Songs saluting home to highlight Paramount Theatre social media concert

For a celebration of creativity, log into Facebook, Instagram or YouTube for a crowd-sourced virtual concert of songs about home by singers, songwriters and Paramount Theatre artists at 8 p.m. April 11.

The Connection: A Social Media Concert Series next will continue with songs, poems and stories saluting essential workers and health care providers, with the deadline to enter set for April 15 at midnight.

This weekend, tune in to Paramount Theatre's Facebook page at facebook.com/ParamountAurora on April 11, when the theater's New Works Department will drop its second free online music event.

"Connection" is Paramount’s virtual concert series to help artists and audiences connect while the public is asked to shelter in place. It’s a multi-week online performance series with rotating themes meant to encourage emerging and veteran performers to use this time in quarantine to create new work and keep Paramount’s patrons entertained in an innovative new way.

The first week’s theme was school, and included a variety of music styles and performances by children, teens and adults about suddenly being away from school.

For the next topic, artists of all ages are invited to write and perform a song, poem or story about memorable experiences with doctors, nurses, food preparation workers and cleaning crews or who share a personal connection to an essential worker out there on the front lines. If filming with a cellphone, horizontal orientation is preferred but not required.

Artists have until April 15 to write, perform and submit an original song, poem or story on video saluting those who are dedicating themselves to keeping others safe. To submit a video, fill out the submission form at bit.ly/2Xcjdnh. For questions, email Paramount's New Works Department at newworks@paramountarts.com.

Paramount's third concert will drop at 8 p.m. April 18 across Paramount's social channels and website. In addition to its Facebook page, all Connection series videos are posted each Saturday night on Paramount's website, ParamountAurora.com, and its Instagram and YouTube pages.