Fine Arts Chamber Players

 
 

Dream Collectors

Is an award winning group of professional actors and musicians that have been performing since 1989 and have won the following awards:

 
1991 - Cultural Achievement Award by the Greater East Dallas Chamber of Commerce
1994 - Arts and Education Award by the (North Texas) Business for Culture and the Arts
1995 - ‘Dream Collectors Day’ Proclamation by City of Mesquite Mayor Cathy Ray, March 2, 1995
1996/97 - Arts Basic Award for exemplary arts education programming by Texas Commission on the Arts
1997 - ‘Dream Collectors Day’ proclamation by City of Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk, May 19, 1997
2000 - Virginia Nick Arts in Education Award by TACA
 
 
 
The Music of Poetry
 
This program integrates poetry, classical music, Native American sign language, silk juggling, sketching, ecology awareness and more! 
 
Target Audience:     Grades 1-6
Program Duration:    30-40 Minutes

Students will hear classical music by Bach, Rossini, Bizet, Rodrigo and Tarrega, along with traditional folk melodies and jazz performed on oboe, clarinet, flute, guitar, accordion, xylophone and drums.  They will experience poetry spoken in Chinese, Italian, Spanish and English; and one poem performed with authentic Native American sign language accompanied by traditional Sioux music.  The Dream Collectors illustrate the poetry and music with storytelling, magic, puppetry, hula hoops, painting, comedy and silk juggling.  The program includes poetry by Carl Sandburg, Shel Silverstein, Langston Hughes, Nikki Giovanni, Federico Garcia Lorca, Joy Harjo and Ke Yan.  When time permits, the Dream Collectors present a short musical instrument demonstration following the performance.
 
 
 
 
   
For Every Action…
or The Matter of Choice
 
This performance uses live classical music and theatre to link science, history, physics, and literature with character education.  It weaves a tale of greed versus honesty and ultimately the power of individual choice. 
 
Target Audience:    Grades 4-6
Program Duration:  45-50 Minutes
 
Using the scientific principles of Sir Isaac Newton and the classical music of J.S. Bach, the Dream Collectors explore the concepts of actions, reactions, choices and personal responsibility using recorders, oboe, guitar keyboard, percussion and creative movement.  This fast-paced physical comedy, set in 17th century Europe, uses the social patterns of the time to weave a tale of greed, love and ultimately the power of individual choice.  The program explores Isaac Newton's three laws of motion and finds parallels in both music and life.  When time permits, the Dream Collectors conduct a short workshop, after the play,  to further explore concepts presented in the performance.
 
 
 
  
 
   
Variety Show 
 
A celebration of music and poetry created especially for senior adult facilities. Program Duration: 30-40 Minutes
 
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
 
Hum along to America the Beautiful while hearing phrases from the Declaration of Independence and one of America's most cherished poems about the Statue of Liberty, "The New Colossus"

      
Marvel at the grace of silk juggling while listening to Chinese poetry and music
 
 
Laugh with the musical salute to Italy and Opera on accordion and clarinet
 
 
Savor the Old West through the sounds of the guitar, harmonica and cowboy poem, "Out Where the West Begins"
 
 
Enjoy the beauty of Native American Indian poetry, sign language, music and hoops
 
 
 
 
 
     
 
 
RAVES FROM SENIOR
COMMUNITY AUDIENCES
 
 
  • Wow, these performers are fantastic!”

  • “I would love to see them again!”

  • “Very talented and creative individuals!”

  • “This was one of the greatest programs I have ever seen.”

  • “Very clever – I really liked the variety of music and poetry.”

  • “Come again!! Most enjoyable!”

 

Dream Collectors
(l-r) Rogene Russell, Bo Gerard,
Gretchen Walz Gerard, Winston Stone

 

 

DREAM COLLECTORS
 PERFORMER BIOGRAPHIES
 
 
 
BO GERARD, actor, recorder
      Specialist in professional children’s theater with extensive experience in script writing and stage direction
      Co-Owner of Gerard Entertainment
      Extensive work in industrial, local and national commercials   
      Former Assistant Professor of Theater, Mankato State University, Minnesota
      Numerous roles in New York City theater productions including the National Tour of the
                 Broadway show Barnum
  
WINSTON STONE, guitar, recorder
      Bachelor of Music & Master of Music degrees from State University of New York
      PhD Aesthetics Studies, University of Texas at Dallas
      Music Faculty, University of Texas, Dallas
      Former Music Faculty, Greenhill School of Dallas and Cedar Valley College of Dallas
      Extra Musician with Dallas Symphony Orchestra and the Dallas Opera Orchestra
  
