Follow Hymn holding auditions for new Building Bridges performance

LYNN – Follow Hymn Music Inc.’s Building Bridges program is growing in its second year, and has begun taking auditions for an original landmark performance this holiday season.Last year, the Building Bridges program matched students from the Ford School in Lynn with those at the Marblehead Veterans Memorial School in a unique partnership that crossed many socio-economic and cultural boundaries. Students worked to help one another academically and spent time learning about each other’s background and lifestyle.This year, the program has expanded to include students from Lynn Classical High School, Lynn English High School, KIPP Academy Lynn and Danvers High School.”We feel in a world enmeshed in conflicts and fears, we present a glimmer of hope, unity and peace thorough our performances and community efforts,” said Artistic Director Doreen Murray. “We firmly believe that the power of music through song, movement and dramatic presentation are excellent tools to aid in the elimination of racism by bridging cultural gaps and providing a greater understanding and awareness through people.”This year’s holiday musical performance will be “Illumination from the Mountaintop,” an original production written by John DiTomaso and directed by Robb Dimmik. The performance is a music history lesson based on the struggle for civil rights in America.The cast and audience will “experience the influence of music on the civil rights movement,” according to Murray.Auditions will take place Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 22 and 23 at KIPP Academy Lynn from 1-6 p.m.They are open to any student in grades 7-12 at Lynn English or Classical, Ford, KIPP Danvers High School and Marblehead Veterans Memorial School.Students hoping to play an instrument must bring sheet music and musical instruments. Organizers are looking for two violins, a viola, cello, bass, flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon, trombone and tuba. Vocalists must be prepared to perform one brief solo.According to Murray, 25-30 high school students will be selected to comprise the choir and 10-15 high school students will be selected to fill the orchestra. Choir members will also have scripted, speaking roles and will perform dance/ movement segments to coincide with choir and instrumental renditions.The production is one hour in length and presented in three parts.There will also be a pre-presentation of the Martin Luther King Jr. awards night presented by Danvers Committee on Diversity and post-production discussions on racism, unity and bridging cultural differences.Rehearsals will take place in the month of December primarily during school vacation and will be held at a variety of locations in all three communities.Performances will be held Friday, Jan. 16 at Danvers High School, prior to the MLK award dinner, Jan. 30 and 31 at Marblehead Performing Arts Center and in Lynn, at a location to be named, Feb. 9.