Page 252 - From the Outhouse 4 -21

F R O M T H E O U T H O U S E T O T H E L I T T L E R E D S C H O O L H O U S E : | 252

was so happy to give this testimony in church the following Sunday. Every year after that, we applied for a State of Florida
Historical Preservation Grant. We were blessed and highly favored each time that we sought this funding.

Building Restoration Funds ― We were ecstatic when we were approved by the State of Florida for $153,000. These funds
helped us to restore our facility: the floors, windows, roof, restrooms as well as interior and exterior painting of the building.

We also fine-tuned our classrooms and developed the Tajiri Arts Museum.

Orlando Opera Company Scholarships – The Orlando Opera Company sponsored ten students to their Opera Camp for five

consecutive years. We developed a relationship with the Opera Company when they released an All Call for Extras to appear

with Metropolitan Opera Singer Denyce Graves in the operatic production of Porgy and Bess. I gathered some of Sanford’s
greatest African-American singers (several were parents of Tajiri students) and a few children, totaling an ensemble of twelve

people. We requested a Sunday audition, and it was accepted. I had learned from my experience with theater in Miami the

importance of arriving at an audition ready--wearing an appropriate costume was a real plus. When we arrived for the audition,
I was told that many characters for the play had already been chosen. Being the proactive, aggressive person that I am when it

comes to Tajiri, I expressed that since we had traveled over 25 miles to please allow us to perform anyway. We had rehearsed a
couple of Negro Spirituals in a fast and slow tempo, similar to the way that the Tajiri children performed the ring plays. With

reluctance, the audition team (Robin Jensen and Amado Bobadilla) agreed to my proposal.

Well, honey chile’, the Audition Team also agreed that we were the total package for Porgy and Bess. This audition created a

lasting relationship from then until Tajiri Arts closed its doors. Not only did we do Opera Camp, we also collaborated on
several productions. We were blessed to be able to borrow costumes, set designs, lighting, technicians, and performance space

as well from the Opera Company. This was a win-win partnership!