Please check back soon as we update this page with upcoming events!
Twentieth-First Annual Showcase of Talent - Preregistration Now Closed
Hello all!
Would you like to showcase your talent at this year’s National Convention in Houston, Texas? The National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts Division excitedly presents this year’s Annual Showcase of Talent on Wednesday, July 5th from 8 PM to 11 PM at the Hilton Americas-Houston!
Preregistration is now closed and the remaining 10 slots will be available for registration at National Convention from July 1st – July 3rd.
Past Events
Facial Expressions and Gestures as a Blind Actor – Thursday, March 30, 8 PM Eastern!
Hello Performers!
Do you ever wonder, how do you express yourself on stage? How can blind people authentically learn and create facial expressions, gestures, and body movement so we compete with our sighted peers? What tips and tricks have you learned to engage your audience and tell your story while performing? To discuss all these questions and more, join the National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts Division for our upcoming membership call all about facial expressions, gestures, and being comfortable in your body on stage. All are welcome, whatever your acting proficiency! We will hear from three experienced blind actors in varying stages of their careers, Madie Hendrix, Cristina Jones, and Katelyn MacIntyre, and there will be plenty of time for questions and to share your own ideas.
Zoom info:
Meeting ID: 860 3233 9709
Passcode: 938700
One tap mobile
+13052241968,,86032339709# US
+13092053325,,86032339709# US
Dial by your location
+1 305 224 1968 US
+1 309 205 3325 US
Please share with a friend and let us know if you have any questions.
Valentine’s Day Singing Telegrams 2023
‘Tis the Season of Love!
In a world that has lately been so full of negatives, let’s share joy and gratitude with those we love by sending a song. The National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts Division will again be delivering singing telegrams for Valentine’s Day from February 11 through 14 for only $5 per song! Send them to your spouse, your partner, your kids, your grandparents, your friends, your neighbors, your dog – share the love with anyone and everyone! Brighten up someone’s day by giving them something small to put a smile on their face.
All information can be found at:
Arts for All: Membership Call Thursday, January 26th, 8 PM Eastern
Save the date and please join us for our upcoming membership call all about including everyone in the performing arts! We’ll feature a discussion with Kaiti Shelton, a certified music therapist, on how we can be more inclusive of people with all types of disabilities and make the performing arts world a more equitable and accessible place for everyone. Come contribute to the conversation and share your thoughts and ideas. All are welcome!
Zoom Info:
Meeting ID: 864 3824 7118
Passcode: 934026
Holiday Singing Telegrams 2022
Don’t delay; order a singing telegram today!
‘Tis the season of traditions, festivities, and cheer, so why not spread some love with a holiday singing telegram!
The National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts Division will again be delivering singing telegrams for the holidays in December, for only $5 per song! Send them to your spouse, your partner, your kids, your grandparents, your friends, your neighbors, your dog – share the joy with anyone and everyone! There are wintertime songs, Hanukkah and Christmas favorites, and even some R&B selections — something for everyone! Brighten up someone’s day by giving them something small to put a smile on their face.
Songs will be sent during the week of December 16-23.
All information can be found at: www.nfb-pad.org/holiday-telegrams
Membership Call on Music Education October 27!
Join us on Thursday, October 27, at 8 PM Eastern, 5 PM Pacific, for our next membership call all about music education as a blind person. We’ll hear from three panelists, Precious Perez, Leslie Hamric, and Katelyn MacIntyre, who will talk about their experiences teaching music in schools, instructing privately both in person and virtually, and everything in between. Bring your questions and let’s engage in a fruitful discussion and learn from one another. This will be our division’s primary event for Blind Equality Achievement Month, so please feel free to save the date and invite a friend.
Zoom info:
Meeting ID: 890 8894 7761
Passcode: 632723
One tap mobile
+13017158592, 89088947761# US (Washington DC)
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+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
#NFB22 Convention Events
For more information about the NFB National Convention, please visit www.nfb.org/convention
Note that the events will be streamed on Zoom for virtual viewing.
