Monday, April 14, 2014

From Third Grade to Center Stage – A Brookstone Student Performs with Opera Carolina



If you see De’jon Dash walking down the hall at Brookstone you can usually count on two things: that he has a big smile on his face and that he is happily humming a tune in his already-developed tenor voice. So, it was not surprising to his mother or those of us who know him here at Brookstone, when he was cast in the Opera Carolina production of “Rise For Freedom.” This English opera written for the stage by Dr. Adolphus Hailstork, a living African American composer, was performed for Charlotte audiences April 3rd-5th, including De’jon’s mother, Tasha and his brother and little sister. They were all awed at his performance and so proud of their son and brother. I asked his mom what one thing impacted De’jon the most about this experience.  She gave me three: the education about the Underground Railroad, the opportunity to sing and perform with professional actors and singers, and the friendship her son developed with his on-stage father. She also said she was “so grateful” that De’jon had this opportunity and she knows it would not have been possible without Brookstone School.

What’s next for De’jon? According to him, he CAN’T WAIT to be on stage again. We can’t wait either!