I
t is my distinct pleasure to welcome you to this year’s Showcase, debuting talented young people in the various genres of the arts. We are delighted to highlight these exceptional young artists.
The Montgomery County Chapter of The Society, Incorporated’s goal is to function as a resource for youth in the arts, to develop partnerships that encourage and support charitable contributions to support artistic growth and development of young people in the visual and performing arts and to promote educational, civic, and cultural experiences within the community.
The Arts are a manifestation of one’s creative impulse; literature-poetry, short stories, novels, performing arts-music, dance, theatre, media, or visual arts-drawing, painting, or sculpturing.
As a chapter of The Society, Incorporated, we are committed to improving our community through recognizing exceptional talented young artist and providing scholarships to assist them as they strive to reach their goals. In doing this, we continue to uphold the vision of our founders to build a more diverse community within the Arts. We remain committed to upholding their vision of “Women dedicated to the intellectual, social and economic development of youth in the arts.”
today
youth
their creative
Montgomery County (MD) Chapter
artistic
their futures
T
he Society, Incorporated was founded in May 1983 by four women of vision and sensitivity: Celeste Burton, Davetta Madison, Dorothy Patton and Myrtle Roane, who conceived the idea of organizing a group of professional women with shared common goals. The outcome of their efforts was the establishment of The Society as an organization to promote friendship among members and to serve as a resource for young people who are talented in the visual and performing arts. The name Society was chosen because, by definition, it is “an organized group of persons associated together for similar benevolent, cultural…or other purposes.” The Society was incorporated as a non profit organization in Washington, DC on October 31, 1985 and became a national organization on Saturday, April 25, 1992. The work of the organization provides the opportunity to enhance youth appreciation for and knowledge of the exciting dimensions of artistic expression.
The Montgomery County Maryland Chapter began as an interest group in November 1992 and after fulfilling all requirements necessary for chartering, became the fifth (5th) chapter of The Society, Incorporated on May 23, 1993.
For almost 30 years, the Chapter has held steadfast in its effort to support, encourage and celebrate youth in the arts. Projects and programs have included partnering with the Montgomery County NAACP ACT SO competition and awarding scholarships, supported Bethesda Chevy Chase High School, supported Walter Johnson High School Music Department; proved support to Everett P. Williams, Jr., pianist, composer and conductor in his recital featuring piano works by Black female composers, supported Urban Nations Performing Arts Academy Summer Concert Series; support Strathmore Summer Intensive Program; partnering with the Princess Mhoon Dance Academy and biennially presented Youth in the Arts Showcase.
Our mission is to continue the expansion of friendship, especially among our sisters of other chapters, and perpetual sponsorships of Montgomery County Maryland youth who are talented in the arts.
Montgomery County (MD) Chapter Charter Members Bethesda Naval Club, Bethesda MD (Circa 1993)Lady Muriel Stone Nolen, Showcase Chairperson
Greetings
Lady Mary Polly Douglass, Chapter President
The Occasion
Lady Dorothye V.C. Bush
Invocation
Lady Sandra Janett Jenkins, Chaplain Selection
Lady Chelsey A. Green, Contemporary Violinist
- Lunch -
Introduction of Artists Lady Chelsey A. Green
Tashi Mhoon Cooper
Tenin Dembele
Aaron Kilgo
Khadija Ndiaye
Serafia Cecil
Adrian Ratliff
Raffle Lady Cheryl Thomas
Giselle Sonnier
Ian Bharath
Magnus Cecil
Kelvin Dukes
Daniella Gonyoe
Joshua Griffin
Lady Anna Riley, Vice President
Lady Mary Polly Douglass, Chapter President
Lady Mary Polly Douglass, Chapter President
Described as "passionate, electrifying, and innovative," international recording artist Chelsey Green breaks down stereotypes of traditional violin and viola playing. A native of Houston, Texas, Dr. Chelsey Green is a multiinstrumentalist, vocalist, entrepreneur and educator that combines classical and contemporary to make music uniquely her own.