ROGENE RUSSELL, oboe, piano
       Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville
       Master of Music degree from Yale University School of Music
       Artistic Director of the Fine Arts Chamber Players
       Member of the Fort Worth Symphony and the Dallas Opera Orchestra
 
GRETCHEN WALZ GERARD, actress, flute, percussion
       Presidential Scholar & Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Theater from Adelphi University
       Professionally performing, teaching, directing and writing for children since 1977
       Co-Owner of Gerard Entertainment
       Ten years as mime artist with Young Audiences
       Actor in mumerous New York City and regional theater productions, television commercials, voice
                  animation (Sesame Street) and frequent guest host of the children's television show, "Club 27"

      

 

 

 

Masterclasses

FACP's Masterclasses provides FREE specialized instruction in brass, composition, percussion, string, voice and woodwind by a local professional musician in a classroom or after-school setting. All Grades Levels.


Vocal

Each week, selected students from Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, receive a FREE voice lesson from FACP funded teaching-artist. Each year these students present a Spring Recital in Hamon Hall at the Winspear Opera House, singing opera in Italian, French or German. These recitals give each voice student an opportunity to practice performance, poise and presentation in a world-class opera house.

FACP’s four-year commitment to each vocal student keeps the students test scores high and their attendance in school exemplary while our teaching-artist prepares them for college.
 
 
Vocal Masterclass Achievements
Nine of our twelve current Booker T. Washington vocal students were chosen for the 2011 Texas
All-Region Choir
 
* Two former students received University Scholarships, one in opera and one in music, after completing the FACP four-year Vocal Masterclass program.
 
* Three students received scholarships to SMU-in-Taos summer opera program from direct participation
in Sweet Arts Recital.
 

Violin

 

This FREE two-year program instructs 4th and 5th grade students at Jack Lowe, Sr. Elementary School on how to play the violin.

 

Students receive an instrument, instruction books, snacks, lessons from area professionals twice a week, instrument insurance and an annual trip to see the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.

 
  
Violin Masterclass students perform annually at the PTA,
Winter Assembly & Year-End programs.

 
 
 
 
 
Additional

 
         

 

  1. Dallas Symphony Principal Percussionist Doug Howard works with percussionists of the Lincoln High School Band (Dallas ISD) in the Fine Arts Chamber Players’ Masterclass series.
     
  2. Fine Arts Chamber Players' cello and composition Masterclass student from Dallas ISD practices the cello.
     
  3. Dallas Opera clarinetist Carmen Chapa helps the clarinet students at A. Maceo Smith High School (Dallas ISD) prepare their music for the spring UIL competition.

 

 

Music A-Z

 

Music A-Z  introduces children to music and musical instruments early as they take a musical journey through the alphabet. This classroom program is taught by Dallas Symphony members Mr. Dwight Shambley and Ms. Sho-Mei Pellier.
 
Target Audience:     PreK & Kindergarden
Program Duration:  30 minutes
 
 
 
 
 
 
MUSIC A to Z
KINDERGARDEN READING READINESS
AND LITERACY PROGRAM
 
 
 

 

 

Workbench Project

 

Fine Arts Chamber Players locates instruments, repaires them if needed, and places them with students and schools at no charge. 
 
Past Instrument Donations:
(2) Two Timpani donated to Dallas' Lincoln High School
(16) Sixteen Violins donated to Dallas elementary students

 

 

Student Resources

Recommended Listening:

Peter and the Wolf - Prokofiev
Carnival of Animals - Camille Saint-Saens
Vivaldi RIng of Mystery
Mozart's Magic Fantasy, A Journey through the Magic Flute

 
 

Recommended Movies:

   Disney's Fantasia
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Beethoven Lives Upstairs
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
Resource Websites:

www.dsokids.com          Dallas Symphony Orchestra website for kids
www.playmusic.org        American Symphony Orchestra League website for kids
www.nyphilkids.org        New York Philharmonic's website for kids
www.sfskids.org             San Francisco Symphony's website for kids
www.artsalive.ca             National Arts Centre in Canada's website for kids

 

 

Request an Education Program

To request an Educational Program for a school, facility or organization
please contact Fine Arts Chamber Players at:
214-520-2219 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 

Please provide the following information for an Educational Program request:

  • Date and Time desired for program
  • How many attendees/students expected
  • Age &/or grade of attendees/students
  • School, facility or organization affiliation
  • Contact person name, phone number, fax number and email
 


 

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