While in the course of interviewing to fill the post of Music & Education Director it behooved me to create a ’want’  list of things I desire to see happen for the Foundation in future years and decades.  Our Board of Directors unanimously approved the hiring of Tai Oney, and subsequently created a new standing comittee of the Board that will collaborate with him to stimulate growth in this crucial area of our work.   Only now does it seem appropriate to publish my somewhat silly list.  The act of doing so is my way of spreading stardust around to see if at least a few of my hopes and dreams can come true. 

 Ø      I want the “NS”SF to someday be known as America’s foremost authority on the arranged solo voice Negro spiritual song.

 Ø      I want the “N”SF to someday be known as Florida’s leading advocate for classical vocal education at the secondary level.

 Ø      I want “NS”SF to someday publish a book that tells why classical vocal education is important and how secondary level vocal music can best be taught to minority youth.

Ø      I want the “NS”SF to someday have a nationally-recognized choral unit dedicated to the performance of Negro spirituals and other sacred songs.

 Ø      I want the “NS”SF to be regarded by American artists as having one of the most desirable performance opportunity programs in the entire nation.

 Ø      I want the “NS”SF to someday have a touring program capable of touching lives in communities everywhere.

 Ø      I want the GRADY-RAYAM PRIZE to someday be universally acknowledged as the most prestigious and valuable award of its kind given to high school singers in America.

 Ø      I want to the GRADY –RAYAM PRIZE Competition opportunity to someday be available to any African-American child in the continental United States who would like to enter.

 Ø      I want the GRADY-RAYAM PRIZE Competition to have an international component.

 Ø      I want America’s higher education institutions to someday be begging GRADY-RAYAM PRIZE winners to consider coming to their school for college and beyond.

 Ø      I want the “NS”SF to someday have healthy and secured endowments in place to fund all of its scholarship grants and much of its music and education program needs.

So, there you have it! I am betting on the talent and integrity of our Board, the dedication of my staff, and the generosity of our funding friends to build castles that will house such hopes and dreams!  Stay tuned…..

In earnest,

Rudi Cleare