HAT Co Band at Three Rivers Arts Festival

The Fortunates, from Hope Academy of Music and the Arts, make and perform music that falls somewhere on the spectrum between R&B, pop, funk, soul and jazz. Some might call it genre-less; they call it just being themselves. Lead singer, Laela Lumsden brings melodic rap to “Hear Me,” a song she wrote for the WYEP Reimagination contest. It is a song that challenges us to pay attention and listen to what is happening in her community and in our world–a song that encourages young people to speak out because, “if I don’t say it, the truth’s gonna die out.”

The instrumentalists, Henry Schultz (keyboard), James Jaap (bass) and Desmond Rucker (drums) have known each other since their elementary school days at Dilworth. The newest and youngest band member, Tomi Olaore (saxophone), also went to Dilworth and now all four attend Pittsburgh CAPA. The singers, Laela Lumsden, Kira Mukogosi, Kyra Simmons and Raffaella Carattino attend North Gate, CAPA, PA Cyberschool and Colfax. As a group, their diversity is one of their greatest strengths and their name, The Fortunates, embodies their spirit of being grateful for the opportunity to make music together.

The Fortunates are part of a larger teen theater company (HAT Co) at Hope Academy, where they also study dance and theater. This multidisciplinary approach informs their work as musicians, singers and songwriters. They are under the musical direction of Emma Cox (guitar and bass), and Ben Barson (saxophone).

Hope Academy of Music and the Arts is an after school performing arts education outreach program of East Liberty Presbyterian Church.

HAT Co (Hope Academy Theater Company) is an audition-only company that provides a more intensive, ensemble- and performance-based experience for students in grades 6 through 12 who are interested in the performing arts. HAT Co members are encouraged to make their own work, as they learn to think about and respect dance, theater and music as art forms – and themselves as artists and creators.

This program is uniquely suited for teens who are motivated to study and perform across a range of disciplines; and who have an interest in being part of an inclusive, supportive, non-competitive group. Ensemble members receive individual, class and ensemble training in acting, singing, dance and instrumental music. Selected students rehearse and perform as part of a theater ensemble; two other select groups rehearse and perform as part of rock bands.

The theater ensemble participates in the Pittsburgh Public Theater Shakespeare Monologue and Scene Contest and the August Wilson Monologue Contest; and each year they present a showcase performance.

HAT Co has performed at the Kelly Strayhorn Theater, The Warhol Museum, CAPA’s Battle of the Bands, The Summit Against Racism, WYEP’s Summer Music Festival and Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival.

HAT Co alumni recently recorded “All I Want for Christmas (Is My Baby)” with Steven Foxbury from Yellow Couch Studio. They performed this song, which won the first Reimagination contest in 2012, with their artist-mentors Emma Cox and Lauren Shapiro (from the band The Color Fleet) for WYEP’s 2012 Holiday Hootenanny. The alumni reunion performance of the song landed them a spot on Pittsburgh Today Live last December. The song can be found on their bandcamp page.

This year’s WYEP Reimagination song, “Hear Me,” was written by Laela Lumsden, who is the lead singer on the song. Laela is a three-time finalist in the Pittsburgh Public Theater’s Shakespeare Monologue and Scene Contest and last year won first place for her scene. This year she won 2nd place in Pittsburgh’s August Wilson Monologue Contest and will be competing in the national finals in New York City on May 1, 2017.

Members of the band include Henry Schultz – Keyboard, James Jaap – Bass, Desmond Rucker – Drums, Tomi Olaore – Saxophone, Laela Lumsden – Singer/Songwriter, Kira Mukogosi – Singer, Kyra Simmons – Singer, and Raffaella Carattino – Singer.