Thank you to all who expressed interest in “The Freedom Songs” Workshop. Even though we regret to cancel, as we did not reach the number of responses needed at this time. We look forward to rescheduling Mr. Brickey when he becomes available. Stay tuned!

Below is the workshop we look forward to rescheduling. Groups are welcome to suggest dates for consideration.

• Monday, February 29, 2016
• 10:30 am – 11:30 am
• $5.00 each
• Great for grades 5-12
• Adults welcome!
• Register by February 19
• 815-724-3760  Park Office opt. 2

In honor of African American History Month, a special musical workshop will be presented on Monday, February 29, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theatre, 201 W. Jefferson Street in Joliet. The event is co-sponsored by Bicentennial Park and St. Joseph Academy, an independent elementary school in Joliet’s City Center. The workshop is ideal for students in fifth grade through high school. Adults are also welcome.

Singer Songwriter Bill Brickey, formerly of Joliet, will lead the group in singing songs of the Civil Rights movement, as well as songs from modern pop music. In this interactive workshop, students will learn how the need of Civil Rights Freedom Fighters to communicate ideas that were clearly stated, concise, memorable, and motivational, resulted in the reshaping of field hollers, blues, and African American gospel music into the genres that we now call r&b, pop, and rap/hip-hop.

Participants in the workshop will learn to analyze and compare these styles, which were created by combining catchy rhythms, rhyming phrases, and simple melodic cadences.A graduate of Joliet West, Bill Brickey has been a performing artist all his life. He has studied musical theatre and has been a frontman in bands of almost every genre. For the past 22 years, Brickey has been a teacher at the Old Town School of Folk Music, where he teaches everything from rhythm to finger-style guitar, rhythm and blues ensembles, Wiggleworms, songwritng, singing and performance.

Cost for the workshop is $5 per participant. School groups as well as homeschool families are urged to call now to reserve their seats. Phone either the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park (815-724-3760) or St. Joseph Academy (815-723-4567). Reservations will be accepted through February 19.

Click here for flyer below