The Collegiate Chorale Receives National Endowment for the Arts Grant, Will Go Toward Concert and CD Recording of Kurt Weill and Franz Werfel's 'The Road of Promise'

The Collegiate Chorale has been announced as one of 919 nonprofits nationwide to receive a National Endowment for the Arts grant. The Collegiate Chorale will receive $30,000 in support of its May 2015 concert and CD recording of Kurt Weill and Franz Werfel's musical epic The Road of Promise.

NEA Chairwoman Jane Chu said, "I'm pleased to be able to share the news of our support through Art Works including the award to The Collegiate Chorale. The arts foster value, connection, creativity and innovation for the American people, and these recommended grants demonstrate those attributes and affirm that the arts are part of our everyday lives."

The Road of Promise is a new concert adaptation of Kurt Weill and Franz Werfel's 1937 epic musical spectacle The Eternal Road. The performance will feature a dramatic mix of opera, musical theater and pageant play. The Road of Promise tells the story of a young boy left in the care of a rabbi and his congregation in the wake of a pogrom. To calm the boy's fears and help him understand his faith and heritage, the rabbi recounts ancient biblical tales, and as he does the stories of Abraham, Sarah, Jacob, Rachel, Moses, Ruth, Saul and David come to life.

"We're very honored to be receiving this grant for our production of The Road of Promise ... it's the first NEA grant that the Chorale has received, and we are so appreciative of the vote of confidence it represents in our tackling this very ambitious project,” says Ted Sperling, artistic director.

The NEA received 1,474 eligible applications under the Art Works category, requesting more than $75 million in funding. Of those applications, 919 are recommended for grants for a total of $26.6 million.

The Road of Promise will run from May 6 to 7 at Carnegie Hall. Tickets for the show will be available Jan. 8 and can be purchased here.