Sinfo-Nia Youth Orchestra: 27th Annual African American History Concert "Young, Gifted & Black" Sunday, February 26, 2017, 4 PM, 1st Congregational Church, Atlanta

Sinfo-Nia's Black History Concert, Mid-Season Enrollment, & Jamaica Trip

David E. Robinson III writes:

Greetings Family & Friends,

How are you and your family doing?  I am writing to announce Sinfo-Nia Youth Orchestra's annual Black History Concert entitled, "To Be Young, Gifted, and Black."  It will take place on Sunday, February 26, 2017 (the day before my birthday), 4:00 PM at the First Congregational Church Commons at the First Congregational Church Commons located at 125 Ellis St., Atlanta, GA 30303.  Tickets are $15.00 for adult and $10.00 for child, which can be purchased at the door.  Our guest emcee will be "Casual Cal" from the Universoul Circus (and formerly of radio stations WAOK and WIGO from back in the day when they played R & B).  It will include a warm tribute to Muhammad Ali, "The Greatest."  Sinfo-Nia will also feature the Cambridge Academy Dancers directed and choreographed by my wife, Mrs. Alycia Robinson.  They will dance to the live music of the Orchestra as they did for our recent Christmas Concert.

We had such a great time at our Christmas Concert where we performed with Keisha Jackson (daughter of Millie Jackson) and her chorale called One Voice.  We also did a few music videos, which are on YouTube.  We are looking to do one more big project with her soon.  

News Flash: We are saddened to learn of the passing of world-renown singer/recording artist, Al Jarreau.  We will do a tribute to him during our Spring Concert in April (or May).

  

I am also writing to announce that Sinfo-Nia Youth Orchestra is looking for more students to enroll for the remainder of the school-year.  Since the school-year is well into the month of February going into March, the tuition has been reduced to $175.00 per student.  We hold classes on Monday evenings, 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM and Saturday mornings, 9 AM to 12 Noon at the First Congregational Church Commons located at 125 Ellis St., Atlanta, GA 30303, which is downtown (centrally located metro-wide).  Students can always sit in and check us out; bring his/her instrument, follow along in the music, and see if he/she likes it before registering and paying tuition.  Please post our attached fliers on bulletin boards at your job, at church, etc.  Please make copies to pass out as well.  You may certainly forward this e-mail as well.

Last, but not least, we are announcing our performance tour to Jamaica this summer for ten days - July 2-12, 2017.  The requirement is that each student must attend Sinfo-Nia's entire two-week Summer Camp June 12-23, 2017 (including the performances).  We are sending a ground crew to Jamaica to set up our tour.  Sinfo-Nia has a fine tradition of traveling inexpensively.  To begin with, the dollar is strong in Jamaica.  The food should not cost much.  We are getting a great deal on accommodations in Kingston.  We do plan on spending some leisure time in Montego Bay.  We are also planning some fundraisers to help offset the cost for each student. We are looking to partner up with the National Youth Orchestra of Jamaica.  Most of these students come from no and low-income family households.  Therefore, we are working on sponsoring some of the things they need.   Students that are interested in this trip should have their parents contact Mrs. Alycia Robinson as soon as possible.  They should let her that their child will be attending our Summer Camp and would like information on the Jamaica trip so that you can make payments.  Our first wave of payments will begin in March.  A U.S. passport is also required to go.  You don't want to wait until the last minute to get one because it usually takes six to eight weeks (however, there is an expedited service - www.visalady.com which is the International Visa Service located at 316 Hammond Dr., Atlanta, GA; it will cost more)..

Tuition for Summer Camp is $350.00 per student.  However, we do offer our "Early-Bird" which will bring the tuition down to $300.00 if paid-in-full by May 31, 2017.  Payments can be made now so that it can be paid-in-full by May 31st. 

Last, but not least, Sinfo-Nia is unique in that in addition to the basic skills and techniques of playing the instruments, we teach them to perform a variety of multicultural music: classical, jazz, Negro spirituals, reggae, ragtime, country, soca, Top-40: rock, R & B, hip-hop, and so on.  We have done some audio and visual recordings and plan on doing some more.  We travel all over the state of Georgia, the United States, have been to West Africa twice  This trip to Jamaica will also truly be a milestone.  This will be my third time (I hear that three times makes one a citizen of Jamaica).  We have many more things that will take place in the future due to our collaborations with recording artists, Casual Cal, public officials, and a number of other influential people.  Please spread the word to your child's music classmates as well as to the music director.  In addition to string players (violin, viola, cello, and double bass), we do accept band students on the advanced level only (about grades 8 to 12).  We also welcome high school graduates whether or not they are in college.  We expect to have some college students on this trip.  Please spread the word to family, friends, co-workers, co-worshippers, etc. you know that have children ages 7-18 (and college) that play instruments.  We do not teach piano or guitar, but I can certainly refer them to people that do. 

We would certainly appreciate any donations towards our Jamaica trip.  They can be sent to:

Sinfo-Nia

P.O. Box 42732

Atlanta, GA 30311-0732

Have a wonderfully blessed day.  Black History Month is EVERY month.

Sincerely,

David E. Robinson III

Founder & Artistic Director

Still Waters Youth Sinfo-Nia

Please check out our website at www.sinfo-nia.com

Included are some awesome music videos

Comment by email:
Thanks, Bill.  I appreciate the wonderful work you are doing. David [David E. Robinson III]