Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts has awarded grants to 14 teachers at public high schools and middle schools in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C., to fund music, dance, and theater projects in their classrooms. 

Three teachers at FCPS schools are among the grant recipients. The grants are part of Wolf Trap’s Grants for Performing Arts Teachers, an annual program that issues financial awards to support area public school teachers who are working to bring new and exciting performing arts experiences to their students. 

All grantees and their students are invited to participate in a celebratory day of learning at Wolf Trap; participating high school students will perform at The Barns at Wolf Trap on Monday, April 28. 

Grants awarded to teachers in FCPS include one given to CJ Redden-Liotta, Falls Church High School, for the project “75th Anniversary Composer Residency.”

In honor of the choir department’s 75th anniversary, student singers will collaborate with composer Sherry Blevins to create a piece reflecting their own culture and experiences. Through creating a piece that honors and reflects the diversity of the school community, students will explore their agency and witness how their unique voices can be heard in their community. The final piece will be shared in the school’s spring concert. 

Wolf Trap’s annual grants program celebrates high-quality instruction and performance achievements of public high school and middle school music, dance, and theater teachers. Awardees receive a financial grant of up to $5,000 in support of special projects that align with Wolf Trap’s performance and education priorities. 

Falls Church will share their piece at their 75th Anniversary Concert on May 31st at 1pm in the newly renovated Spratley Auditorium.