[Michlib-l] Chelsea District Library Brings Opera to Ages 9-99

Tue Nov 19 11:13:09 EST 2019

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*Chelsea District Library Brings Opera to Ages 9–99*

On a gray November week with unseasonably low temperatures, Chelsea
District Library (CDL) warmed the hearts and inspired the minds of
residents young and old with visiting soprano, Joy Jan Jones. Jones is an
independent, multi-genre singer, instrumentalist, writer, and producer.
Based in New York City, she has performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center,
Rockwood Music Hall, and New York Fashion Week 2018 and 2019. Jones was a
featured performer in CDL’s 2018 Music in the Air and is a performer and
social media manager for Opera on Tap!, a not-for-profit organization that
promotes opera as a viable living and progressive art form. This model of
making opera accessible to non-musicians aligns perfectly with the
library’s mission of accessibility and celebration of the arts within our
community.

Joy’s visit began with an intimate solo performance in CDL’s McKune Room,
delighting her audience with selections from her repertoire including works
by Debussy, Gounod, and Rachmaninov. Jones’s warm, approachable personality
and beautiful voice are a perfect introduction to the art of opera, while
still delighting even the most seasoned music aficionados. Understanding
schedule and accessibility challenges for some of our community members,
CDL collaborated with Chelsea School District, United Methodist Retirement
Communities, and Silver Maples of Chelsea to engage community members young
and old beyond this library performance. Jones enjoyed three musically
filled days in a variety of venues with rave reviews!

Beginning her tour at the Chelsea Retirement Communities and Silver Maples,
Jones discussed her work since her last visit in 2018 and performed a few
selections. Emily Meloche, Silver Maples Director of Programming and
Wellness remarked, “Our residents were utterly charmed and entranced by Joy
Jan Jones when she visited in the summer of 2018 and were thrilled to have
her come back to visit this November. Joy’s ease in front of a group and
willingness to share her story couple wonderfully with her stunning soprano
to make for a meaningful morning.”

Encouraging the arts involves not only providing entertainment but
education, and what better place to start than our local schools? Jones’s
personality and talent captivated over 150 high school choir and
orchestra students in Choir Director Steve Hinz’s classrooms. Her
conversation touched on topics including careers in the performance arts
and the importance of building relationships and connecting with other
artists. Hinz graciously accompanied Jones on piano, as she couldn’t visit
without singing for the students! Recounting the visit, Hinz remarked, “Our
experience with her was tremendous! Joy was great at sparking their
artistic interest with brilliant singing. Her story-telling about her
professional success was humble but truly excited the students about their
potential future careers. Even if students aren't heading into music, her
description of any future careers brilliantly described how they must be
open to a diverse and changing path. The students shared that they were
‘Overjoyed’ with her as a performer, speaker, and life-filled person!"

>From the high school, Jones moved on to South Meadows Elementary School,
where she engaged Sarah Radomski’s 4th grade classroom in a scaled-down
version of Opera on Tap’s Playground Operas program. CDL Youth & Teen
Librarian Jessica Zubik and Director Lori Coryell worked with students in
the weeks leading up to Jones’s visit to introduce opera—specifically,
students learned what an opera is and how music can be used to show
emotions and feelings, even if you don’t understand the words. They learned
the storyline of Donizetti’s *The Elixir of Love* and practiced a little
Italian leading up to Jones’s visit.

Jones worked with students to teach them the music and parts. Students were
not expected to read sheet music. Instead, with Head of Technology Ron
Andrews at the keyboard, and Jones singing, the students heard and repeated
the verses. They caught on very quickly! After two classroom visits, this
program culminated with a performance of a snippet of the *Elixir of Love*,
where Jones performed the lead and was supported by a chorus of beautiful
4th grade voices. The students loved this unique opportunity and it was
thoroughly embraced by South Meadows Elementary principal Stacie Battaglia,
who noted, "We cannot thank Chelsea District Library enough for bringing
Joy Jan Jones here to South Meadows; what an amazing opportunity for our
students. Learning about and experiencing opera is something these kids
will always remember. I know they loved being a part of it, and we loved
watching them perform with Joy!"

Chelsea District Library thanks Chelsea School District, Silver Maples of
Chelsea, and United Methodist Retirement Communities for collaborating to
provide access to this unique musical opportunity in our community. For
information about hosting future musical events, please contact Chelsea
District Library Director, Lori Coryell, at 734-475-8732 x.206.

About Us: Chelsea District Library is a not for profit organization whose
mission is engage, inspire, and equip through evolving services and
resources. The Library currently serves 15,010 residents in the Chelsea
area including the City of Chelsea plus Dexter, Lima, Lyndon and Sylvan
townships. More than 16,000 individuals visit the Library each month.  For
more information visit chelseadistrictlibrary.org.
-- 
Virginia Krueger
*Marketing Assistant*
Chelsea District Library
p: 734.475.8732 x229
f: 734.475.6190
a: 221 S. Main Street | Chelsea | MI | 48118
w: chelseadistrictlibrary.org  e: vkrueger at chelseadistrictlibrary.org
<https://www.facebook.com/ChelseaDistrictLibrary/>
<https://twitter.com/ChelseaLibrary>
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