Grant will support Buffalo/Williamsville Poetry, Music, Dance Celebration

A $70,000 grant from the New York State Music Fund to the Just Buffalo Literary Center will support presentation of the Buffalo/Williamsville Poetry, Music and Dance Celebration in 2007 and 2008.

The grant award was announced Dec. 19 in New York by the Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, which manages the Music Fund. The money will be used to support the interdisciplinary school-based program, which brings together students from 37 schools to create new works culminating in a public performance.

The Buffalo/Williamsville Poetry, Music, Dance Celebration was founded in 2000 by Williamsville East High School teachers John Kryder and Stephen Shewan. Three years ago, the event expanded into Buffalo as part of the Just Buffalo's Interdisciplinary Performance Series, through funding support from the Baird Foundation.

"The event has grown into a yearlong project that supports emerging young composers and writers," said Kryder. "We are thrilled that the Rockefeller award will enable us not only to continue but also to expand our urban/suburban collaboration."

Professional musicians from the community join student and faculty performers for the event, which showcases the work of student composers, musicians, dancers and poets. Last year, 26 Buffalo schools and 11 Williamsville schools joined in this collaborative celebration of the arts.

The next Buffalo/Williamsville Poetry, Music, Dance Celebration will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 26 at Kleinhans Music Hall. The event is free and open to the public.

Students in the City of Buffalo and Williamsville Central school districts are invited to submit poems and musical compositions to be considered for presentation in the 2007 Celebration. Poetry should be submitted to the Just Buffalo Literary Center, 617 Main St., Suite 202A, Buffalo, NY 14203, by Feb. 28. Musical compositions must be postmarked by Feb. 16 and sent to Stephen Shewan at Williamsville East High School, 151 Paradise Road, East Amherst, NY 14051.