As part of the Song of America Curriculum Initiative, the Hampsong Foundation hosted its pilot Song of America Educator Workshop on December 5, 2015 in conjunction with the award-winning arts organization University Musical Society, and in affiliation with the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre, and Dance in Ann Arbor, Internet 2, and Manhattan School of Music’s Distance Learning Department.

The workshop itself was designed for K-12 Language Arts and History teachers; participating educators received professional development credits. This Saturday workshop included a full complement of activities: sessions exploring both content and pedagogical strategies, a conversation with internationally renowned operatic baritone Thomas Hampson about his passion for telling the story of history and culture through classic song, and a special live performance—Song in Dialogue: A Learning Performance—focusing on songs related to the material covered in the workshop.

Song in Dialogue: A Learning Performance was a videoconference between Manhattan School of Music and the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre, and Dance, featuring Thomas Hampson and using a new, high-speed technology called LOLA, shorthand for LOw LAtency.

Through direct fiber optical connections, audio and video took approximately 20 milliseconds to travel from MSM’s Miller Recital Hall to the University of Michigan’s Watkins Hall—a delay that is comparable to the experience of standing 20–25 feet away from another musician on a concert hall stage.

The use of LOLA for the videoconference, supported by the Melos Fund for Distance Learning Innovation at Manhattan School of Music, was a first for all involved. MSM’s Distance Learning Program is a global leader in the use and development of cutting-edge HD videoconferencing technology to support music performance education and outreach.