“The special discipline of an actor is to focus sharply at any given moment,” says Theatre Arts Chair Ray Vrazel. “We teach students to examine theatre as a part of daily life, as a way of enhancing knowledge, as a means of expression and delight.”

By the end of their course of study, Drama students have mastered the subtleties of vocal control (projection, pronunciation, resonance, pitch, tone, inflection, dialect) and harnessed the power of movement (posture, gesture, locomotion) to unleash any emotion in a few beats.

They have also developed a profes-sionalism and a confidence born of such daily training. Faculty require daily journals and college prepared-ness as well. By their sophomore year, Drama students are required to have contacted six universities for informa-tion and to apply to at least three col-leges as juniors.

MUSICAL THEATREMusical Theatre demands great collaboration between artists from many different disciplines. In order to mount even the most modest production, the composer, lyricist, playwright, choreographer, conductor, stage director, musician, designer and performer all must work together to create the theatrical experience. Musical Theatre performers must be able to sing, dance and act with technical mastery and craft.

After completing the Foundation Core, Musical Theatre stu-dents begin honing their skills, focusing on Music (theory, notation, piano, sight singing, ear training, class voice and vocal repertoire), Dance (ballet, jazz, tap), and Acting (improvisation, scene study, monologues, voice and diction). (see pg. 13)

ASPIRATIONSA publication of the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts Institute, the non-profit support organization of the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts|Riverfront

THEATRE ARTS: TRAINING STUDENTS OF LIFE FOR LIFE

“Failing to prepare is like preparing to fail,” says NOCCA Theatre alumnus Wendell Pierce, “and that’s one of the first things they teach you at NOCCA.” Theatre is an art that requires tre-mendous preparation and sponta-neous problem-solving. It requires that you know yourself and be able to stand in someone else’s shoes. It requires the ability to commu-nicate in a mastery of wordplay or with no words at all.

Students in the Theatre Arts department at NOCCA| Riverfront, learn these and many more skills through three courses of study: Drama, Musical Theatre and Theatre Design & Technology.

DRAMADrama and Musical Theatre students pursue a Foundation Core curriculum in their first year of study at NOCCA|Riverfront. It is comprised of courses in Movement, Voice, Dance and Music (including tumbling, mime, stage combat, mask work, improvisation, breathing, articulation, interpretation for both speech and song, ballet, jazz dance, music theory and piano). Drama students also explore the origins and development of theatre from ancient times to the present. They focus on Greek and Roman dramatic history in Studio I, Shakespeare in Studio II, and 20th century playwrights in Studio III. They also study stagecraft: the behind-the-scenes roles of scenery, lighting, sound, properties, make-up, costumes and theatre safety.

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The mission of The New Orleans Center for Creative Arts Institute, a non-profit organization, is to provide support and advocacy for the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts|Riverfront. The NOCCA Institute provides access to excellence in the arts for students, faculty and the community-at-large. NOCCA|Riverfront is an agency of the State of Louisiana that provides the highest quality pre-professional arts-training for high school students.

DEAR FRIENDS

Dear Friends of NOCCA|Riverfront,

What a joy it is to reflect upon another exciting school year! As we look back at our young artists’ accomplishments and look forward to the challenges that lie ahead, we see, once again, that a strong arts education provided by NOCCA|Riverfront enhances academic success as well as personal achievement.

This year’s graduating class demonstrates how well our students are thriving in a world class facility with professional-level arts training by artists-teachers. Of 110 seniors, 109 will attend colleges, conservatories, universities or arts academies next year. These young men and women earned over $6.5 million in scholarships and included two valedictorians and three salutatorians from area high schools. The NOCCA Institute salutes the Class of 2005!

More growth and opportunity lie ahead for students. After five years in our new facility, we are bursting at the seams and out of classroom space. As a result, the State of Louisiana is building a $1 million two-story classroom addition in the green space next to Freda Lupin Memorial Hall. Continuing our partnership with the State, The NOCCA Institute has agreed to raise approximately $300,000 in furniture and equip-ment for the new building.

We look forward to telling you more about this project as it progresses. We hope you will join us join us by continuing your support and encouragement of our talented young artists. They deserve all we can do to help them.

Sincerely,

Madalyn Schenk Sally PerryPresident Executive Director

The NOCCA Institute Board of Directors2004-2005

PRESIDENTMadalyn Schenk

VICE PRESIDENTSGeorge Denegre, Jr.William R. LegierE. Ralph Lupin, M.D.

TREASURERRichard Kirschman

SECRETARYChristian T. Brown

BOARD OF DIRECTORSJudge Dennis R. Bagneris, Sr.Judge Michael G. BagnerisElizabeth A. BohNancy N. Boydstun

Anne Goldman BrinkleyJoseph M. BrunoDaryl ByrdArnold Gelfand, D.D.S.Julie Livaudais GeorgeClem GoldbergerJudge David S. GorbatyMason GrangerCharles E. Hamilton IIIJackie HarrisBrenda Hatfield, Ph.D.William H. HinesPamela C. KancherDavid M. LeakeEllen M. LeeA. Kelton LongwellMiguel LopezDenis H. McDonaldR. King MillingMarsden L. MoranCharmaine NevilleRoger H. OgdenWilliam A. Oliver

Tom OreckWendell PierceHelen L. PolmerLee W. RandallMaitland SandersElaine SchwartzCharles W. SternJean B. StickneyEve VersteegRobbie VitranoLouis A. WilsonCarlos Luis Zervigon

HONORARY LIFETIME MEMBERSErnest G. Chachere, Ph.D.Orlin CoreyShirley Trusty CoreyEllis MarsalisDonald A. MeyerElizabeth RackWilla Slater

SELECT ADVISORY COMMITTEELeah ChaseLuba B. GladeArthur C. PulitzerPolly RenwickJoyce L. SchenewerkAnita Schon

EX-OFFICIOGary Alan Wood, President/CEO NOCCA|Riverfront

STAFFSally Perry, Executive DirectorElizabeth McMillan Dir. of DevelopmentRichard Read, Director of MarketingJackson Knowles, Associate Director of DevelopmentMonique Bloom, Office ManagerNewsletter Editor, Design, Photography: Elizabeth McMillanPhotography as noted: Courtesy Jackson Hill, Southern Lights Photography

SCHOLARSHIP & FINANCIAL AID

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$7,000,000$6,500,000$6,000,000$5,500,000$5,000,000$4,500,000$4,000,000$3,500,000$3,000,000

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$4.4m

$6.5 m

College Scholarships Earned by NOCCA|Riverfront graduates.

