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Metropolitan School of the Arts Honors Volunteer With Champion of Young Performers Award

Michelle Collier, co-executive director of Metropolitan School of the Arts (MSA) awards Larry France (MSA volunteer) the Champion of Young Performers Award at MSA. (Photo courtesy MSA

ALEXANDRIA, VA-Alexandria’s Metropolitan School of the Arts (MSA) recently honored volunteer Larry France with the Champion of Young Performers Award. The school created the award two years ago to recognize an individual or business partner who demonstrates extraordinary generosity to students by helping them in the development of their performing arts skills.

“Volunteers and donors are the heart of our community that makes MSA so special, and we are so honored to honor Larry this year,” said MSA Co-Executive Director Michelle Collier.

Throughout this school year, France has give more than 50 hours of his time to guide students in rehearsal for an outdoor cabaret show. He also served as the director for MA’s first online benefit concert and served as musical accompaniment for a charity performance to raise funds for Children’s National Hospital. On a regular basis, he allows students to use his personal audio equipment.

When France is not working with MSA students, he works as an accompanist for cabarets and other performances with muliple theater companies, serves as choir director at churches, and leads the modern rock band Drumfish.

Melissa Dobbs founded the school in 2013. Its Academy prepares students for college programs in the performing arts, focusing on grade 7 to 12. The nonprofit relies on donations from the surrounding community and sponsors. MSA has been featured on “FOX 5 Morning News” and “WUSA9 Great Day Washington.” The school has also been featured in articles appearing in The Washington Post Weekend Magazine and Washington Business Journal.

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Kevin Dauray

Kevin is Publisher's Assistant with The Zebra Press. He has been working for Alexandria's "Good News" newspaper since 2019. A graduate of George Mason University, he earned a bachelor's in English with a concentration in Creative Writing. He also studied at the Columbia School of Broadcasting and holds a master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Marymount University. He is an alumnus of T.C. Williams High School. Go Titans!

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