Press Release

The Staples High School Music Department and Westport Public Schools will present “America’s Voices” to Westport students Grades 3-5, April 5-9. “America’s Voices” celebrates and showcases the diverse population of musicians and artists within our country and our schools. After several months of immersive studies of varied music and art, elementary students will view a video series spanning from April 5-9 featuring:

• Staples music ensembles pre-recorded pieces from diverse American composers

• Westport public school student art grades 3-5 and 9-12

• A traveling town-wide lawn sign exhibit, beginning at the elementary schools on April 3, visually expressing the Voices of our public school students, in partnership with the Westport Arts Advisory Committee and Poet Laureate, Diane Lowman

• Family folk song submissions celebrating Westport’s diverse cultures, recorded at home by elementary students and families

This collaborative effort, previously called the Westport Youth Concert, has been renamed the Westport Youth Arts Collaborative to encompass the cross-curricular involvement in the making of this production. Not only does the program expose students Grades 3-5 to the exemplary musicians at Staples High School, but also builds their understanding of diversity and the uniqueness of global cultures. The multi-discipline initiative has developed partnerships in our community with organizations such as the Westport Library, Westport Arts Advisory Committee, WestPAC and PTA Cultural Arts.

For more information about this collaborative event and Staples Music go to staplesmusic.org.