Music, Drama, Art and Photography On Display At ‘A Winter Celebration’

 

 

The Middle/High School’s “A Winter Celebration” event on December 8, 2023 showcased the school’s expanding arts program, highlighting a large number of musicians, artists, photographers and the newest addition, the Middle School Drama Club.

 

As guests entered the Sgt. Brian Walker Memorial Gymnasium they were greeted with a diverse exhibition of student art and photography. There were items made of clay, head sculptures constructed of paper, photo art that demonstrated the use of leading lines and other photographic devices, and a variety of other artwork, some of which was for sale. Visitors were invited to vote for their favorite artwork by dropping a ballot into a box. Photo teacher  Mr. John Wortham and art teacher Mary Vasquez were on hand to greet attendees and explain the nature of the assignments.

 

 

 

Refreshments also were offered such as hot chocolate and other holiday goodies.

 

Middle School Drama Club members played a pivotal role in the performance. The club, which consists of Jennifer Fernandez, Lona Malone, Gabriel Garcia, Kapri Hernandez, Aaron Pinedo, Nancy Vrolyks and Diana Morales performed several mini-plays, interspersed between music pieces. Jennifer Fernandez, Lona Malone and Rory Berletich kicked off the performances with “Life Force.”

 

Music Director Amy James-Forrette took the schools’ various music combos. The Combined Band kicked off the music numbers with Tchaikovsky’s Christmastime classic “The Nutcracker,” arranged by Brian Balmages. “Kwanza Celebration” by David Bobrowitz was performed to introduce the Beginning Band.

 

The String Orchestra played three songs. The first was the classic “Skaters’ Waltz” followed by “First Finger Suite,” an Anne Svendsen number that features three movements. Ms. James-Forrette explained that traditionally the audience doesn’t applaud between multiple movements of a classical piece. The audience followed her direction perfectly. “The Ghost of Old Tom,” also by composer Anne Svendsen, closed out the String Orchestra’s section.

 

Finally, the Advanced Band played three songs that demonstrated how far the young musicians had come. They played “Colliding Visions,” “Don by the Salley Gardens” and “In Search of Yeti.”

 

Ms. James-Forrette’s husband Michael James-Forrette, ran the sound board for the event.

 

Beginning Band
Flute: Lily Cobos, Gabriel Garcia, Lane Hansen, Gabriel Herrera, Jade McCrudden, Abigail Silva
Trumpet: Aaron Pinedo, Keven Luna, Joseph Gonzalez-Naranjo
Trombone: Cristobal Mendoza Cardenas, Gabriel Patten
Percussion: Izaiah Garibay
Clarinet: Ameekatheren Davalos, Solaire Galvan, Kapri Hernandez
Alto Saxophone: Caitlyn Alpizar
Tenor Saxophone: Addison Mangan
French Horn: Benjamin DuBoise, Oliviah Chamberlain
Euphonium: Emma Rogers

 

String Orchestra
Violin: Meilani Nguyen, Sarai Rodriguez, Isaac Navarro
Cello: Rylee Giles, Leon Willoughby
Viola: Valeria Ortega, Kaden Tinder

 

Advanced Band
Flute: Alina Tucker, Cinthia Surber
Clarinet: Eileensurii Davalos
Alto Saxophone: Liam Barcelos, Bradley Bernal
Trumpet: Kevin Angeles