Bloomfield Public Schools students and faculty recently had the opportunity to take part in an extraordinary international performance arts experience in Chaumont, France, bringing together emerging performers, university students, professional artists, and faculty from across the country.
Representing Bloomfield Public Schools was Lisa Clayton, who served as a faculty member for the two-week intensive. Bloomfield High School student Iyanla Dorman was also selected to participate, joining approximately 50 students from across the United States for an immersive experience focused on vocal performance, artistry, and professional development.
The program brought together students primarily studying voice, along with students pursuing dance and theatre, and featured faculty representing colleges and universities from across the country, including the University of Connecticut, Florida State University, and Hampton University, as well as professional performers and educators.
Throughout the two-week program, students stayed together at a chateau in Chaumont, France, creating a unique environment for artistic collaboration and cultural exchange.
Each day began with a centering activity before students participated in applied lessons from 9 a.m. to noon. Following lunch, students attended master classes covering a wide range of topics related to developing as a performer, including vocal technique and care, building and maintaining the voice, and strategies for making oneself marketable as an artist.
Students also had the opportunity to select faculty members with whom they wanted to work, allowing them to experience different teaching approaches, techniques, and perspectives from experienced voice teachers and professional performers.
The experience extended beyond the classroom. Faculty members presented a concert on the first night of the program, giving students the opportunity to see their instructors perform as professional artists. Students also performed in concerts held in a 12th-century church, where members of the local community attended. The performances provided a meaningful opportunity for students to share their talents while experiencing the rich culture and history of the French community.
Iyanla Dorman Selected for Special Performance
For Iyanla Dorman, the experience provided an exceptional opportunity to perform and learn alongside students from around the country. Iyanla was the youngest singer participating in the program, yet she quickly distinguished herself among the talented group of performers.
The program concluded with a special opportunity featuring Broadway star Avery Wilson, who joined the students and curated his own concert as part of the experience. Of the approximately 50 students participating, only eight students were selected to perform in Wilson’s concert—and Iyanla was one of them.
Iyanla also had the opportunity to perform as part of the program's Jazz Ensemble, further expanding her experience across different musical styles and performance settings.
The Paris-area experience gave Iyanla and other participating students far more than an opportunity to perform. They were immersed in intensive training, exposed to diverse approaches to vocal instruction, connected with emerging performers and professional artists from across the country, and given the opportunity to experience another culture through music and performance.
For Bloomfield Public Schools, the experience reflects the power of arts education to open doors beyond the classroom and provide students with opportunities to grow as artists, performers, and confident young people.
Bloomfield is proud to celebrate Iyanla Dorman and Lisa Clayton for representing our district on an international stage and demonstrating the talent, dedication, and commitment to excellence that continue to make Bloomfield students and educators shine.
