NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
March 7, 2007
MEDIA CONTACT:
Cyndi Soter O'Neil
coneil@wakeedpartnership.org
919.821.7609 ext. 128
919.949.4758 mobile
Pieces of Gold Showcases Student Talent
RALEIGH – More than 900 Wake County public school students will take the stage and work behind the scenes tonight (March 7) at 7 p.m. in the 24th annual Pieces of Gold at the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts. Pieces of Gold is an annual arts extravaganza produced by the Wake County Public School System and Wake Education Partnership.
Students and teachers work throughout the year to produce performances that support the curriculum as well as entertain an enthusiastic audience. The event also serves as an annual fundraiser for Wake Education Partnership.
“Audiences continue to be amazed at the creativity and talent presented each year on the Memorial Auditorium stage. We are truly fortunate to be a part of a community that supports and embraces the arts in our schools,” said Steve Casey, chair of the Pieces of Gold committee. “We admire the dedication of all the people who not only make tonight’s event possible, but also make it truly a night to remember.”
The performance celebrates the many talents of students from around our community and honors the hard work of our school community. Pieces of Gold alums have gone on to pursue careers in a variety of areas, but some—like Broadway star Lauren Kennedy and American Idol sensation Clay Aiken—started their performing careers right here in Raleigh. The schools listed below were selected from 68 groups that auditioned in November to perform tonight:
Aida Cast Briarcliff Elementary Brooks Elementary Broughton High Centennial Campus Middle Combs Elementary Enloe High Farmington Woods Elementary Fuller Elementary Fuquay-Varina Elementary Garner High Green Hope High Holly Ridge Elementary Joyner Elementary Knightdale High |
Leesville High Ligon Middle Martin Middle Northwoods Elementary Olds Elementary Pleasant Union Elementary Powell Elementary Sanderson High Southeast Raleigh High (3 groups) Underwood Elementary Wake Forest High Wake Forest Middle Washington Elementary Weatherstone Elementary Wendell Elementary |
Pieces of Gold began in 1983 as a dinner and show held to raise money for the Wake Education Foundation (later named Wake Education Partnership), an organization formed that same year to develop a higher level of community involvement and financial support for public schools. The original committee members named the event for the students, whom they believed were truly “pieces of gold.” The performance continues to serve as a fund-raising event for the Partnership.
About Wake Education Partnership
Wake Ed is an advocacy organization dedicated to making world-class schools possible in Wake County through business and community involvement. We play a critical role in bringing people together, raising the level of discussion through capacity building, and brokering information and relationships around key issues in public education. Programs for 2006-07 focus on retaining effective teachers, developing effective education leaders, and ensuring healthy schools for all students. For more information, please visit www.WakeEdPartnership.org.
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