Colleges across the country awarded NOCCA|Riverfront’s 110 graduating seniors a record $6,500,000 in one-to-four year scholarships, merit awards and aid -- a jump from $4,400,000 in 2004 and $3,150,000 in 2003. (This amount is as of May 15, 2005 and does not include TOPS Scholarships.)

The reasons for such success are manifold. Col-leges recognize the dedication, focus and maturity required by a student to master arts skills. The NOCCA Institute’s Artist-in-Residence program also exposes students to college-level faculty and professional expectations.

But The NOCCA Institute’s own Financial Aid pro-gram plays an overarching role. Financial Aid first allows students to attend NOCCA|Riverfront when economic circumstances prevent them from pay-ing for required department fees, supplies, travel to important arts competitions -- even remedial reading and writing when necessary. Then, it pro-vides funds for students to study at pre-college in-tensive programs each summer, exposing students to faculty at colleges they hope to attend.

In 2004-05, The NOCCA Institute received re-quests of $190,000 and was able to help 200 regional and statewide students with awards to-talling over $130,000. We were able to do so only through the community’s generous support, and both the Institute and the students we help are deeply grateful.

Joshua Stewart, Level III Vocal Music student, entered NOCCA|Riverfront three years ago with assistance from The NOCCA Institute for department fees. In his second year, his teachers recommended he participate in the National Association of Teachers of Singing Southern Regional Confer-

ence. Through Term-Time Aid, he was able to travel to that competition, where he placed First. Adding this award to his resume, he applied to Intermezzo’s prestigious sum-mer training program. Awarded Summer Study Aid by the Institute, Joshua was able to study there with two renowned voice teachers. They, in turn, set up college auditions for Joshua at the Manhattan School of Music and The Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia where they teach.

In May, Joshua received his acceptance letter from Curtis, one of the most prestigious training programs in the world. He is one of only nine male students chosen nationwide and his training at Curtis is tuition-free. Joshua’s tremen-dously hard work paid off and, thanks to your help, many new and amazing roads await this talented young singer!

HOW STUDENTS USE FINANCIAL AID TO BUILD OPPORUTUNITIES

2003 2004 2005

SENIORS EARN $6,500,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS TO COLLEGE IN 2005

VISITING ARTISTS

DANCE CREATIVE WRITING DRAMA

JAZZ CLASSICAL MUSIC VISUAL ARTS

“Reach for it. If you want to be a dancer, reach for it. I want to see 100% -- no, 150%,” said acclaimed dancer and choreographer JACQULYN BUGLISI to Dance students during a two-week residency in March. The former Martha Graham dancer and Co-Director of Buglisi/Forman Dance has created more than 30 modern ballets and is now on faculty at Alvin Ailey Center for Modern Dance, The Juilliard School and the Martha Graham School.

“What if you could bust through barri-ers -- self- or society-imposed -- without hurting anyone. What would you do?” asked DAVE EGGERS, Pulitzer-nomi-nated author of A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius and publisher of McSweeney’s literary magazine. The class covered the process of writing, publish-ing and design. “I loved hearing Dave Eggers read and hear him talk in class,” said one Creative Writing student. “College is never going to be this cool”

For a week this spring, Theatre Arts Foundation students trained under the direction of noted professional clown DIKKI ELLIS (above center). Juggling, stiltwalking and plate spinning filled stu-dents days as part of a multi-year training program developing marketable circus skills. Dikki Ellis performs with the Big Apple Circus, is a founder of the Clown Care Unit bringing clowns dressed as doctors into children’s hospitals, and teaches at the N. C. School of the Arts.

Legendary drummer EARL PALMER spoke with Jazz students prior to the screening of Make It Funky! held here in April. The most recorded drummer of all time, Mr. Palmer has performed with artists as diverse as John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Miles Davis, Kenny Clarke, Charlie Parker, Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, Ritchie Valens, Sam Cooke, the Monkees, Bonnie Raitt, Neil Young and Elvis Costello -- providing students with a historial walkthrough of Jazz, R&B & rock.

Classical musician MELVIN CHEN, who holds double master’s degrees from The Juilliard School in piano and violin (in addition to a doctorate in chemis-try from Harvard University), worked with Classical students in January. Mr. Chen, who has performed at Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall and the Kennedy Center, and who is associate director of Bard College Conservatory of Music and sits on Yale’s music faculty, brought his signature enthusiasm and inspiration to students working through piano pieces.

Painting and mixed media artist MONICA ZERINGUE conducted a week-long workshop with both Level I and upper-level Visual Arts students in January. Her workshops focused on the use of personal objects to create symbolic self-portraits. Level I’s worked in oil pas-tels while upper level students worked in mixed media to create personal pieces interpreted from a segment of a poem, song or literary story.

