Education And Outreach
Many artists desire to get involved in their community by doing arts-related outreach. Whether it is performing or teaching, the impact that arts outreach can have on people’s lives is incredibly powerful. I make it a priority to get involved in various aspects of engagement and outreach by both coordinating and doing hands-on work. My overall goal is to make the arts more accessible and integrated into our lives.
The importance of community
Counselor Abby in the art room of The Explorers Club, a local day camp
In collaboration with the U-M School of Music, Theatre, and Dance Engagement and Outreach department, I have the privilege of serving as a teaching artist with Crescendo Detroit. During the school year on Saturdays, Crescendo Detroit brings about 40 kids from Detroit to U-M’s music building for an afternoon of learning. They are taught various subjects: music technology, instruments, movie music, etc. I have been the theatre teacher for these amazing students for 3 years now as we survey acting and theatre as a whole.
Crescendo Detroit
The U-M teachers for Crescendo Detroit Pathways for Winter 2023
While working on U-M’s The Heart of Robin Hood (2022), the cast and crew expressed an interest in doing an outreach event to the Ann Arbor community, especially Mott Children's Hospital. This desire has sparked a growing partnership between Sophie’s Place and the students of U-M. Sophie’s Place is a dedicated studio space for music therapy in Motts (as well as other hospitals around the country). They like to host special guests to perform diverse types of music for the patients in the hospital.
The outreach event for The Heart of Robin Hood was a 20 min performance of a few scenes and songs from the show. I had the pleasure of coordinating and planning the performance. After the event, I had many people express a desire to continue the partnership and return to Sophie’s Place in the future. I am currently working to coordinate events more regularly by connecting with student organizations, various ensembles, and professors.
Sophie’s Place @ U-M
The cast of The Heart of Robin Hood @ Sophie’s Place
During the summer of 2023, I had the privilege of working with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) as a Community and Learning Intern. I assisted in the planning and execution of a dozen community outreach events. I was often focused on leading educational stations to introduce young audiences to music.
I have many wonderful memories from the DSO events. One of my favorite memories was when I led a music composition workshop for all ages. To ensure everyone could participate, I taught the concepts in both English and Spanish. We had so much fun hearing all the pieces and I saw many excited faces that day, young and old.
Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Ms. Abby leading a Music and Movement Workshop @ DSO