They are headed for Prague next month, for a European competition and today they got support from a Hollywood celebrity!
The Creative Arts Morgan Village Academy's Choral Group has its sights set on attending the Young Prague Festival on March 27th and today, Tony Award winning actor, Brian Dennehy dropped by the school today for a fundraiser.
Getting to the Czech Republic is the major challenge for the concert choir at Morgan Village Academy, a magnet school for students across the city.
"They're ambitious, they're very determined and focused on what they come here to do," choir director Morgan Village said.
They need to raise $45,000 to make the trip.
"It's nice and scary at the same time. This will be my first time going out of the country," senior Robyn Coleman said.
Brian Dennehy has known about their incredible potential for years. He's visited several times before.
"These kids are so talented, I mean the jazz orchestra is extraordinary," Dennehy said.
The jazz band will be competing next month in Monterey.
"It's great to see kids who have to fight their way through their lives having this place, this safe place, of great teachers and people who care," Dennehy said.
It is a place where these dancers just returned from the Black Dance Conference in Canada.
It is a place where they can create visual art like Emanuel Ortiz' painting of Duke Ellington.
"[A place where] you don't have to hold back. You are able to express yourself however you want to," senior Adore Tolbert said.
It is a place where they are so appreciative of Brian Dennehy.
"It's good to have some helping hand when we really need it the most," Emmanuel Ortiz said.
"To have somebody like him, to come so humbly and give himself like that is amazing," choir director Suzette Ortiz said.
Make checks or money order payable to: Ward Diocese
Memo the check or money order: Creative Arts Morgan Village Academy Choir Boosters
Mail to:
Faith Tabernacle Church
c/o Karen Bankhead
553 Spruce Street
Camden, NJ 08104
PayPal: http://apps.fundrazr.com/fundrazr/iframeapp/activity/50e8d9801d8f4d23ace7079277d49983?ref=web_canvas
LINK: http://www.creativeartshs.org/