Media Arts conducted two ex-tensive, multi-departmental residencies. Under the direction of WILL HORTON (above left), Media Arts students crewed and helped produce a music video of a number from Starmites featur-ing Musical Theatre students, with costumes and tech by Theatre Design students. The video was filmed on location at the Besthoff Sculpture Garden at City Park and premiered at Media Arts’ year-end film festival. Meanwhile, alumnus DELFEAYO MARSALIS (above right) led a workshop set up as a professional music record-ing session. Jazz students were given an original composition by Mr. Marsalis to record sight unseen, with Media Arts students

VISITING AND GUEST ARTISTS

THEATRE ARTS

VISUAL ARTS

Seven Drama students worked with Tony Award-winning actress BLYTHE DANNER in developing their monologues for their senior recitals. The workshop was part of the Bruce Paltrow Artist-in-Residence Program established by Tulane University and NOCCA|Riverfront to honor the late director and husband of Ms. Danner. Blending encour-agement and advice, the stage, film and television actress advised students: “You have the opportunity to pour every bit of yourself into your piece. Enjoy it. Savor it. Don’t rush through. We’re actors, we’re playing. Throw a surprise in your way and explore. I’m really impressed. You all are very accomplished,” she told some very excited students.

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While Ms. Danner taught Drama students, Emmy-winning writer-producer (St. Elsewhere, Homicide: Life on the Street, Oz) TOM FONTANA (above right) spoke with Media Arts students -- engaging them in the behind-the-scenes process and develop-ment of television scriptwriting. Leaving students with more tricks of the trade in film technique and set design (how to build a frozen lake in Chicago in May!) were All the King’s Men unit production manager SCOTT FERGUSON and art director GARY BAUGH (above left), as that film wrapped up shooting in New Orleans. “Stay alert, be cheerful, be nice to people,” Ferguson advised students. “People are going to notice good energy and a good work ethic.”

“I wanted to challenge pre-conceived expectations,” explained photographer ELLIS MARSALIS III to Visual Arts and Creative Writing students attend-ing the summer session. “As artists, we have to be

aware that we come to images with what we’ve been told, and many times we can be wrong about their meaning,” Mr. Marsalis explained as he showed students slides of his work from his just-published book of poerty and photography entitled, The Bloc, which studies the residents of one block in Baltimore over several years. “You are connected to all the different places that you come from. Simultaneously, you are a member of New Orleans, Louisiana, the South, America and the Western Hemisphere. What stories will you tell? And what road will you take? Sometimes Cliff Notes work, but you can’t take a short cut up a mountain. Be motivated to discover.”

MEDIA ARTS

MEDIA ARTS & THEATRE DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY

FINANCIAL\\

Zemurray FoundationGoldring Family FoundationSurdna FoundationWhitney National BankWoldenberg FoundationWood EnterprisesRAY Film ProducersMake It Funky Film Producers

Surdna FoundationEssence FestivalRosaMary FoundationJoe W. & Dorothy Dorsett Brown FoundationKeller Family FoundationArts Council of New OrleansVan der Linden Foundation

Surdna FoundationLouisiana Division of the ArtsHibernia National BankArts Council of New OrleansRitz Carlton New OrleansJetBlue AirwaysNational Endowment for the ArtsNew Orleans Film FestivalNOLA.com89.9 WWNO

The Gustaf Westfeldt McIlhenny Family Foundation

Mr. & Mrs. Kurt SchonSurdna FoundationJoe W. & Dorothy Dorsett Brown FoundationRonald McDonald House Charities FoundationEntergyGeorge Lurcy Charitable & Educational TrustDaniel Price Memorial Fund for Aspiring ArtistsBaton Rouge Area FoundationThe Community Foundation of Shreveport-Bossier GPOA FoundationGottsegen FundKeller Family FoundaionAnn Israel and Herbert Rothschild, The Leonie D. Rothschild Memorial FundThe Patrick and Phyllis Taylor FundJunior League of New Orleans

Surdna Foundation

Tom and Mary-Kate Tews

Arts Council of New Orleans

THANKYOUThe NOCCA Institute is honored to recognize the following support, memorials and gifts for 2004 - 2005:

EQUIPMENT

CENTER STAGE

ARTISTS-IN-RESIDENCE

GENERAL SUPPORT

Gary Barnett & Charles JeffersonLisa Marie Catalanello Memorial FundFamily of Fanny CaseyCox CommunicationsFreda M. Lupin Memorial FundMake It Funky! Film ProducersSeth Daniel P. Memorial FundSally PerryDaniel Price Memorial Fund for Aspiring ArtistsLee & Kathy RandallTom & Mary-Kate Tews

In honor of Gayle and Tom Benson’s wedding Mr. and Mrs. Steve Foster

In honor of Mrs. Mildred Brown and Mrs. Rosalie CohenLiselotte L. Weil

In honor of Shirley Trusty CoreyCarolyn Wilenzick Levy

In honor of Jay & Rose DittaMr. & Mrs. N. Buckner Barkley, Jr.

In honor of Michael Engle’s teachersLinda and Alan Engle

In honor of Caroline Fermin, 2002 NOCCA|Riverfront graduateMary and Cesar FerminMr. & Mrs. Randy Guillot

In honor of John Frasee and Gloria Morati’s weddingKimberly ColasantiJennifer and Morton HellmigAlbert and Karyn Isabella, Jr.Kim S. MaurerWilliam & Kathryn MondoraJohn and Ellen ParsonsJ. Keith Veizer

In honor of Joseph GrajalesAmerica Jackarua

In honor of Charles A. GholzMrs. Renee C. Gholz

In honor of Samantha HelmstetterNancy and Jeffrey Helmstetter

KEN KIRSCHMAN ARTSPACE GALLERY SEASON

FINANCIAL AID

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HONORARIA

SENIOR AWARD UNDERWRITERS

MARKETING CAMPAIGN

LIBRARY ARCHIVES

THANKYOU

In honor of Paul Hostetler Elizabeth Holloway

In honor of Larry Israel’s 70th birthdayWilla and Tim Slater

In honor of Elly Lane’s birthdayKatherine SaerLeah Whann

In honor of Brighton Linge, Media Arts Bernard B. Jeskin

In honor of Mindy Mayer’s birthdayMark Mayer

In honor of Taylor MillerMr. & Mrs. William A. Baker, Jr.

