In the event that you can't attend a class you've registered for, please notify us by emailing seniorcenter@jfcsaz.org at least 72 hours in advance.
The song "Over the Rainbow" almost didn't make it into the 1939 film "The Wizard of Oz" because the producers didn't think it fit the character of Dorothy, a farm girl from Kansas. Fortunately, wiser…
In the event that you can't attend a class you've registered for, please notify us by emailing seniorcenter@jfcsaz.org at least 72 hours in advance.
The song "Over the Rainbow" almost didn't make it into the 1939 film "The Wizard of Oz" because the producers didn't think it fit the character of Dorothy, a farm girl from Kansas. Fortunately, wiser and cooler heads prevailed, and the song has gone on to become a classic, recorded by everyone from Aretha Franklin to Eric Clapton to Ariana Grande. Judy Garland performed it countless times during her career.
What accounts for the enduring affection for the song? This one-session class looks at "Over the Rainbow" in detail, showing how it embodies some of the basic principles of great art: emotional connection; beauty; and making us wait to find out what is going to happen next. We'll also put the song into the context of the creators' careers and the film and musical scene of 1939. No musical experience is necessary for this class!
David Schildkret retired from Arizona State University in May 2023 after serving for more than 20 years on the faculty of the School of Music, Dance & Theatre. For most of that time, he was Director of Choral Activities, leading many choirs and teaching courses in conducting and choral music. He also taught general music courses and Barrett Honors College seminars. In the community, he has been a lecturer on topics of music appreciation for Arizona Speaks and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. Educated at Rutgers University and Indiana University, Schildkret served on the faculties of the University of Rochester (NY) and Centre College (KY) and as dean of the School of Music at Salem College (NC) before coming to Arizona in 2002. He has been the music director of the Mount Desert Summer Chorale in Maine since 1999, conducting his first concerts in 2000. He served as Music Director at Scottsdale United Methodist Church from 2003 - 2014 and from 2017 - 2019. Since September 2019, he has been Director of Music Ministries at Dayspring United Methodist Church. He lives in Chandler with his wife, Susan Griffin, a nationally recognized dance educator. Their daughter Miriam is a frequent speaker on opera for JFCS, and their older daughter, Elizabeth, is Director of School & Family Programs at Portland Ovations, an arts presenting organization in Maine. For more about David Schildkret, please visit his website: schildkret.website.
