On February 24, 2021, Young Singers of the Palm Beaches, a Prime Time expanded learning opportunity provider, joined Berkshire Elementary Afterschool Program for its annual Black History Month Celebration. Before this performance, participating youth attend sessions that include developing a natural singing body alignment, freedom of breath, development of intonation, ease of personal vocal freedom using music from various periods and genres, while providing the children an opportunity to explore various aspects of musicianship, world cultures, emotions, linguistics and teamwork.
The virtual event was interspersed with the talents of youth in chorus, dance, violin, art, and drama. The Prime Time Young Singers delighted all with “Lift Every Voice and Sing” while the children presented important figures in Black history. such as: Augusta Savage, William Henderson Graham, Stevie Wonder, Debbie Allen and Sheka Kanneh-Mason.
In addition to musical performances, the children also created a wall of art featuring their individual dreams. Some of their dreams included:
“I have a dream that all people are treated equally no matter what.”
“I have a dream for America to be so healthy and for that virus to be over.”
“I have a dream that kids get a good education and people take care of the earth.”
Young Singers of the Palm Beaches is an expanded learning opportunity provider, contracted by Prime Time Palm Beach County, which received significant funding from the Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach County, to enhance the learning in out-of-school time. If you are an afterschool or summer program and would like more information on how to work with Prime Time’s menu of expanded learning opportunities completely free of charge, contact Dante Drummer, Prime Time’s community partnerships manager at ddrummer@primetmepbc.org.