From the Principal's Desk for Our LIHSA Families

Long Island High School for the Arts is a Nassau BOCES program

From the Principal's Desk for our LIHSA Families

Remote Edition: May 29, 2020

Last week Phil Collen, guitarist from the English rock band Def Leppard, conducted a Master Class with LIHSA afternoon music students, opening with a live performance of the 1987 hit “Pour Some Sugar on Me.” Collen teamed up with Yousician, a music education company that provides interactive learning for guitar, bass, ukulele, piano and voice to make this visit possible.

Collen began with the Def Leppard’s hit followed by a some of our students showcasing their own guitar version of the band’s instantly recognizable classic. Collen provided structural and technical feedback and the students were able to ask Collen questions about his music career and guitar expertise. He told the class, “It really comes down to putting the effort in, practicing and getting the technique down. It’s all a learning curve. You gotta be you.”

Yousician provided the students with codes for free premium subscription access to encourage continuing their music education while at home this summer. Collen announced to the students that they will receive a signed Def Leppard T-shirt.

"Being an artist consists of so many different journeys and for each road taken it can be completely different. The opportunities for creative expression and inspiration are endless—a book, a song, a movie, a phrase or even a drumbeat coming out of someone's car.” Collen said. “The cool thing is that you can interpret them into anything YOU want. I'm glad Yousician nurtures young artists. I look forward to sharing what I can and being a part of that personal journey."

Master Class: LIHSA Alum Matt Kunkel

On Monday May 18, 2020 Abbe Gail Gross’ Directing class had the opportunity to talk to LIHSA Alumni Matt Kunkel. Matt is a professional director who was named one of Newsday’s Rising Stars of Tomorrow. Some of the questions the students asked Matt were about his directing process, how he arrives at his directing concepts and how he works with the crew, actors and staff. Matt shared pictures of his inspiration board for his upcoming production of THE SOUND OF MUSIC at The Muny Theatre and explained his process for narrowing down the ideas in the play to a single sentence to arrive at his concept.

Matt recently Directed and Co-Created An Evening with the Stars at the St. Louis Muny as part of their 100th Anniversary Season which starred Chita Rivera, Tommy Tune, Heather Headley, and Matthew Morrison. Additionally, he directed Follow the Fellow Who Follows A Dream for the 92nd Street Y / Lyrics and Lyricists, A Celebration of Muny 100 with The Muny and the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra as well as Sunset Boulevard and Elf the Musical at the John W. Engeman Theatre. For new works, he directed Dick Scanlan’s new opera libretto Fallingwater. He has worked on over 25 productions at the Muny as an Associate. He is currently collaborating on the upcoming National Tour of An Officer and A Gentleman. Matt is a graduate of the University of Michigan and The Long Island High School for the Arts and a Proud Member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society. Mattwkunkel.com @Matwkunkel

Master Class: Casting Director Sam Yabrow

The Contemporary Musical Theatre Ensemble had their final Master Class for the year this week with Sam Yabrow, casting director at Stewart/Whitley (casting Broadway's Hadestown, Chicago, the new upcoming national tour of Hairspray, the current national tour of Spongebob and much more). Students were given an inside look into what a casting directors job entails, how they work as a connector from actor to creative team, and were able to ask Sam questions about the casting world.

Sam is a Casting Director at Stewart/Whitley, primarily focusing on Musical Theatre. Prior to joining the Stewart/Whitley team, he worked at Abrams Artists Agency as an Agent Coordinator in the Talent Division. He started his career as an intern at Telsey + Company before going on to be a Casting Assistant at Joy Dewing Casting, where he worked on such projects as the 20th Anniversary Tour of RENT, Mamma Mia!, and Annie. Sam has also worked on staff for the Broadway Dreams Foundation. Sam is a proud graduate of the University of Michigan’s Musical Theatre Department.