Chelsey Green and The Green Project have released five studio projects, debuted on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Chart (Top 30), appeared in the Top 5 albums of iTunes Jazz chart and performed live shows, jazz festivals and educational workshops around the world; including shows throughout the United States, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Japan, Haiti and more.
A few performance highlights include the 62nd Annual GRAMMY Awards with Lizzo, Songs In The Key Of Life Tour (D.C.) with Stevie Wonder, Mid Atlantic Jazz Festival with jazz violinist Regina Carter, a Library of Congress commission premier with jazz icon Charles Lloyd, NPR Tiny Desk with Maimouna Youssef and Wu-Tang Clan, the Boston Pops with Rhiannon Giddens, The Smithsonian Folklife Festival with Yo Yo Ma, ensemble debuts with the National Symphony Orchestra and The United States Air Force Band and even a nationally syndicated Walmart commercial produced by BET Networksappearingalongside KirkFranklinandEstelle.
Dr. Green completed her Doctorate of Musical Arts (D.M.A) degree in 2017 at the University of Maryland College Park and was appointed Associate Professor at Berklee College of Music in August of that same year. Committed to music education and arts advocacy as well, Chelsey is a member of the Program Council of NewMusicUSA and also serves as a Trustee on the National Board of The Recording Academy (The GRAMMYs).Learnmoreat www.chelseygreen.com.
Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological & Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO) is a major national youth initiative of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). ACT-SO was founded by famed journalist, Vernon Jarrett to provide a forum through which students demonstrate academic, artistic, and scientific prowess and expertise, thereby gaining recognition often only reserved for entertainers and athletes
ACT-SO is a yearlong enrichment program designed to recruit, stimulate, improve and encourage high academic and cultural achievement among high school students, it is intended to be a learning experience. The focus of a viable and effective ACT SO program is an enrichment and mentorship. Students gain knowledge from workshops and mentorship that assist in the development of their ACT SO projects and gain valuable tool to assist them throughout their education. The ACT-SO program encourages the dedication and commitment of community volunteers and business leaders to serve as mentors and coaches.
www.princessmhoondance.com | https://www.facebook.com/PrincessMhoonDanceInstitute/
The Princess Mhoon Dance Institute is an acclaimed dance studio serving thousand of families through in studio and off-site programs. The Institute believes that dance is a catalyst for personal, professional and artistic development. Through the leadership and training of Director and choreographer Princess Mhoon, many students have realized professional careers on Broadway, the Concert stage and Hollywood while others have developed self-esteem and life skills.
In 2016 the institute was invited to perform as part of a Celebration of African American Women in Dance hosted my Michelle Obama. Since 2010, the PMDI has served thousands of families in the DC Metropolitan region through classes, school programs, performances, summer programs and community outreach.
Serafia Cecil, Violinist Senior, Seneca Valley High School NAACP ACT SO
Tashi Mhoon Cooper, Dancer Senior, Wilson Baker Academy Princess Mhoon Dance Academy
Tenin Dembele, Spoken Word Artist Senior, Northwest High School NAACP ACT SO
Kelvin Dukes, Vocalist Senior, James Hubert Blake High School NAACP ACT-SO
Ian Bharath, Pianist 5th Grade, Patterson Park Public Charter School Bel Air Arts Academy
Magnus Cecil Pianist Freshman, Seneca Valley High School NAACP ACT SO
Aaron Kilgo, Pianist
O
scholarship program
recognize
honor outstanding achievements of seniors
area high school or students who are enrolled at an institution of advanced
a Montgomery County or Washington,
are
in the performing, visual, instrumental or literary arts.
accepted from applicants in the Spring of the year.
applications with supporting documentation
will be awarded at the students’ school’s awards assembly. The Montgomery County Chapter of The Society
also recognize award winners
our signature event, Showcase of
Youth
the
Society, Incorporated, Montgomery County
for the scholarship
a member of the Montgomery County Chapter.
more about
Chapter
be obtained through the school guidance counselor
student participation in this program.
is a Freshman at SUNY Purchase College Conservatory Dance Program. She has over 16 years of dance training to include Classical & Contemporary ballet, Contemporary, Jazz (Broadway), Tap (Rhythmic), Modern, Afro Pop, Hip Hop, Sri Lankan, and Liturgical. She began her dance training with Starbound Dance Studio in Bowie, MD at 2 ½ years old. From there, she joined the Metropolitan Ballet Theater and Academy (MBT) in Gaithersburg, MD and the City Dance School/Conservatory in North Bethesda & Rockville, MD.
