What is the first thing you think about when you hear “Plant City?”
That’s right! You think, “The arts.”
OK, so maybe you don’t. I suppose it is more likely that strawberries and trains top that list, and for good reason, too. But why don’t the arts deserve at least an equal level?
Did you know that both Plant City and Durant high schools have music programs that have earned awards? Or that we have a community theater? How about a community choir? Even a youth chorus! Furthermore, Plant City does not only have performing-arts groups, we also have art galleries, the Plant City Photo Archives and History Center, museums and more.
Most importantly, these organizations and groups do not just exist, but most of them are growing and thriving. As executive and artistic director of the Plant City Community Choir, I’ve seen the growth first-hand. Four years ago, when we started, we barely had 15 singers. Our audience was small, and our donors didn’t exist. We had no central location from which to organize and run our operations, and we were dependent on whatever church allowed us to rehearse weekly in its building.
Today, we are a multifaceted organization with a strong donor base, large audiences and performance experience in several different venues in Plant City and Brandon. We’ve even performed at Walt Disney World!
I always tell the Plant City Community Choir singers that what they do is special, because it is quite possibly the most natural and genuine expression of art. For an instrumentalist and most artists, they are dependent on a man-made object they can then manipulate into beautiful sights and sounds. For a singer, the body is the instrument. It is intimate and personal. We put ourselves out there in front of audiences, who could hate us, and we cannot blame our bows or the quality of our paint. I believe the audience knows this or can sense it. This is the reason I feel the choir has succeeded in the economic crisis. Our singers are not professional, classically trained vocal performers; they are nurses, secretaries, teachers, contractors, bankers, spouses and parents. That gives our audience, and Plant City, something to which they can relate.
And this is just one of dozens of community group in our city — formed, organized and managed by Plant City residents.
The interest in the arts is in Plant City. If it weren’t, we wouldn’t have such amazing groups. So many of our community members want to act in the community theater or sing in the community choir. But every person in Plant City needs to experience the art we create. What better way to reach them than through the Plant City Observer?
My hope is that Plant City and “the arts” become synonymous, just like Plant City and “strawberries.” If you aren’t in an arts organization yet, stop putting it off! Audition for a theater production, attend an art exhibit, join the choir or visit the museums. At the very least, you will make new friends and enjoy a new hobby.
This column will explore the arts community in Plant City. If you are part of an arts group (visual or performing) or have a suggestion for this column, please contact me at director@pccommunitychoir.com.
Joseph Mendolia is executive and artistic director of the Plant City Community Choir.“>http://mundosol.com/dengi-do-zarplati-onlayn.php