Master Class: LIHSA Alum Aggie Lesser On Thursday May 21, 2020 Abbe Gail Gross’ A.M. and P.M. Play Writing classes had the opportunity to work with Aggie Lesser who graduated from LIHSA in 2016. Aggie is a rising senior at The New School for Drama majoring in Playwriting. She has written several plays while in college and is currently working on a four act play for her thesis project. The students were curious about college level play writing classes and the opportunities they would have to present their plays in college. Aggie discussed play writing technique with the classes then guided the students in an exercise using gossip as a prompt to create a story. Once the students conceived the basic story, they then turned that into a scene. Though the prompt was the same, each student’s plays turned out quite different.

Student Locker Clean Out

If you still need to pick up any personal items at school (art work, film closet items, clothing, etc) or if you were not able to make it to pick up the locker items in your locker already, you must fill out this form by June 5th. https://forms.gle/kBdksd1oaMeupkEH6

We will have an additional pick up day on Tuesday, June 9 from 12:30 - 2:30 PM. We additionally hope to have some summer pick up hours as needed.

Please email Erica Giglio Pac with questions.

End of Year Events!

End of Year events start next week. Please join us and cheer on your classmates. To all performing: Break a leg! Photo Contest: Enter by June 1

Global Oneness' Photo Contest Deadline is June 1 by 5 pm PST. The theme is Document Your Place on the Planet!

Visit the photo contest page for all of the guidelines and rules. Take note that all entries must be accompanied by a signed Parental Permission Form and a Photo Subject Release Form if the photograph contains a person.

Ten winners will receive a cash prize of $200 and their photographs, along with the finalists' photographs, will be published on our website! If you have any questions, please contact their contest manager Sara at [email protected]. Bring a Friend to Dance Day

LIHSA's National Honor Society for Dance Arts invites you and your friends to Virtual Bring a Friend to Dance Day on Tuesday, June 9. This Friends & Family event is open to all students Grades K - 12.

Participants will enjoy a thorough warm up, including cardio, strengthening and stretching exercises, and an exhilarating dance combination.

Sessions:

Grades K - 5: 8:30 - 9:15 am and 12:30 - 1:15 pm

Grades 6 - 12: 9:30 - 10:15 am & 1:30 - 2:15 pm (LIHSA Students may participate).

To Register please Email Ms. Natalie L’Etoile at [email protected]. A Zoom invitation and password will be emailed back to you.

Remote Art

Five Operas to Live Stream.

Walt Whitman Birthplace invites you to a Free Evening Poetry Reading with the First Latino US Poet Laureate (2015-2017) Juan Felipe Herrera! Herrera embodies joy and writes in an inventive style; which is very reminiscent of Walt Whitman's approach to poetry. He is also a performance artist and activist on behalf of migrant and indigenous communities and at-risk youth. His FREE Evening Poetry Reading will be on May 30 at 6:30PM. Click this link on May 30th at 6:30PM EST. On your computer you will be given prompts to access the meeting. To join using your phone download the Zoom App beforehand: Click Here To Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 840 5905 3738 Password: 080706

Long Island High School for the Arts | 239 Cold Spring Road, Syosset, NY 11791 | 516-622-5678| www.longislandhighschoolforthearts.org

Board of Cooperative Educational Services of Nassau Regional Schools and Instructional Programs County Dr. Carla Theodorou, Executive Director Susan Bergtraum, President Judith A. Hynes, Assistant Director Deborah Coates, Vice President Jyoti Sood, Supervisor of Data and Technology Michael Weinick, District Clerk Fran N. Langsner, Vice District Clerk Long Island High School for the Arts Ronald Ellerbe Dr. Christine Rogutsky Bleecker, Principal Martin R. Kaye Robert "B.A." Schoen www.longislandhighschoolforthearts.org Eric B. Schultz Dr. Robert R. Dillon, District Superintendent Nassau BOCES does not discriminate James R. Widmer, Associate Superintendent for Business Services Dr. RG France, Associate Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction and Educational Services www.nassauboces.org

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