Project Grant - Round 3

Command Performance will sponsor and host a successful German Music Festival on May 18 in Lion's Park in Elk River. We will partner with other community organizations such as the Elk River Lions and Elk River Parks and Recreation to produce and host this event. By sponsoring this event, we will increase our typical audience size, and advertise to Sherburne and Wright counties, and surrounding areas to ensure this event is well-attended. We will collaborate with several musical, instrumental, and performing arts groups, soloists, and artists. The German Heritage Festival will prominently feature a rich variety of choral, vocal, and instrumental music, drama, storytelling, and other entertainment of Germanic and Bavarian heritage, performed by Command Performance students and other guest artists as the focal entertainment for the event. We will collaborate with several community groups and organizations to sponsor the event or bring activities to add value. We will feature a variety of activities and opportunities that will attract and draw a large presence from the surrounding communities of all ages, from infant to senior citizen, and all demographics. Through the preparation and execution of this event, CPC will expose our students of all ages to an extraordinary opportunity to learn by producing and performing in a large scale event before a variety of community members in a unique, fun, and family friendly setting. We will expose the larger community to musical performances and arts education opportunities available for youth in the area. In preparation for performance opportunities at the German Heritage Festival, Command Performance students will learn and master material appropriate for age and developmental and technical skills over the course of several months. This training will take place through weekly classes and rehearsals for all students at all levels from kindergarten through adult. Lessons and training for CPC students will include learning opportunities to engage students about the types and styles of Germanic and Bavarian music, language, history, and composers and performers through the ages. In culmination, Command Performance students will present a series of performances throughout the event. Students will have opportunity to participate in group choral, duet, solo, and ensemble performances, as they desire and are able.Command Performance will primarily evaluate using the following means: community attendance will be one primary factor in the overall success of this event. Since there will be no ticket sales or entry fee, crowd numbers will be estimated and assessed visually during the event. Overall success in producing and organizing the event will be evaluated by meetings and/or communication with co-sponsors during preparation, production, and after completion of this event, and discussion and evaluation by the board and staff. The educational goals and performance evaluations for students will be conducted through artistic staff discussions, communication between directors and their students, feedback of parents and families, and group and individual student mastery of musical material according to their ages and developmental levels.