Former President Bill Clinton invited him to participate in the “Clinton Global Initiative” (CGI-America) in Chicago (June 2011) to help shape discussions on how the U.S. could strengthen its workforce. President Clinton deemed Dr. Bledsoe’s voice critical to the conversation given his efforts to address the existing achievement gaps for minority students. Recently, he was invited by the White House to attend a National Summit on the Success of Black Males hosted by the Secretary of Education (Arne Duncan) as a direct response to President Obama’s executive order for an initiative to address the success of African American Students.

Additionally, attendees will be favored with two selections from soloist, Mr. Bryant Belin, VP Music Studios. Bryant Belin is the owner and director of VP Music Studios, and teaches voice, Kindermusik, audition preparation, performance etiquette, music fundamentals and music history.

Belin has more than 10 years of teaching and performing experience, which he diligently applies to all his students. He believes in the education of the “entire individual,” and it shows in his lessons. He graduated from Coker College with a bachelor of arts in vocal performance. There he participated in many opera scenes, various programs and engagements, and was the Coker College Department of Theatre, Dance and Music’s outstanding student (2007 – 2008). He has participated in the graduate certificate program at the University of South Carolina – Columbia, where he made his operatic debut in Mozart’s The Magic Flute and later in Offenbach’s – The Tales of Hoffman. Belin has also held the role as Hermit II in the Repertory Company of Spartanburg’s production of The True Story of Cinderella.

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration will also feature a presentation pertaining to the Freedom Riders’ accomplishments and the awarding of the MLK Scholarship to a graduating high school student.

“The Friendship Council’s annual celebration could not continue to be the success that it is without our partnership with the Tryon Fine Arts Center, financial support from the Polk County Community Foundation, and local financial support for our scholarship program,” Dr. Fox said. “The Polk County Community Foundation was instrumental in our ability to bring such a nationally and internationally known speaker to Tryon.”

For more information about the program, visit the Friendship Council’s website at friendshipcouncil.homestead.com.