Talent Development

The Acadia Foundation's talent development programs provide aid and encouragement to performing artists who are in various stages of their careers.

The Acadia Foundation nurtures the talents of aspiring performing artists through workshops and showcases that are both national and regional in scope. Organizations that provide the creative incentive and opportunities for young musicians to enhance their careers have also received ongoing support from The Acadia Foundation.

Musical Theater Songwriting Program

"I never thought I would be capable of writing a song let alone writing a melody. It was challenging because I never knew I could find my voice through songwriting. I’ve always written in private but have never shared my writing publicly which was a new experience for me.” I never thought I would be capable of writing a song let alone writing a melody. It was challenging because I never knew I could find my voice through songwriting. I’ve always written in private but have never shared my writing publicly which was a new experience for me.”

This 15-week intensive musical theatre songwriting workshop teaches students who did not realize they could create their own original songs, how to do just that! At the end of the semester, the students’ songs are performed in a showcase format by professional Broadway stars.

In collaboration with Rosie’s Theater Kids, this workshop was conceived by composer-lyricists Michael Kooman and Christopher Dimond, the writers of the wildly popular animated show Vampirina, as well as several successful stage musicals. They wanted to give high school drama students the opportunity to compose for the stage.

Ava expressed it best when she said: “All in all, this experience was a once in a lifetime opportunity. As artists we never truly realize how much goes into a song. We are always just handed material and are expected to memorize it. This process showed me just how much dedication it takes to produce that material; something that has meaning and a message behind it.”