In honor of Lee Jack MorrisSandra Chass Morris

In honor of Ceola OttoR. Carey Bond

In honor of Sally PerryGlennadora W. Perry

In honor of Helen PolmerRuth & George Bilbe

In honor of Michael PelleraCarole B. & Kenneth J. Boudreaux Foundation

In honor of Lauren RabinAnn & Larry Rabin

In honor of Katie RobichauxDr. & Mrs. Alfred G. Robichaux III

In honor of Megan Roniger’s birthdayMr. & Mrs. Rory C. Roniger

In honor of Casey SchneiderJackie Toledano

In honor of Claudette SisloPat Crum

In honor of Jane and Billy Sizeler’s birthdaysMarilyn and Sidney Lassen

In honor of Warren Stern’s birthdaySylvia, Robert and Charles Stern

In honor of Leona R. StichMr. & Mrs. Winston B. Newell

In honor of Dr. Nia TerezakisRose BrenerLanier Long Hosford

In honor of Hardy Weaver, 2004 NOCCA|Riverfront graduateMr. & Mrs. John Little

In honor of Tom WhalenMr. & Mrs. James A. Babst

In honor of Julie Winn, Costume ShopLynn & Hal Winn

In honor of Josephine ZenkerJosephine Holt

In honor of Mark Glancy, NOCCA AlumnusMilton & Eileen Brener

In memory of Bobby BassMrs. S. P. DinsdaleRobert and Pat McIntyreWinston Wendt PurvisEvelyn RodosNeetsey & Johnny Walker

In memory of Lucille BarbaPam and Michael Kancher

In memory of Mabel DeregesJoseph and Gail Williams

In memory of Lisa CatalanelloBill and Pam CatalanelloMichael CatalanelloRebecca CatalanelloDierdre CullenEntergy Blair GriffinDonna GriffinJ. Veron RichardsonRansford RichardsonJeremy Spain

In memory of Harold Funck Dottie Funck

In memory of Julie Kraft and Harriet QuickJill Jeskin and Gordan Linge

In memory of Miguel Lopez’s mother, Mary Jane Parker’s father, & Ray Vrazel’s brother NOCCA|RiverfrontSally Perry

In memory of Freda Lupin, Helen Mervis and Alice Newhouse and their familiesBetty L. Moss

In memory of Helen MervisJohn CorporonWilliam Mervis

In memory of Johnsie RuffinoSalvadore Ruffino

In memory of Seth Daniel PotichaMr. and Mrs. Milton BerzockMr. and Mrs. Roger BurnetMr. and Mrs. Thomas BurnetMs. Gail CohenMr. and Mrs. Jerome KingMr. Ronald PotichaMs. Abby Brown Wayne

In memory of George J. SegelSarah Pailet

In memory of Florence SchultzEve Versteeg

In memory of Jessie Lee ValentineDavid Boudreaux and Richard Nesbitt

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IN MEMORIAM

Jackson Hill

FREDA M. LUPIN MEMORIAL FUND

Mrs. John Batt Mr. and Mrs. George Bernstein Ms. Mary Boihem Mrs. Henry E. Braden, III Mr. and Mrs. Christian Brown Mr. John Bullard Dr. and Mrs. Isidore Cohn, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Orlin Corey Ms. Shirley Trusty Corey, Arts Council of New OrleansDr. Frank Culicchia and Physicians and Staff of Culicchia Neurological Clinic Mr. William A. FagalyMr. Arnold Fielkow, New Orleans SaintsDr. and Mrs. Nathan Fischman Mr. Stuart Fisher Dr. and Mrs. Juan Gershanik Mr. Mark Haiken Ms. Cynthia Hammond Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Hansel Ms. Kelli Hardy, Hemelt and Foshee, LLCMr. Elmer Hemphill, Jr.Mr. Lary Hesdorffer and Staff of the Vieux Carre Commission Ms. Angela Hill Ms. Betty Jones, Friends of the Old Natchitoches Courthouse Museum, Inc.Mr. and Mrs. Michael Kancher Mr. and Mrs. Don Kern Dr. and Mrs. Russell C. Klein Ms. Janette KornmanMr. Robert Kutcher Ms. Julie LaCour, Friends of City ParkMr. F. Rivers Lelong, Jr. and Ms. Marci Schramm, Friends of the CabildoCathy, Janis and George LongLouisiana State Museum FoundationGeorge Lurcy Charitable Trust Mr. and Mrs. David Manship Ms. Elizabeth McMillan Dr. and Mrs. Carl Merlin Mr. and Mrs. Ellis Mintz, Hurwitz-Mintz Co.Mr. Stephen Moses, Hermann-Grima /Gallier Historic HousesMr. and Mrs. Stephen Murray Ms. Julia Newsham Ms. Nell Nolan Mr. Roger Ogden Pathology Consultants, LLCMr. and Mrs. John Pennebaker Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Pulitzer Mr. Lee Randall Mr. Shawn Reed Mr. and Mrs. David Rubenstein Mr. and Mrs. Robert Schenk Mr. Jim Sefcik Dr. Milton Seiler, Jr. Ms. Virginia Shehee Dr. David Silvers Ms. Fran Sisung

Mr. and Mrs. Gary Solomon, Sr. Mr. Robert Talbot Mr. and Mrs. Jim Thompson Mr. Jay Timon Dr. and Mrs. Steve Venturatos Ms. Joel Weinstock Ms. Wendy Wilson and Mr. Jason Bolt Mr. and Mrs. Louis Wilson, Jr. Ms. Carol Wise

