[Perform-talk] Fwd: [Jobs] FW: [fia-acb] FW: Seeking Photos & Performing Artists

[David Andrews]

>
>Could somebody please forward this to the proper group?
>
>Thanks, Peter
>
>
>
>----------
>Hi Donna- I'm delighted that NFB has a performing arts initative. There
>are numerous talented musicans and performers who are blind that are
>emerging or already established professional. The John F. Kennedy
>Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. has been identifying
>emerging and professional performing artists with disabilities for quite
>some time and I'd love to draw attention to some of the stellar
>performers who are blind or have low vision that we've featured:
>
>JP Williams - Nashville-based singer-songwriter J.P. Williams, with his
>distinct vocals and original music, has shared the bill with the likes
>of Bruce Hornsby, Charlie Daniels, Marshall Tucker, and Ricky Skaggs.
>Blind since age 10, JP spends his days songwriting and his evenings
>playing with insight and clarity. He blends memorable melodies and
>lyrics about life, love and the human experience.
><http://jpwilliams.net/Home.html>http://jpwilliams.net/Home.html
>
>Justin Kauflin, a Betty Carter Jazz Ahead 2007 Graduate who excels in
>jazz performance, composing, and arranging.
><http://www.justinkauflin.com/live/>http://www.justinkauflin.com/live/
>
>Ellis Hall - Virtuoso multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, Ellis Hall, who
>was born blind, possesses a style that commands attention in its
>diversity and depth.. Formerly featured as lead vocalist and keyboardist
>with the soul stirring group Tower of Power, Ellis is also recognized
>for his hit performance on the Kenny G. multi-platinum album "Duotones"
>and the gold and platinum California Raisins albums.
><http://www.ellishall.com/>http://www.ellishall.com/
>
>Raul Midon - A guitar player singer-songwriter, performs original works
>for voice and guitar. Born in rural New Mexico and blind since birth,
>Midon is a musician's singer. He has performed to great accolades with
>Paquito D'Rivera, Dave Samuels, Dave Valentin, Brenda Feliciano, Mark
>Murphy, Ed Thigpen, Eddie Higgins, Danilo Perez, Mike Renzi, Claudio
>Roditi, Bobby Thomas, Pete Minger, and Randy Bernsen to name a few. He
>has opened for Roberto Pereira, the Cedar Walton Trio featuring Johnny
>Griffin, Cachao, B.B. King, Spyro Gyra and others.
><http://www.raulmidon.com/>http://www.raulmidon.com/
>
>Lynn Manning - An award winning playwright, poet, actor, and former
>World Champion Judo player. His accomplishments and much success come
>after being shot and blinded in 1978. He has appeared on many TV shows
>and commercials; and has written and starred in the independent short
>film, "Shoot!" Hs poetry has appeared in numerous magazines and
>anthologies, most recently, Staring Back (The Disability Experience From
>The Inside Out), and Grand Passion, an anthology of Los Angeles poets.
><http://www.lynnmanning.com/>http://www.lynnmanning.com/
>
>Quamon Fowler - finalist in the 2008 Thelonious Monk International Jazz
>Saxophone competition. 
><http://www.quamonfowler.com/qf/QHome.html>http://www.quamonfowler.com/qf/QHome.html
>
>Additionally, there is TBTB (Theater Breaking Through Barriers) in NY
>that has been producing theater with blind/low vision actors for many
>years - <http://www.tbtb.org/>http://www.tbtb.org/. And, another way 
>to connect with actors
>and performers who are blind or have low vision is thru the Alliance for
>Inclusion in the Arts (formerly The Non-Traditional Casting Project) -
><http://www.inclusioninthearts.org/>http://www.inclusioninthearts.org/ 
>And, yet another is thru the Damon
>Brooks Associates - a casting agency that specializes in representing
>people with disabilities - 
><http://www.damonbrooks.com/index.html>http://www.damonbrooks.com/index.html
>
>Hope this helps.
>
>Betty Siegel
>Director of Accessibility
>The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
>Washington, D.C. 20566
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: <mailto:fia-acb%40yahoogroups.com>fia-acb at yahoogroups.com 
>[mailto:fia-acb at yahoogroups.com] On Behalf
>Of Peter Altschul
>Sent: Sunday, November 09, 2008 1:25 AM
>To: <mailto:fia-acb%40yahoogroups.com>fia-acb at yahoogroups.com
>Subject: [fia-acb] FW: [Jobs] Seeking Photos & Performing Artists
>
>FYI. Peter
>
>***
>
>Now that the election is behind us and autumn is in full swing, NFB's
>Performing Arts Division would like to ask for your help with two
>projects. First, we're seeking high quality, candid photos (JPEG) of
>young blind entertainers (amateurs or professionals) doing their
>thing to use in brochures and the like. Send them to PAD's Head of
>Media Relations Donna Hill:
>
><mailto:dwhill at epix.net><mailto:dwhill%40epix.net>dwhill at epix.net
>
>Second, we strongly encourage all blind entertainers to participate
>in our survey. The blurb is below. The link, if you just want to go
>check it out is:
><<http://www.padnfb.org/perform..html>http://www.padnfb.org/perform..html>http://www.padnfb.org/perform..html
>
>Thanks for your help, Donna
>
>***
>
>Do you know that there hasn't been a new blind, American superstar
>since Stevie Wonder & Jose Feliciano? And, if asked to name famous
>blind women, most of us can only think of Helen Keller, who died over
>fifty years ago. . Since a strong media presence is helping other
>minorities, the nonprofit Performing Arts Division (PAD) of the
>National Federation of the Blind (NFB), seeks to assist blind people
>pursuing performing arts related goals. We want to learn more about
>the experiences of blind and visually impaired entertainers.
>
>Who should participate in the survey? Anyone who is blind or has a
>severe visual impairment who has ever sought to develop their
>performing arts skills as an amateur or professional. This includes
>musicians, actors, comedians, dancers, broadcasters, sound engineers
>and the like. Whether or not you are a member of PAD of the NFB,
>whether or not you have been successful, whether or not you are still
>pursuing your art, we want to hear your experiences and thoughts.
>
>PAD offers scholarships to blind students majoring in the performing
>arts, funded through the sale of "Sound in Sight" a cross-genre
>compilation of eighteen tracks donated by blind recording artists.
>
>Help us better serve America's blind entertainers. New blind stars
>will rise and shed light on issues affecting all blind Americans,
>such as seventy percent unemployment and only ten percent Braille
>literacy among blind kids.
>
>Take the survey at
>
><<http://www.padnfb.org/perform..html>http://www.padnfb.org/perform..html>http://www.padnfb.org/perform..html
>
>or download a Word Doc at:
>
><<http://www.padnfb.org>http://www.padnfb.org>www.padnfb.org
>
>and send to me at:
>
><mailto:dwhill at epix.net><mailto:dwhill%40epix.net>dwhill at epix.net
>
>Let me know, if you would prefer that a Word Doc be sent to you via e
>mail.