Through a generous grant from the Longwood Foundation, Coastal Concerts and La Esperanza Community Center presented the youth music group Hope For Success in an outdoor concert Aug. 26, in a tented, socially distanced venue at the center’s Georgetown location. The performance was designed for La Esperanza’s Summer Youth Group, ages 15-18, and included a question-and-answer session that produced lively dialogue between the musicians and the audience. When asked what they enjoyed most about the event, two students in the audience answered, “Everything ... everything was really great!”
Hope For Success is a local group of talented middle and high school students, ages 13-16, who have been playing together for about 18 months, delighting crowds at Dogfish Head, Milton Theatre, Crooked Hammock and Irish Eyes. Committed to their music, they work hard as a group and individually to be the best they can be. Committed to their community, they donate 20 percent of their earnings to worthy charities.
La Esperanza has been inspiring hope, courage and determination within the Georgetown-area Latino community for more than 20 years. Youth Program Coordinator Dina Sanchez and Executive Director Jennifer Fuqua provided production coordination for the outdoor concert. Coastal Concerts Executive Director Carol Dennis worked alongside La Esperanza staff to produce the Hope for Success concert.
Coastal Concerts, with the support of Longwood Foundation, is expanding its outreach program, employing multiple musical genres to connect with various cultural communities across Sussex County. It has developed relationships and established partnerships with schools and community organizations such as Seaford High, Georgetown Middle, H.O. Brittingham Elementary, First State Community Action Agency, and La Esperanza, to produce events and celebrations promoting multicultural interaction. These activities have brought music to and facilitated musical dialogue among more than 2,500 youth and adults over the past year.
“The benefits are enormous,” said Richard Scalenghe, Coastal Concerts board president. “We believe we can more deeply engage young audiences and develop leadership within the community through music, which brings people together in ways nothing else can.”