Zoom Information:
Zoom meeting ID: 882 5540 7280
Passcode: 63222
Thursday, July 7, 2022, 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. Performing Arts Division and Voice Acting
Galerie 2
Come prepared to network with other performers! Join us for our annual business meeting followed by a workshop all about voice acting and voiceover work.
Katelyn MacIntyre, President
Agenda:
1:00: Call to Order and Welcome
1:05: Building the Federation through Performance
Ever Lee Hairston, Board Member, National Federation of the Blind; Los Angeles, California
1:15: Attendee Introductions
Please introduce yourself with your name, state, and performing art.
1:35: Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Headed: The 2022 Presidential Report
Katelyn MacIntyre, President, National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts Division; Scottsdale, Arizona
1:45: Secretary’s Report
Cristina Jones, Secretary, National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts Division; El Paso, Texas
1:50: Treasurer’s Report
LaKisha Holmes, Treasurer, National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts Division; San Antonio, Texas
2:00: Staying Connected on Social Media and through our Scene Change Podcast
Chris Nusbaum, Board Member, National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts Division; Emmitsburg, Maryland
2:05: Reading of and Voting on Amended Constitution
2:20: Elections
2:50: Break
3:00: Audio Description Narration Workshop
Honing your craft as a blind voice behind the screen.
Roy Samuelson, Founder, The Audio Description Network Alliance, and Kevin’s Way; Los Angeles, California
Colleen Connor, Director, Audio Description Training Retreats; Cary, CA
4:00: Networking with Blind Performers
5:00: Adjourn
Notes:
-Please feel free to visit us at our Exhibit Hall Table, A26, during Exhibit Hall hours.
-Don’t miss the Twentieth Annual Showcase of Talent!
Saturday, July 9, 2022, 8:00 - 11:00 P.M. Twentieth Annual Showcase of Talent
Galerie 1, 2, and 3
Join us for a night of great performances! Whether you take the stage or support your friends from the audience, it’s always an enjoyable evening of entertainment. Performers $10; admission $5. Cash prizes awarded. Email nfbpad@gmail.com with questions or to sign up.
Membership Call on Learning Logic and GarageBand, May 1
We’ve had many requests for a workshop about recording and editing software, so we’re so thrilled that our next gathering will be on Sunday, May 1 at 6 PM Eastern, 3 PM Pacific. We are fortunate to have Tony Gebhard leading an informative and interactive seminar to conquer the basics of these softwares. Save the date and pass it along so you don’t miss out!
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 815 7212 0333
Passcode: 167183
One tap mobile
+13126266799,,81572120333# US (Chicago)
+16468769923,,81572120333# US (New York)
Dial by your location
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
Valentine's Day Singing Telegrams
‘Tis the Season of Love!
In a world that has lately been so full of negatives, let’s share joy and gratitude with those we love by sending a song. The National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts Division will again be delivering singing telegrams for Valentine’s Day from February 12 through 14 for only $5 per song! Send them to your spouse, your partner, your kids, your grandparents, your friends, your neighbors, your dog – share the love with anyone and everyone! Brighten up someone’s day by giving them something small to put a smile on their face.
Recently, we’ve also added piano and violin as musical offerings. Songs will be sent on the weekend of February 12 through 14.
All information can be found at:
Membership Call on Body Mapping
Licensed ABME Instructor Christina Ebersohl is offering a free Body Mapping Masterclass on Sunday January 30th at 7PM EST to members of the NFB Performing Arts Division, open for participation and observation. Musicians who are interested in participating in the Masterclass should email
nfbpad@gmail.com.
We will be signing up three participants to work with her during the masterclass, as well as two standby spots, so please email us with your interest, including instrument and experience level. Read more about Body Mapping below the Zoom information:
Meeting ID: 872 6589 3706
Passcode: 632723
One tap mobile
+13017158592,,87265893706# US (Washington DC)
+13126266799,,87265893706# US (Chicago)
Dial by your location
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
What is Body Mapping?
