Music Camp Delivers a Show Filled With Talent, Love and Hope

Some of the cast from the Voices of Hope Music Performance Camp of the original musical revue, “What Dreams May Come” celebrate the conclusion of their performance with Rhonda Dimmie, Music Director of the Camp.
Some of the cast from the Voices of Hope Music Performance Camp of the original musical revue, “What Dreams May Come” celebrate the conclusion of their performance with Rhonda Dimmie, Music Director of the Camp.

By Jennifer L. Warren

NEWBURGH – It’s not your typical camp, and Saturday was no ordinary show.

Saturday afternoon, inside the Calvary Presbyterian Church, 22 campers from the Voices of Hope Music Performance Camp presented the original musical revue, “What Dreams May Come,” to their families and other guests. Filled with lively dancing and singing, along with some comedic as well as serious acting segments, the close to hour show took the audience through a wide gamut of vocal genres, including; Broadway, World Music, Pop Radio, and the American Songbook. Centering upon the plot of a slumber party, the show also allowed those in attendance to see and hear a host of dreams, covering a wide span of topics, implementing a variety of mediums.

It’s this range of artistic opportunities that makes the two week summer camp, which has served over 100 students in the past six years, such an authentic and integral piece of the City of Newburgh’s community fabric. Promoting diversity, inclusion for all regardless of their ability to pay, and a standard of uncompromised excellence, the Camp features still another precious component.

On Saturday afternoon about 22 campers from The Voices of Hope Music Performance Camp staged an original music revue, “What Dreams May Come True.” Including an assortment of lively singing, dancing and acting numbers.
On Saturday afternoon about 22 campers from The Voices of Hope Music Performance Camp staged an original music revue, “What Dreams May Come True.” Including an assortment of lively singing, dancing and acting numbers.

“Every year we build a camp around the kids, letting them shine in ways they can; we set the bar as high as we can, and believe the kids will reach it,” said Cabot Parsons, who has been the Director for the summer program’s shows for the past five years. A theater director, writer and puppeteer with over 100 productions to his credit, Parsons is one of several talented adults in the theater industry volunteering his and her time and expertise to this special Camp.

Choreographer and dance teacher, Nancy Green, Owner of the Dance Emporium in Middletown as well as Music Director, Rhonda Dimmie, an accomplished pianist, keyboard player, song writer and vocal teacher have also been mentor mainstays. In addition to the high caliber of people involved with guiding the campers to success with their culminating show each summer, the Program further brings in other performance professionals to discuss the business or takes campers directly to their venues, allowing youth to see them hone their crafts in person, up-close-and-personal. As a result of all these extra touches, along with that lofty bar of excellence, each summer campers respond by pulling out their very best, changing for the better, and perhaps most telling, returning. One of those young people, who has felt the impact of her years with the Camp is Sara Roach, who will be a freshman at Newburgh Free Academy’s Main Campus in the fall. The multi-talented Roach has been with Voices of Hope Summer Music Performance Camp for two years as well as its other tenet, the year-round Community Children’s Rehearsal Choir, for the past three. Intending on volunteering at the Camp next year, Roach can’t stop smiling when asked about the impact of Voices of Hope on her life.

Some of the performers in Saturday’s Voices of Hope Music Performance Camp’s presentation of “What Dreams May Come True” included from left; Michael Sanchez, Sarah Roach and Issabella Esperance pose for a photo.
Some of the performers in Saturday’s Voices of Hope Music Performance Camp’s presentation of “What Dreams May Come True” included from left; Michael Sanchez, Sarah Roach and Issabella Esperance pose for a photo.

“The Summer Program and Choir have taught me how to be confident, perform and overcome my stage freight,” said Roach, who stops to hug two of the younger campers, she serves as an unofficial role model to. “The singing and dancing are my favorites because you get to do duets, but I also like the theater because Mr. Cabot is so hilarious; he’s always telling jokes and making it fun; I want to now come back next summer and help work with the younger campers, so they can enjoy it just as much as I have.”

Each year, the culminating show of the Summer Camp contains a central subject, one that connects with others, such as history, literature and sociology. This year’s theme was all about dreams, and so it was only fitting that the Voices of Hope Program Director, Lana Williams-Scott, touch upon that piece in her remarks to the audience as well as the campers at the conclusion of the performance.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you,” exclaimed a joyous Williams-Scott. “I have known some of you in this Program for 5-6 years, and have seen you grow so much.” Smiling wide, she added, “Never, ever give up; always continue to dream.”

Thanks to the expertise, as well as compassionate and individual-focused approach of the Voices of Hope Programs over the last decade, so many area youth are now equipped with the needed tools to help make their dreams come true.

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