DANIEL PRICE MEMORIAL FUND FOR ASPIRING ARTISTS

Ms. Nancy Aronson and Ms. Virginia Besthoff Mr. Garth Backe Dr. Horace Joseph Baltz Mr. and Mrs. Cameron Barr Mr. Ron Bautista Ms. Heather M. Bell Mr. Michael Berolzheimer Ms. JoAnn Burak Ms. Abra Castle Ms. Beverly Church, Entertaining Celebration, LLCMs. Janet Clinton Mr. Harry Connick Ms. Camille Crespino Mr. Quint Davis, 2005 N. O. Jazz & Heritage FestivalDr. and Mrs. Carl Dicharry Ms. Leigh Ellison Ms. Martha Eshleman Mr. David Fine, Fine & Associates, PLCMr. Kirsten Galler Gap Foundation Gift Match ProgramDr. Lisa P. Germain and Mr. Bennet Koren Family Dr. and Mrs. Juan Gershanik Jerome S. Glazer Foundation, Inc.Mr. William Goldring, Goldring Family FoundationMs. Barbara Goode

Ms. Dawn Grenn Mr. and Mrs. Edward Haspel Mr. and Mrs. Harley Howcott, Jr. Mr. Richard Ieyoub Mr. Daniel Jablonski Richard Jardiolin The Honorable Martin Jenkins Ms. Edyn Jessup Mrs. Jane N. Kohlmann Ms. Katherine Kramer Ms. Laura Lai Mr. Steven Longley Chris Lu Dr. E. Ralph Lupin Dr. Ken Mask Ms. Brittany McGarvey Mr. Rex McLean Mr. John Moran Ms. Meghan Munger Mr. John Murray Mr. William Oliver, BellSouth Telecommunication, Inc.Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Palmer Mr. Steve Price III Ms. Chloe Pullen Mr. and Mrs. Larry Rabin, Lauren Rabin and Mr. Richard Weber Mr. and Mrs. Larry Rinsky Mr. Bryan Ristow The Honorable Eddie L. SapirMr. Gary Solomon, Crescent Bank & TrustMr. and Mrs. Charles Steen Ms. Jane Steiner Mrs. Ralph Stich Ms. Nina Unger Mr. and Mrs. John Walsh Ms. Lois Jean Weinhold Ms. Kim Willis Mr. Eric Yang Drs. J. Nilas and M. Cristina Young

THANK YOU

IN MEMORIAM

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Jackson Hill

Jackson Hill

GLOWby

AMY ARTHUR, Creative Writing Level III

Summer nights with the silent flash of heat lighting, we’d catch fire flies at Mamaw’s, always fascinated by the green instance of flicker, by the idea that they could be caught and they could.

They’d fly slow, hanging on the air like they were floating, like they didn’t have to try at all, while we stumbled around the dark, the tall grass hissing at our ankles, seeds clinging to our socks.

And this is how one was caught: we’d find it, move in so slow it’d forget we existed, cup our hands around the light.

There were plastic cups to keep them in, Saran Wrap to see their fire through,

to count how many we’d caught, to compare and see which ones died and which ones

lived. The boys found in crushing the bugs an unwavering light to smear on their arms. Our impulse toward another kind of permanence, on the drive home from the country we’d let the flies loose in the van to watch them puncture the dark.

$5,000 +BellSouthMs. Eugenie Jones Huger

$1,500 +Mr. David KersteinDr. Milton Seiler, Jr.Robert and Madalyn Schenk

$1,000 +Entergy Mr. R. Carey BondMr. and Mrs. Kenneth BoudreauxMr. and Mrs. George Denegre, Jr.Mrs. Leslie R. JacobsAnonymousMr. William OliverMr. and Mrs. Lee Randall

$500+Mr. and Mrs. Orlin CoreyMr. Michael LachinMr. Steve Manshel and Mr. Skip O’ConnorMrs. P. R. NormanMs. Molly ReilyMr. and Mrs. Stephen SontheimerMrs. Mary K. ZervigonMr. Carlos Zervigon

$250+Mr. and Mrs. Frederic M. BallMs. Jane BoriesMs. Anne BrinkleyMrs. Mary DodwellMs. Margo DuBosDr. and Mrs. J. Ollie EdmundsMr. and Mrs. Richard FoxMr. and Mrs. Richard FriedmanMr. Frank GagnardMs. Nan GallowayMr. and Mrs. Ted GeorgeMs. Luba GladeMr. and Mrs. Mark GlazerMr. D. Mason GrangerMs. Glenda JeffcoatMr. and Mrs. Charles Levy, IIIMs. Lori LutherMr. Paul Marc MaslanskyMr. and Mrs. Charles MayeMr. Michael MestayerMs. Betty MossMs. Blythe Danner PaltrowMr. and Mrs. Larry RabinMr. Charles SternMs. Jane StickneyMr. Michael Valentino

$100 +Mr. and Mrs. James BabstMr. and Mrs. Michael BaconMr. and Mrs. William Baker, Jr.Mrs. John A. BattMr. Dorian BennettMs. Elizabeth BohMr. and Mrs. Joe BoudreauxMr. David BoudreauxMs. Jean BraggMr. James BurtonMr. Daryl ByrdMrs. J. R. CarruthMr. and Mrs. Bruce ChaffinMr. John CorporonMs. Delores CrosbieDr. and Mrs. KitzigerDr. Deirdre Dupre and Dr. Robert GolubMs. Lin EmeryMr. and Mrs. Alan EngleMr. and Mrs. Lampton EnochsMs. Norma ErwinMs. Mignon FagetMs. Bertha FermanDr. and Mrs. Gregory FerrissMs. Julia FishelsonMrs. Richard Fowler

