dade County Middle and High School student poetry in a program which is free and open to the public. The program also showcases Dutch Piano Duo, Maarten and Jeroen van Veen, 1995 winners of the 5th Dranoff International Two Piano Competition.
As part of the May 5 event, Dranoff will hold a competition for poetry from students at four Liberty City Schools inspired by live classical music performances. Contest prize winners will be presented with cash awards at the May 5 event where their poems will be presented as part of the spoken word, rap and classical music 'mash-up.'
The in-school performances by Dranoff Competition winning duo-piano artists Susan and Sarah Wang will take place from March 20 to March 25 at Brownsville, Drew, and Mann Middle Schools and Edison High School. Following the performances, school administrators will select English classes in each school who will receive visiting poets who will conduct workshops.
Students at each school will receive a CD of a Dranoff commissioned classical composition by Sir Richard Rodney Bennett, 'Lilliburlero Variations,' which will be performed in schools. The poetry submissions, based on the Bennett composition, will be judged by community artists.
'Music and literary arts as a formal part of primary education has become a leading indicator for successful academic performance and graduation,' said Carlene Sawyer, executive director of the Dranoff Foundation. 'Unfortunately, this is an area that is quite resource poor in many schools."
''Piano Slam: The Music Speaks'' will bring enrichment to children in communities with little or no access to these professional artists,' she added. 'The children will be recognized by the community for their creativity and we will bring residents of their communities in large numbers to Dade County's premier performance venue.'
There is no cost or fee for the children or the Dade County Public Schools participating in 'Piano Slam: The Music Speaks.' Families will be bussed from Liberty City and Little Haiti through a partnership with FANM - Haitian Women of Miami. For information and to reserve free tickets for the May 5 event call 305-572-9900.
About the Dranoff International Two Piano Foundation
The Dranoff International Two Piano Foundation is dedicated to the presentation of Two Piano music and its outstanding artists to the publics of the world. Foundation programs develop audiences and appreciation for this unique art form through education, performance, and the commission of new Two Piano compositions by world renowned composers, including Morton Gould, John Corigliano, William Bolcom, Ned Rorem and Michel Legrand. Please visit www.dranoff2piano.org/.
