Usdan Blog
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Post Types
Musings: Thought pieces by Usdan's Executive Director and guest staff writers.
Inspiring U: Creative resources to keep our community creatively engaged.
News: Usdan in the news.
Summer Newsletter: Usdan's summer newsletter, sent to the community every Friday during the season.
Summer Newsletter | Aug 2, 2025
One of the goals of our daily Festival is to instill a value of live performance in our students, teaching them how to respond to different artforms. In Natie's performance on Wednesday, July 30, she encouraged students to clap along with her as she looped beats and rapped in Creole. "I want to come back and play here once a week," she said. "You guys are so good."
Summer Newsletter | Jul 18, 2025
Q & A with Musical Director & Composer Ben Boeker
In his seventh year as a Musical Director in the Theater Department and in his 14th year total at Usdan, Ben Boecker's musical adaptation of the book, “Aviva vs. the Dybbuk,” written entirely on guitar, will premiere on the Lucy...
Summer Newsletter | Jul 11, 2025
On August 11, 1973, teenager Cindy Campbell set out to throw a party to raise money for back-to-school clothes. Charging 25 cents for girls and 50 cents for boys, the party in the rec room of her Bronx apartment building is now widely recognized as the "big-bang moment" of hip-hop music and culture.
Summer Newsletter | Jul 2, 2025
https://www.usdan.org/blog/ The first week of camp feels like a great big exhale — finally, old friends are reunited, new friends are finding their way through the winding paths of Usdan, and the campus is once again filled with music and laughter.
Inspiring U | Jun 26, 2025
In three short days we begin Usdan’s 58th (and my 11th!) summer! As our mission says, "when we welcome the diverse group of passionate young artists here each summer the heart of Usdan comes alive ."
Inspiring U | May 20, 2025
As you make your summer plans, save the date to join in at least one of this year's five (!) community gatherings. We look forward to hosting you this season.