Ms. Elizabeth FutrellMr. and Mrs. Louis GladeMs. Clem GoldbergerThe Honorable and Mrs. David GorbatyMrs. Lorraine GuilbeauMr. Tony GuminaMr. Tim HammondMr. and Mrs. Maurice HandelmanMr. Byron HarrellMs. Jackie HarrisMrs. H. L. Hawkins, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Edward HellerMr. and Mrs. Michael HermanMr. and Mrs. William HessMr. William H. HinesMr. and Mrs. Harley Howcott, Jr.Dr. and Mrs. Fred HunterMs. Rita HuntsingerMr. and Mrs. Edward JahnckeByron and Susan Mintz KantrowMs. Nancy KingMs. Susan Krinsky and Mr. Hugh W. LongMrs. Fred A. KullmanMs. Noreen LapeyreDr. and Mrs. Edward LazarusMr. and Mrs. Robert Leake, Jr.Ms. Ellen LeeMrs. Emma LevyDr. E. Ralph LupinMs. Lee MacKenzieMr. and Mrs. R. L. Manard, IIIMs. Elizabeth McCallMr. and Mrs. David McCombMr. and Mrs. Keith MillerMr. Charles Miller, Jr.Mr. and Mrs. Arthur B. MonroeMr. McLachlinMr. SchaeferMr. and Mrs. Winston NewellMr. Roger OgdenMr. and Mrs. Gray ParkerMr. and Mrs. Jason PattersonMs. Glennadora PerryMr. and Mrs. Andy PolmerMr. and Mrs. Ulric PryceMr. and Mrs. Hap RackMr. and Mrs. Ed RenwickMr. Salvadore Ruffino

MEMBERSHIPWith great gratitude, we acknowledge our members’ support and their dedication to educational and artistic excellence. (Members at the $100 level and above as of June 1, 2005.)

2003-2004 Members

Mr. and Mrs. Maitland SandersMr. Calvin Drew SandersMr. Oley SassoneMr. John C. ScharfenbergMs. Joyce SchenewerkMr. and Mrs. Claude SchlesingerMr. and Mrs. Bill SchwartzMs. Katherine ShannonDr. and Mrs. Henry SimonDr. and Mrs. Robert E. SmithMr. and Mrs. T. George Solomon

Mr. John SprattMr. and Mrs. Robert StickneyMs. Jackie ToledanoMs. Eve VersteegMr. and Mrs. Hugo WedemeyerMs. Marianne Westbrook and Ms. Mary Rita SmithMr. and Mrs. Casey WillemsMr. and Mrs. Louis WilsonDr. and Mrs. John Yarborough, Jr.Dr. and Mrs. Lawrence Zaslow

MEMBERSHIP

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EntergyThe Gap

The NOCCA Institute gratefully acknowledges the support of all our sponsors, patrons and guests of this year’s Art & Soul Gala, with a special thank you to Mr. Ray Wooldridge for generously hosting the event at Ray’s Over the River. The May 15 Gala was chaired by Dorian and Kell Bennett, with honorary chair Mrs. Luba Glade (above left with NOCCA Institute Board president, Madalyn Schenk). We are honored to recognize sponsors at the $750 and abovel level:

THE LUPIN FOUNDATION

Adams and Reese LLPCrescent Bank & TrustHurwitz-Mintz Furniture Co.IberiaBankJones Walker, LLPKirschman Family and Morris Kirschman & Co., LLCLatter & Blum, Inc. RealtorsLegier & Materne, apacMcDermott International, Inc.New Orleans SaintsPeople’s Health NetworkFrancoise Richardson

Nia K. Terezakis, M.D.John & Lyn FischbachJohn & Elizabeth FutrellDr. Louis & Janie Glade and FamilyElizabeth and Hap RackSteve & Lee RittvoMadalyn & Robert SchenkWhitney National BankUniversity of New OrleansDouglas and Anne BrinkleyGeorge Denegre, Jr.Steve Manshel and Skip O’ConnorMr. and Mrs. Christian T. Brown

Elizabeth A. BohEntergy New Orleans, Inc.Michael BagnerisMCC GroupJulie and Ted GeorgeT.G. SolomonMrs. Luba B. GladeWilla and Tim SlaterMartha MurphyJane & William SizelerWestbank Rotary ClubMr. and Mrs. Richard WilliamLouis A. and Sandra Trout Wilson

2003-04 Matching Gift Companies

ART & SOUL GALA 2005 Photo courtesy: Nijme Rinaldi-Nun

OF NOTE

NOCCA|Riverfront’s Class of 2005 included two Valedictorians (Benjamin Franklin High School and Bonnabel High School) and three Salutatorians (Benjamin Franklin, East Jefferson and Grace King High Schools).

Awards this year were won by students in the following pres-tigious national and regional competitions: -- 8 students were recognized by the National Arts Recognition and Talent Search, with Creative Writing student Uma Negendra named a Presidential Scholar in the Arts Finalist; -- 15 seniors were recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Competition (9 finalists); -- the Overture to the Cultural Season Regional Awards rec-ognized 15 students for their achievements in dance, creative writing, visual arts, classical music, vocal music and theatre;-- 8 students in Creative Writing and Visual Arts received national honors and Gold Key recognition in the Scholastic Arts and Writing Competition;-- the 2004 Pirate’s Alley Faulkner Literary Award for High School Short Fiction was awarded to Kezia Kamenetz;

The Jazz trio, featuring pianist Nick Sanders, drummer Joey Peebles and bassist Max Moran placed first in the combo category in the North Texas Jazz Festival in April. Four NOCCA|Riverfront student combos traveled to the competi-tion with all receiving kudos. Drummer Joe Dyson and pianist Jesse Reeks were also awarded as outstanding soloists.

The Surdna Foundation awards fellowships to arts teachers across the country to continue their professional development. There are more Surdna Fellows on faculty at NOCCA|Riverfront than at any other school in the country. Joining that coterie this year are: poet and Creative Writing faculty member Andrea Young who will travel to Egypt to research Egyptian literature and co-edit a new bilingual liter-ary magazine entitled Meena with Egyptian journalist/poet Khaled Hegazzi which will focus on the two port cities of New Orleans and Alexandria; Music faculty member Michael Rihner who will use his grant to compose his third Symphony as well as a mini-orchestral suite for the Greater New Orleans Youth Orchestra (Michael premiered his 2nd Symphony this May in Vancouver, Canada); and Visual Arts faculty member Ersy Schwartz who will create a new body of bronze sculptural work at the Modern Art Foundry in New York.

Ninety-five Visiting Artists Residencies were funded this year by the NOCCA Institute, along with visits by many other guest artists from far and wide, including Noh Theatre actors from Japan and Mali musicians from Africa.

