Bennett brings heart to L.I.C.

Back in 2001, entertainer Tony Bennett founded the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts in Long Island City, where students with an interest in and talent for the arts can take part in specialized programs while also completing a full academic curriculum.
&#8220He wanted to give something back to the community,” Donna Finn, the school's principal, said. Throughout the school's existence, Bennett has remained active in the school, visiting often and providing support through the not-for-profit organization Exploring the Arts.
The school now has about 625 students and offers majors in drama, dance, instrumental music, vocal music and fine art. As part of their arts educations, Finn said that students learn about the &#8220historical evolution…and the cultural significance” of their respective art forms.
Students also spend two hours a day working in studios for their particular art forms, which senior advisor and math teacher Marc Di Iorio said is a huge benefit to them.
&#8220Just having that time and having the facilities that we have and the staff that we have, it's an incredible opportunity for our students,” said Di Iorio, who initially became interested in working at the school after attending one of its performances.
Finn said that, along with the arts, students have a rigorous academic program. Students are given the opportunity to take advanced placement classes and take part in &#8220college now” partnerships.
&#8220Our educational program is unique in that we try as much as possible to have collaboration between the arts and the academics,” she said.
The school, which has a community service component, also offers support services such as tutoring, Regents preparation and SAT preparation. Besides having a full performance schedule, students are able to participate in many other activities, including PSAL sports, an open mic poetry club, hip hop club and literary magazine.
According to Finn, the school has a graduation rate of 95 percent, with 100 percent of those students going on to college.
In order to be admitted to the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts, which has students from all the boroughs, hopefuls are required to audition. Finn estimated that this year 2,500 students auditioned, with about 150 to 175 being selected. Along with looking at how students do during their auditions, the school also examines their academic profiles.
&#8220Because this is an extended day program and very challenging, we want to make sure the students we select are going to be able to be successful here.”
Jorge Corredor, a junior at the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts, is majoring in vocal and minoring in musical theatre and opera.
&#8220I love this school,” said Corredor, who lives in Jackson Heights. &#8220It's really nice to be in an environment with teachers and students alike who share the same passion as you do. It's great to be in an environment where you know you always have support.”
Corredor said that he wants to be a Broadway performer, and that the school helped him to decide what specifically he wanted to do.
&#8220This school has opened up a lot of doors for me,” he said.
The school will eventually be able to serve even more students when it moves into a new facility being built in Astoria by Kaufman Studios. It will have state-of-the-art facilities and be able to accommodate about 950 students.
&#8220I think that is going to be a huge step in the progress of the school,” Di Iorio said. &#8220I'm very excited to see what it's going to be like.”
Finn said that she is also hoping to be able to expand the school's programming offerings, including one for stage craft and one for filmmaking.
The Frank Sinatra School of the Arts is located at 30-20 Thomson Avenue in Long Island City. For more information, call 718-361-9920 or visit www.fssahs.net.