Arts Everywhere
This time of year always brings a plethora of arts performances, displays and culminating projects. The official end-of-year festivities for me kick off with the Upper School Musical. This year's performance of the Putnam County Spelling Bee was hilarious and entertaining, and we all learned something about South American aquatic creatures. From there, we had the impressive Choir Concert at the Adventist Church. Students in grades 6-12 performed a range of material from pop to classical to world music. Another highlight of that evening is Cindy Jordan's farewell to the seniors who have participated in the choir program for multiple trimesters -- in some cases every trimester that they were in the Upper School.
All the recitals for students in the instrumental program are always fun, especially as I watch students progress over time from nervous yet courageous first graders to confident Upper Schoolers. These performers put a lot of time into their art in ways that are not very public--at least not until the recitals--so it takes a certain kind of perserverance and self-discipline to maintain the commitment. For some, this work culminates in the Honors Recital, which showcases the best of the best. I am always blown away by the quality of these honors performers; the recital is truly one of the best events of the year.
One of my new favorite concerts is the rock band/jazz band show that Phil Jones organizes bi-annually. The students in these combos work together to create a really positive musical vibe whether playing Foo Fighters or Artie Shaw; their collaborative effort is a model for a school which holds up Collaboration as one of the 6 C's. Again, the progression of these students is also so amazing to watch: in four concerts I have already seen significant improvement over time, even though the kids can only get together once or twice a week to rehearse.
The all-school arts show is a tradition that many of us look forward to every year. With representative art from all grades in multiple buildings around the campus, the opening of the show is a celebration for everyone. The arts department has added extra elements in the past few years to make the day even more festive: food trucks, live music, balloons, and artists creating live on the scene.
Still ahead: the Middle School circus (next Thursday), and then Commencement, which features two beautiful choral pieces with student instrumentalists.
All of these events showcase our student artists in wonderful ways. They are also a testament to the dedication, passion and inspiration provided by our outstanding Visual and Performing Arts faculty. Given the tireless effort of these folks, combined with the school's commitment to provide a quality arts experience for students all the way through their educational journey, it's no wonder that CA has been known for decades as having one of the strongest arts programs in the state.
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All the recitals for students in the instrumental program are always fun, especially as I watch students progress over time from nervous yet courageous first graders to confident Upper Schoolers. These performers put a lot of time into their art in ways that are not very public--at least not until the recitals--so it takes a certain kind of perserverance and self-discipline to maintain the commitment. For some, this work culminates in the Honors Recital, which showcases the best of the best. I am always blown away by the quality of these honors performers; the recital is truly one of the best events of the year.
One of my new favorite concerts is the rock band/jazz band show that Phil Jones organizes bi-annually. The students in these combos work together to create a really positive musical vibe whether playing Foo Fighters or Artie Shaw; their collaborative effort is a model for a school which holds up Collaboration as one of the 6 C's. Again, the progression of these students is also so amazing to watch: in four concerts I have already seen significant improvement over time, even though the kids can only get together once or twice a week to rehearse.
The all-school arts show is a tradition that many of us look forward to every year. With representative art from all grades in multiple buildings around the campus, the opening of the show is a celebration for everyone. The arts department has added extra elements in the past few years to make the day even more festive: food trucks, live music, balloons, and artists creating live on the scene.
Still ahead: the Middle School circus (next Thursday), and then Commencement, which features two beautiful choral pieces with student instrumentalists.
All of these events showcase our student artists in wonderful ways. They are also a testament to the dedication, passion and inspiration provided by our outstanding Visual and Performing Arts faculty. Given the tireless effort of these folks, combined with the school's commitment to provide a quality arts experience for students all the way through their educational journey, it's no wonder that CA has been known for decades as having one of the strongest arts programs in the state.
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