Bianca has trained and performed works under the direction of dance notables such as: Dance Theater of Harlem, Koresh Dance Company, PHILADANCO! Dance Company, ICONS Dance Company, and Alvin Ailey Dance Company, to name a few. She has also performed in many dance productions like the Nutcracker, MBT Gala & Spring Shows, Dream Gala (City Dance), and Creating the Magic (City Dance. Bianca is also a current scholarship recipient and dancer with the Alvin Ailey Professional Dance division and the Dance Theater of Harlem in New York City. Her most recent accomplishments include being awarded a Silver Medal in Modern Dance and. the NAACP 2022 ACT SO Regional Gold Medal in Contemporary Dance.
is a Sophomore at Howard University majoring in Computer Science. He is a Maryland based black interdisciplinary artist whose works are created with the intent of affirming blackness, encouraging creativity and curiosity, & inspiring imagination particularly within black youth. Currently enriching themself at Howard University's Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts, LITE actualizes their dreams of liberation from within an oppressive social structure via a multitude of mediums including mask production, animated video, and digital portraiture. LITE has exhibited work in the Smithsonian Hirshhorn Museum as a part of the ARTLAB Emerging Artist program (2018 2019), as well as a part of the digital residency program hosted by The Nicholson Project (June 2020). As a founding member of OnRae LaTeal's Freedom Futures Collective, BLVKLITE has a dedication to use their art to uplift black youth and advocate for marginalized communities.
Bianca Madelina Calá, Dancer
Bianca Calá
BLVKLITE, Artist
Anika L. Allard
Janice Burton
Dorothye V.C. Bush
Pamela C. Byrd
Janice H. Calicker
Alberta Clement
Stephanie Cummings Carr
Lauren P. Davidson Erslyn H. Foster
Mozelle G. Fountain Felicia R. Gibson
Patricia Grant
Chelsey A. Green Sandra Janett Jenkins
Nadine M. King Beverly G. Lewis Rachal
Keitha Walker Mahone
Kena Renee Mayberry
Tiffany C. McEwan
Melva M. Meade Dana K. Morgan
Rodnika Murphy
Muriel Stone Nolen
Joyelle Ogilvie Sheila Ogilvie Joan Payne Clark
Lois Ann Poag-Ray J. Shannon Powell
Anna L. Riley Mary S. Robinson
Sophia O. Robinson Alethia L. Spraggins
Cheryl M. Thomas
Toian Vaughn Shani Waugh
Carolyn R. Wilson Mary Wilson Erma Withers
The Ladies of the Society, Inc. (Montgomery County MD Chapter) extend our sincerest gratitude to all of our guests for attending our 2022
To our partners, sponsors, performing artists, and supporting businesses & organizations.
Bel Air Arts Academy https://www.belairartsacademy.com/ College Park Marriott Hotel & Conference Center Chelsey Green Concert Tickets chelseygreen.com Geomone Nolen Jonson Invitation Design
J. Shannon Powell Consulting Showcase Journal https://www.facebook.com/JSPConsulting Mano Sewartz Cashmere Cape https://manoswartz.com/ MCMD Society Members Enjoyment Gift Cards
NAACP ACT-SO https://naacp.org/our-work/youth-programs/act-so-achievement-program Noelle Rx by Candice Tavares Artwork https://www.linkedin.com/in/noellerx/ Princess Mhoon Dance Academy www.princessmhoondance.com
https://www.facebook.com/thesocietyincmocomd
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