By Garrick R. Black II, Youth Excellence Performing Arts Workshop YEPAW’s 23^rd year lands them center stage at the University of Akron’s EJ Thomas Performing Arts Hall.   Sunday, July 22, 2012, well over 300 young people demonstrated their amazing talents in choral music, mime, dance, step, orchestra, sign language, drum line, video, photography, drama, creative writing and visual arts to an audience of over 2,000 family members and friends.

For one full week the students attended an intense performing arts workshop at Akron’s STEM middle school, discovering that excellence is not accidental; it is earned, it is purposed, it is planned.  They are housed on the University of Akron’s campus to encourage each student to pursue education with a passion.  The participants are encouraged to DREAM:  D, dare to be your best.  R, respect yourself, respect others.  E, make excellence the center of your character.  A, attitude is everything.  M, master at least one thing well enough to teach someone else.

The video provides snippets of daily practices and a glimpse of the closing concert.  Thank you for watching and please, share the inspiration.