The Hylton Center’s 2020-2021 Education Initiative kicked off activities online this fall working with schools in Prince William County, the City of Manassas, and the City of Manassas Park to introduce three unique virtual programs for teachers. The Hylton Center is working with artists including Sound Impact, A Place To Be, and the Grammy-Award winning percussion quartet, Third Coast Percussion, all of whom will bring performing arts opportunities to schools through video series and a virtual field trip.
This fall also witnessed our first teacher professional development opportunity. Tom Sweitzer, music therapist and co-founder of A Place to Be, led “The Power of 12 Musical Notes: Music’s Potential During Times of Uncertainty, Stress, and Exhaustion.” This presentation offered teachers suggestions on how to use music to lessen anxiety for both themselves and their students.
We are also excited to launch Hylton at Home Story Corner in collaboration with the Prince William Public Library System. The series premiered in September with an animated reading of “It’s Showtime: A Pepper and Frannie Story,” by George Mason University School of Theater faculty members, Mary Lechter and Kevin Murray. Hylton at Home Story Corner will continue through the fall and feature a performing arts-themed book read by artists on the third Saturday of each month at 10:30 a.m. on the Hylton Center’s Facebook and YouTube pages. We look forward to sharing details about our spring Education Initiatives soon!