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We’ve proudly supported community arts for years. The show must go on, which is why we’ve donated about $300,000 toward the Gate City Bank Young Artist Program, a one-of-a-kind opportunity not only for visiting student singers, but the local audiences who have the privilege of enjoying their talent.
The Gate City Bank Young Artist Program is incredibly unique because it helps student singers from all over the country experience professional training and the chance to deliver world-class live performances to local audiences who might not normally be able to enjoy them.
Debuting in 2013, the annual program runs from February to April. It’s the successful and innovative brainchild of Gate City Bank and the Fargo-Moorhead Opera, who have developed a unique partnership. Not only is the program an extremely rare and prestigious learning opportunity for up-and-coming singers, it’s an amazing benefit to the community as a whole.
Each year, the program attracts an average of 300 applicants, of which the top four are chosen to participate. All participants are college graduates whose main area of study is in performing arts, and many have come to see the program as essential to their professional development in the industry.
“Gate City Bank is truly honored to support the local arts and entertainment culture,” says Kevin Hanson, President & CEO. “We’re especially thankful for the opportunity to attract some of the most talented student singers from across the country, who enrich our community with their amazing gifts.”
Community giving is core to the bank’s mission, which is one reason why the Gate City Bank Young Artist Program is such a great fit. It runs solely on donations, which the bank has been a leader in providing.
One of the Gate City Bank team members who advocates for local performance arts is Karin Rudd, Senior Vice President of EPIC Checking. She also serves as board member for the Fargo-Moorhead Opera.
“It’s an amazing honor to be involved with Fargo-Moorhead’s exceptional performing arts programs,” Rudd says. “I’m especially thankful to Gate City Bank for the support it shows for team members and others who enjoy enriching our community with talent, passion and creativity.
The Gate City Bank Young Artist Program provides a fun, educational and hands-on approach to learning performance arts, as well as free performances for the community to enjoy. To date, the program’s performances have reached more than 35,000 people.
The young artists have performed in a variety of settings, such as Gate City Bank locations, schools, assisted-living facilities, local performing arts clubs, Rourke Art Museum, Dakota Medical Foundation, West Acres Mall and many community events. They’ve even performed outside of the area, most recently in the Twin Cities and Thief River Falls, MN.
Through this one-of-a-kind opportunity, participants gain valuable experience with:
Each young artist is expected to learn at least one major theatre role in its entirety.
These touch on audition techniques, vocal wellness, marketing, diction and acting.
From leading roles to backstage preparation, participants learn the basics.
While many artists are from outside the area, they learn to serve as community ambassadors by participating in multiple local outreach opportunities.
While the Gate City Bank Young Artist Program is focused within Fargo-Moorhead, it has a rippling effect throughout the country. Participants take their talents with them wherever they go – creating a better way of life with each audition they crush.
“Gate City Bank’s impact on performing arts continues to be nothing short of incredible,” says David Hamilton, General Director of the Fargo-Moorhead Opera. “We greatly appreciate their eagerness to promote performing arts in the community, and to support talented young artists nationwide.”
Learn more about how we donated more than $120,000 and deployed multiple team member volunteers to transform a pop-up food pantry into a permanent hunger relief program in West Fargo, ND – the first of its kind in the community.
At Gate City Bank, we believe in spurring local economic development that helps people and businesses thrive. Learn more about how we donated $300,000 to Fueling Our Future, an economic development initiative driven largely by the Chamber of Fargo, Moorhead and West Fargo.
Learn more about how our team members have donated $30,000 and countless volunteer hours to help bring new life to a Minot animal shelter, which provides much-needed care for furry little friends, both locally and throughout North Dakota.
Learn more about how we partnered with YWCA Cass Clay on a supportive housing initiative that promotes an environment of safety, stability and community for women and children who have experienced domestic abuse and poverty.
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