In May, NOCCA|Riverfront said goodby to retiring longtime Music fac-ulty member and past Chair, Dr. Stephen Dankner, affectionally known as “Doc” to all his music students (center, with Jazz fac-ulty members Michael

Pellera on the left and Alvin Batiste on the right.) While we look forward to his return visits, Dr. Dankner will continue to teach at Loyola University and serve as composer-in-residence for the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra.

Jazz Studies Chair Alvin Batiste received the Governor’s Arts Award in Arts Education from Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco in May. The honor recognized Mr. Bat’s legendary dedication to teaching the art of jazz to thousands of young musicians over five decades.

Helen A. Mervis Award for artistic achieve-ment and community service was awarded to Uma Nagendra.

Seth Daniel P. Memorial Award for m u l t i - d i s c i p l i n a r y artistic accomplish-ment was awarded to Benjamin Luton.

Lisa Marie Catalanello Memorial Scholarship for visual arts achieve-ment and generosity of spirit was awarded to Kaycie Coppock.

The Gary Barnett and Charles Jefferson Scholarship for visual arts achievement by an Orleans Parish student was awarded to Cherriane McGraw.

The Daniel Price Memorial Scholarship for Aspiring Young Artists was awarded to Daniel Stiegler.

2004-05 SENIOR AWARDS

Lee and Kathy Randall Scholarship in Creative Writing -- Chanel ClarkCox Communications Scholarship in Media Arts -- Francis RePassSenior Award in Dance -- Jarrell HamiltonMoses Hogan Scholarship in Classical Music -- Brian BurkettMake It Funky Film Producers Award in Jazz -- Jesse ReeksGlennadora & James H. Perry Scholarship in Vocal Music -- Michelle SchultzFreda M. Lupin Scholarship in Musical Theatre -- Jeremy ReeseKuumba-Keener Scholarship in Theatre -- Taylor ShurteFannie Casey Scholarship in Theatre Design -- Mignon Patrice Charvet

HONORS & OUTSTANDING GRADUATE AWARDS

COVER STORY

Page 13

Theatre Arts continued

Studio III and IV Musical Theatre students re-ceive private voice lessons and begin the study of song literature and interpretation, while all 12th grade musical theatre students prepare for college auditions. Like their fellow Drama students, Musical Theatre students mount two productions a year, with rehearsals above and beyond their regular class studies.

THEATRE DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY“Though we are the smallest division, we serve (like Media Arts) the most disciplines,” says Cos-tume Designer Julie Winn. Over the school year, Theatre Design will build sets, design sound and lighting, and stage manage at least six productions.

Theate Design & Techonolgy offers two courses of study: the regular half-day, three-year course for students who wish to become theatrical de-signers and stage technicians, and a second after school program for students who wish to learn and develop their technical skills by working on productions produced at NOCCA|Riverfront.

The core curriculum covers Theatre Technology, Scenery, Properties, Costume Design, Lighting, and Sound, including: theatre spaces and functions; duties of Stage Manager, Technical Director and Production Manager during preproduc-tion, rehearsal, and performance; computer assisted design software; scenery and costume periods and design styles; sewing techniques; lighting design; light-ing dimmers and controls; sound design and controls; and special effects for sound, lighting and make-up. Students also study rendering; drafting and model-making; and the creation of design concepts through script anaysis and discussion.

As graduating Musical Theatre students wrote to incoming students, “NOCCA is one of the most amazing places that you can spend your high school years. We’ve had some of our greatest experiences here. Your job as a student it to continue to strive to achieve your highest level of performance. Then, the sky’s the limit!”

The costume department built over 200 costumes this year for productions including Vocal Music’s Taste of Opera and Musical Theatre’s Starmites (top left and right); Drama’s Learned Ladies and the Dance Concert (modern and jazz pieces only, second row left and right, and third row.) Bottom right: constructing the set for Learned Ladies, the first production designed completely by students. Studio III student Mignon Charvet was awarded an Arts Recognition and Talent Search Merit Award for her costume design for Learned Ladies.

Jack

son

Hill

Jackson Hill

HOW YOU CAN HELP

To become a member of The NOCCA Institute, support a specific program above, or give a gift in honor or memory of a loved one, please check a box above and provide the information requested below. Mail to: The NOCCA Institute, 2800 Chartres Street, N.O., LA 70117, or fax to 504.940.2870. For further information, call 504.940.2900, or visit our website at www.nocca.com.

Name _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Date _____________________________________________________

Address ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Phone (h) _______________________________________________________Phone (o) ______________________________________________________e-mail ___________________________________________________

Please ______ Find my check enclosed in the amount of $ _________________ ______ Charge my _____ Visa _____ MasterCard _____ American Express in the amount of $ ________________ Card Number _______________________________________ Expiration Date ____________________ Signature _______________________________________________________ ______ Call me with further information on the programs marked above.

OPEN DOORS WITH FINANCIAL AID Financial aid for ballet shoes, supplies, department fees, and summer study enables all stu-dents, regardless of their family’s financial ability, to participate in NOCCA|Riverfront’s world-class program.

SPONSOR A VISITING MASTER ARTIST Underwrite a residency in dance, creative writing, costume design, vocal music or any of the six other divisions. Class(es) ($100 - $500); school year ($2,000 - $6,000).

HELP FUND PROFESSIONAL TRAINING EQUIPMENT Training on industry-standard equipment enhances students’ education and col-lege opportunities and leads to economic growth through jobs-training for the region.

ACQUIRE BOOKS, MUSIC & RESOURCES FOR THE LIBRARY Help improve the collections of the Senator John Breaux Library for generations of future artists.

SECURE FUTURES WITH AN ENDOWMENT GIFT Ensure excel-lence in education and change young lives by establishing an endowment or by adding to exisiting endowments benefiting Institute programs.

