Photo Coverage: FELA!'s Kevin Mambo Leads Sing for Hope-Art U! Program

Sing for Hope (www.singforhope.org), an "artists' peace corps" that mobilizes world-class artists in volunteer service programs that benefit schools, hospitals and communities, has collaborated with The Metropolitan Museum of Art to create Bringing It To YOU - a multidisciplinary arts day of gallery tours and featured performances for New York City school children. The event, presented by Sing for Hope, took place at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on March 4, 2010 with the performance beginning at 2:30pm at the Grace Rainey Rogers Auditorium. BroadwayWorld was on hand to capture the event.

For the majority of the 250 underserved students who attended this groundbreaking arts outreach day, this was their first visit to the Metropolitan Museum and their first experience of live music in a concert setting. The message of the day was that New York City's major arts institutions belong to them, and that any work of art - performance and visual - is theirs to explore, enjoy, and be inspired by. In keeping with the mission of Sing for Hope, the stars featured in the performance donated their time and talent because they believe in Sing for Hope's core mission: using the transformative power of the arts as a catalyst for positive social change in under-resourced communities.

Upon arrival at the museum, students experienced a special tour of select galleries of the Metropolitan Museum under the guidance of Sing for Hope Teaching Artists and museum docents. After their guided gallery tour, the students participated in an interdisciplinary performance with
Sing for Hope artists in the Metropolitan's Grace Rainey Rogers Auditorium. These performances reflected the masterpieces in the galleries with musical repertoire from corresponding eras and origins.

The concert portion of the students' outreach day was led by two-time Emmy winner Kevin Mambo, who plays the title role in the Broadway hit Fela! (www.felaonbroadway.com). The performance included internationally acclaimed opera superstars Soprano Nicole Cabell and Bass-Baritone Patrick Carfizzi singing French art songs by Poulenc, Fauré and Debussy, in reflection of the French Impressionists viewed by the students in the 19th-century European paintings galleries. The students' study of the depiction of the muse in the Greek and Roman galleries corresponded to a vibrant presentation by The Brent-Kibbey Duo comprised of Harpist Bridget Kibbey and Mandolinist Joseph Brent. Their exploration of 20th-century American art in the modern art galleries was illuminated by American musical theater selections performed by actors and puppets from the cast of Avenue Q. The students' visit to the gallery of African art was brought to life in a rousing, rhythmically driving finale with African-inspired dance choreographed by Kambi Gathesha (MTV, Juilliard). Other dancers joining in the performances included Beth Konopka (National Ballet School and Juilliard), Emily Oldak (Cirque du Soleil, and Aszure & Artists) and Loni Landon (Juilliard, Ballet Theater Munich). Students from Sing for Hope's Art U! Young at Arts campus performed a special selection as well.

Currently, Art U! serves eight campuses and more than 1,500 students in the New York City area.

Photo Credit: Genevieve Rafter Keddy

Sing for Hope-hosts a tour and concert at The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Students tour the Metropolitan Museum before the concert in the Grace Rainey Rogers Auditorium

Students tour the Metropolitan Museum before the concert in the Grace Rainey Rogers Auditorium

Students tour the Metropolitan Museum before the concert in the Grace Rainey Rogers Auditorium

Students tour the Metropolitan Museum before the concert in the Grace Rainey Rogers Auditorium

Kevin Mambo (Fela!) today's Master of Ceremonies

Nicole Cabell-Soprano from the Metropolitan Opera

Nicole Cabell

Patrick Carfizzi-Bass-Baritone from the Metropolitan Opera

Patrick Carfizzi accompanied by Gerald Steichen (New York City Opera)

Kevin Mambo, Nicole Cabell and Patrick Carfizzi

Sarah Stiles and Kate Monster from Avenue Q.

Sarah Stiles, Kate Monster, Princeton and Jed Resnick

Sarah Stiles, Kate Monster, Princeton and Jed Resnick

The Brent-Kibbey Duo-Joseph Brent (Mandolin) and Bridget Kibbey (Harp)

Joseph Brent, Bridget Kibbey with dancers Beth Konopka, Emily Oldak and Loni Landon

African Fusion Dancers-Kambi Gathesha, Paula Barnett, David Irwin, Shinksuke Nuriya and Alan Watson

African Fusion Dancers

African Fusion Dancers - Shinsuke Nuriya, Paula Barnett

African Fusion Dancers - Alan Watson, Kambi Gathesha, Paula Barnett, and David Irwin

African Fusion Dancers - Kambi Gathesha, Paula Barnett, David Irwin, Shinksuke Nuriya and Alan Watson

African Fusion Dancers-Kambi Gathesha, Paula Barnett, David Irwin, Shinksuke Nuriya and Alan Watson along with Kevin Mambo

Kevin Mambo

Art U! Young at Arts Ensemble

Art U! Young at Arts Ensemble

Art U! Young at Arts Ensemble

Art U! Young at Arts Ensemble

Art U! Young at Arts Ensemble

Christopher Herbert (Director of Advancement Sing For Hope) and Art U! Young at Arts Ensemble

Christopher Herbert

Christopher Herbert

Christopher Herbert and Kevin Mambo

Nicole Cabell and Patrick Carfizzi

Nicole Cabell, Patrick Carfizzi, Christopher Herbert and Gerald Steichen

Members of the African Fusion Dancers

Patrick Carfizzi, Camille Zamora, Carol J. Richards, Beverly Neufeld, Camille Zamora, Dr. William Isacoff, Nicole Cabell, Alan Watson, Kambi Gathesha, and Shinsuke Nuriya.