Vy Higginsen's Gospel for Teens to Perform End-of-Semester Concerts, 5/18

Vy Higginsen's Gospel for Teens will present two special end-of-semester concerts for this acclaimed musical education program, offering instruction in forms of Gospel, Jazz and R&B music to local young people between the ages of 13 and 19 at no cost, providing desperately needed support to musically gifted children and replacing arts programs taken out of many inner city schools.

The GFT end-of semester concerts are showcases for all the students currently enrolled in the program, at all levels of instruction -- the Freshman, Advanced and Performing Before Live Audiences classes.

Performances will take place at The Dempsey Theater, located at 127 West 127th Street (between Lenox and 7th Aves) in Harlem, tomorrow, Saturday, May 18, 2013, at 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Founded in 1998, The Mama Foundation for the Arts is a non-profit 501(C)3 whose mission is to present, preserve, and promote the history and fundamentals of gospel, jazz, and rhythm and blues music for current and future generations. Inspired by the worldwide success of her musical, Mama, I Want To Sing, Vy Higginsen established the Foundation as a cultural space in Harlem where both youths and adults have access to quality training and employment in the performing arts. Through the Foundation's School of Gospel, Jazz and R&B and its Gospel for Teens program, instruction in these musical art forms are offered to young people between the ages of 13 and 19 at no cost. Gospel for Teens was the subject of an award-winning "60 Minutes" feature story (two 2012 Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Feature Story in a News Magazine; as well as a 2012 National Association of Black Journalists Salute to Excellence Award).

Students from the Performing Before Live Audiences level comprise the Gospel for Teens Choir, a nationally recognized and award-winning ensemble that is currently featured in the Off-Broadway production of Mama, I Want to Sing: The Next Generation (also performed at The Dempsey Theater). In addition to their acclaimed weekly performances at Marcus Samuelsson's Sunday Gospel Brunch at Red Rooster Harlem/Ginny's Supper Club, the Gospel for Teens Choir have recently performed at the prestigious TED Conference in Long Beach, CA; the Stellar Gospel Music Awards in Nashville, TN; and Moncler Grenoble's winter show at New York Fashion Week.

For more information, visit www.mamafoundation.org.