NAME A SEAT IN LUPIN HALL Engrave a seat plaque in Freda Lu-pin Memorial Hall in honor or in memory of a loved one, or with a business name. ($500).

NAME A PRACTICE ROOM OR OTHER ROOM Rooms are still available to name in the NOCCA|Riverfront facility.

GIVE A GIFT OF MEMBERSHIP Provide support for all of the Insti-tute’s programs benefiting students and their training. Members receive a 10% discount on CENTER STAGE tickets.

PROGRAM SUPPORT

NAMING AND GIFT GIVING

For a membership contribution of $60 or more, we offer a limited-edition commemorative art work by recent graduate Daniel Stiegler. A fanciful piece inspired by the Art Nouveau movement, the work is a full-collor print on archival paper, with each piece signed and numbered by the artist. To add this exciting piece to your art collection, fill out and return the form below or make your dona-tion online at nocca.com.

Page 15

PARTICIPATION

AbramsonAcademy of Sacred HeartAdams Science & TechAlbanyAndrew JacksonAndrew Jackson ElementaryAnnunciation CatholicArchbishop BlenkArchbishop ChapelleArchbishop HannanArchbishop RummelArchbishop ShawArden Cahill AcademyAudubon MontessoriBaton Rouge MagnetBelle ChasseBen FranklinBentonBishop SullivanBogalusaBonnabelBoothville-VeniceBowling GreenBoyet Junior BroadmoorBrother MartinCabrini Caddo MagnetCarencro MiddleCatholicCentralChalmetteClark SeniorDeLaSalleDelhiDenham SpringsDequincyDestrehanDominicanDreux Arts AcademyDunham School

DutchtownE.D. White CatholicEast AscensionEast JeffersonEast St. John Ecole ClassiqueEllender MiddleEpiscopal Day SchoolFaith ChristianFontainebleauFontainebleau MiddleFortierFree SchoolGrace KingGretna JuniorHahnvilleHammondHarris MiddleHaynes MiddleHelen Cox JuniorHigginsThe Hill SchoolHoly CrossHoly GhostHoly Name of JesusHoly Name of MaryHome SchoolHouma JuniorIsidore NewmanJ.B. Martin JuniorJ.L. Ory MagnetJesuitJohn Curtis ChristianJohn EhretJohn McDonoghJohn Q. Adams MiddleKarrKehoe-FranceKennedyLafayetteLake Castle

Life of Christ ChristianLivaudaisLouise McGeheeLusher ExtensionLutcherLutheranMandevilleMandeville JuniorMarian Central CatholicMarshall MiddleMcDonogh #15McDonogh #35McKinleyMcMainMcMain MiddleMeislerMetairie Park Country DayMillerville AcademyMinstrelMount Carmel AcademyMount Carmel Christian Faith AcademyNevilleNew Orleans JewishDay SchoolNOCCA AcademyNorthlake ChristianNorthshoreNorthsideNorthwestern MiddleO.Perry WalkerOaks MontessoriParkwayPearl RiverPierce’s PreparatoryPonchatoulaRabouinRayvilleRedemptoristReedReserve Christian

Ridgewood PrepRiverdaleRiverdale MiddleRoosevelt MiddleRustonSt. AmantSt. AugustineSt. DominicSt. JamesSt. Joan of ArcSt. Joseph’s AcademySt. Margaret MarySt. Martin’s EpiscopalSt. Mary of the AngelsSt. Mary’s AcademySt. Paul’s SeniorSt. ScholasticaSt. Thomas MooreSalmenSignature CentersSlidellSouth Lafourche TaraTerrebonneUniversityUrsuline AcademyVandebilt CatholicH.W. Lewis MiddleWarren EastonWestdale MiddleWestgateWest JeffersonWest St. JohnWilliam Pitcher JuniorWoodlawnXavier PrepYouree Drive MiddleZachary

NOCCA|RIVERFRONT SERVED STUDENTS FROM THE FOLLOWING PARTNER SCHOOLS IN 2004-05

SENDING PARISHES 2004-05AscensionBossierCaddoCalcasieuEast Baton RougeIberiaJefferson

LafayetteLafourcheLincolnLivingstonNatchitochesOrleansOuachita

PlaqueminesRapidesRichlandSt. BernardSt. CharlesSt. JamesSt. John

St. TammanyTangipahoaWashingtonWest Baton Rouge

Jazz, Classical, Vocal

Decem

ber 9

7:00 p.m.

Non-Profit Orgn.U.S. Postage

PAIDNew Orleans, LA

Permit # 583A

udition Workshops

October 29 &

Novem

ber 5 9 a.m. - 1 p.m

.

Sum

mer 2006, 2005-06

January 28, 2006A

pplications Deadline

CALEN

DA

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AU

DITIO

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Lorna William

s, 2004 Alum

nus July 21 - 23

BO

OK

ART Exhibition

A

ugust 22 - October 9

Matteo N

eivert: Paitings

August 22 - O

ctober 9 &

Sculpture

Faculty Exhibition

October 24 - D

ecember 1 5

DAN

CE DEPA

RTMEN

T, Lupin Hall

Winter D

ance Concert

January 27 - 28

7:00 p.m.

January 29

2:00 p.m

.

A M

idsumm

ers Night’s

Decem

ber 2 - 3, 9 - 10 7:00 p.m

.D

ream

Decem

ber 4 & 11

2:00 p.m

.

THEATR

E ARTS, D

RA

MA

DIV

ISION

, Nim

s Theatre

KEN

KIR

SCHM

AN

ARTSPA

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LLERY SEA

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Tickets for student performances: $5. For reservations and further

information, visit our w

ebsite at ww

w.nocca.com

.

Jackson Hill

Jackson Hill

Lorna William

s

MU

SIC DEPA

RTMEN

T CON

CERT, Lupin

This issue of Aspirationshas been graciously

underwritten by

THE NOCCA INSTITUTE

2800 Chartres StreetNew Orleans, LA 70117504.940.2900