Body Mapping increases awareness of movement habits to prevent injury, overcome limitations, and develop healthy and sustainable musical practices for life. Body Mapping instructors guide musicians through movements and anatomical drawings and models. Musicians experiment with more efficient and dynamic movement while singing and at their instruments. Body Mapping Masterclasses are ideal for musicians of any genre, instrument, singers, composers, students, and professionals.
Why should I participate?
Musicians learn how to correct and refine their body map—our internal representation and understanding of how the body moves to create music—to produce efficient, coordinated, and effective movement. Body Mapping not only helps musicians avoid injury, it also enhances musicians’ technique. Anatomical information about the body is explored in movement for musicians. Topics covered range from inclusive awareness and standing and sitting at balance, to skeletal anatomy, the structures and movements of breathing, and performance anxiety.
To learn more about this fantastic science and how it applies to instrumentalists, visit
www.bodymap.org
Holiday Singing Telegrams
‘Tis the season of traditions, festivities, and cheer, so why not spread some love with a holiday singing telegram!
In a world that has lately been so full of negatives, let’s share joy and gratitude with those we love by sending a song. The National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts Division will be delivering singing telegrams for The holidays two weekends in December, for only $5 per song! Send them to your spouse, your partner, your kids, your grandparents, your friends, your neighbors, your dog – share the love with anyone and everyone! Brighten up someone’s day by giving them something small to put a smile on their face.
Recently, we’ve added piano and violin as musical offerings. Songs will be sent on the weekends of December 10-12 or 17-19, and we’ll do our best to accommodate your preference.
All information can be found at:
Membership call (November 18 at 8:00 PM Eastern)
Our next gathering will be November 18 at 8 PM Eastern, and we’ll be talking about performing during the holiday season. We’d love to have you join to share tips and tricks, so watch the email listserv and social media for Zoom details.
Viola Visions Concert hosted by Christina Ebersohl (November 14 at 7:00 PM Mountain Time)
Join Christina for a Fall charity concert extravaganza with pianist Beth Nielsen! In addition to an evening of stunning music, join in to win raffle baskets and treat yourself to a complimentary reception. All proceeds will go to the National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts Division.
This concert will be in-person and live-streamed, with options to bid and donate for audiences!
For more information, go to:
https://www.christinaebersohl.com/events/2021/11/14/viola-visions
#NFB21 Convention Events
The National Convention of the National Federation of the Blind is the largest gathering of blind people, this year held virtually anywhere and everywhere! Please join the Performing Arts Division for the following events.
July 6, 2021
8:00 - 10:00 PM-ONE VOICE: STRONGER TOGETHER
Enjoy a night of performance and support our work changing what it means to be blind, one stage at a time. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online by visiting
or by calling the Independence Market at 410-659-9314, extension 2216.
Hosted by the Performing Arts Division and the National Federation of the Blind.
July 8, 2021
1:00 - 5:00 PM-PERFORMING ARTS DIVISION BUSINESS MEETING & AUDIO DESCRIBING PANEL Zoom meeting ID: 973 9613 2138 Come prepared to network with other performers! Join us for our annual business meeting followed by a panel all about audio description, discussing the field as both a blind consumer and describer.
Katelyn MacIntyre, President
Pick up your copy of our annual business meeting agenda! You may read it online here, or download a Word version.
Virtual Choir Registration!
We are pleased to be holding another virtual choir for the National Federation of the Blind 2021 National Convention, and we need your help! Add your voice today!
Valentine's Day Singing Telegrams
In a world that often focuses on the negative, why not spread a little bit of love and cheer this Valentine’s Day?!
On Sunday, February 14th, The National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts Division will be delivering singing telegrams to those you love for a donation of only $5! Send them to your spouse, your partner, your kids, your grandparents, your friends, your neighbors, your dog – share the love with anyone and everyone! Because of the pandemic, many celebrations and gatherings are put on hold for the time-being, so brighten up someone’s day by giving them something small to put a smile on their face — no contact necessary!