Blog Archives - Performing Arts League

PERFORMING ARTS LEAGUE OF CHATTANOOGA AWARDS $17,000 IN GRANTS & SCHOLARSHIPS FOR 2020 TO SUPPORT YOUTH INVOLVEMENT IN THE PERFORMING ARTS

6/22/2020

The Performing Arts League (PAL) announces the recipients of their 2020 Grants and Scholarships awards totaling $17,000 to support youth involvement in the performing arts. Grants are awarded to arts organizations to encourage the expansion and development of youth arts programs that recruit, develop or train young students. Scholarships are awarded to young performers to encourage their further development and training.

Greg Miller, President of the Performing Arts League, comments, “The mission of the Performing Arts League is to promote youth involvement in the Performing Arts. We do this by supporting important projects and opportunities for young performing artists both individually and as part of a group experience. Over the years, we have been blessed to witness how these opportunities can change lives and impact our community in such positive ways. We consider our support for these students essential to the growth and well-being of our community, and we hope to continue this role in the future.”

2020 Grant Recipients: Chattanooga Symphony & Opera Youth Orchestra, Central High School Piano Lab, String Theory (Music); Chattanooga Boys Choir, East Lake Expression Engine Youth Interns & Music Program, Alpine Crest Music Club (Vocal); Chattanooga Theatre Centre Youth Theatre, Christian Family Theater Youth Theater(Theater).

2020 Scholarship Recipients: Louise Howard (Instrumental); Elisa Giles, Kelsey Holland, Karissa Wells, Emily Sapere, Shelby Williams (Dance)

2019-20 Scholarships awarded to students in the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera Youth Orchestra for private music lessons: Jordan Austin, Olivia Buyno, Katie Gregory, Elise Hayen, Parker Hayen, Melinda Jubea, Sreesha Kisambi, Elizabeth Lindley, Leah Tudor, Harrison Wells.

The Performing Arts League is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting youth involvement in the performing arts throughout Chattanooga and the surrounding area. In 2011, a group of fifteen people met to explore organizing a nonprofit corporation to benefit youth in the disciplines of theater, dance, and vocal and instrumental musicThis resulted in formation of the Performing Arts League, Inc. as a 501(c)(3) organization.
The Performing Arts League, Inc. has grown to over sixty members composed of women and men, including active professionals and retirees. Between 2014 and 2020, the Performing Arts League awarded over $150,000 in Scholarships and Grants to individuals and to support youth arts programs in the greater Chattanooga area. Among the individuals and organizations who have received funds from the Performing Arts League are: Chattanooga Ballet, Chattanooga Theatre Centre (Youth Theatre), Chattanooga Symphony & Opera Youth Orchestras, Ballet Tennessee, Chattanooga Girls Choir, Chattanooga Boys Choir (Only Men Aloud), Chattanooga Clarinet Choir (Concerto Competition), The Howard School Band, String Theory, East Lake Expression Engine, Unity Performing Arts, Christian Family Theater, and the Kiwanis Club of Chattanooga (Musical Playground). For more information about the Performing Arts League and how to become a member, visit: https://www.palchattanooga.org/

A Message from Linda Thompson

6/8/2020

Dear PAL Friends,
As the 2019-2020 PAL year ends and a new year begins, I wanted to take a minute to thank you for your support over the past four years. It has been an honor to serve as your President, as I am very passionate about PAL’s mission.
This has been a challenging year in many ways. Unfortunately, our only fundraiser planned for this year has been postponed indefinitely. Consequently, funds for scholarships and grants were limited, but we were fortunate to meet our budgeted amount.
I missed not having our usual fundraisers, but we did have some very enjoyable and entertaining meetings, including the popular dinner meeting at One North Shore, an informational and delightful meeting at Howard School where we were entertained with an original play, a Holiday dinner meeting at the Chattanooga Theatre Centre during a snow, and a luncheon meeting at Chattanooga Ballet where we were privileged to view a world premiere work. We also hosted a successful dinner at the FEED Co, which was not scheduled at the beginning of the year.
Then COVID-19 hit with a vengeance and forced us to cancel meetings and events. We had to make a lot of decisions we haven’t faced in the past, including “new to PAL” Zoom Board meetings.
At the beginning of PAL’s 2019-2020 season, I don’t think any of us would have imagined that the year would be cut short by a shelter-in-place order due to a worldwide pandemic.
Despite the obstacles, we accomplished a lot, and more and more people are hearing about our good work. Please click on the link below to hear a great interview in which Sasha Hitachi-Kizziah, a former scholarship recipient, and Margaret Green participated. https://www.wutc.org/post/performing-arts-league-lifts-chattanoogas-youth
Many thanks to all outgoing and continuing Officers and Standing Committee Chairs, and congratulations to the new Board and Standing Committee Chairs.

Sincerely,
Linda