Fine Arts Fest spotlights creativity

• Reprints

Colors and sounds make for an exciting scene at last year’s West Aurora School District Fine Arts Festival. This year’s festival is planned for Feb. 4 at West Aurora High School.

Calendar

Jan. 24: 7 to 9 p.m., National Honor Society Induction, West Aurora High School Auditorium

Feb. 4: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Fine Arts Festival, West Aurora High School doors 1 and 22

Article Extras

Updated: February 25, 2012 8:02AM

Prepare to be impressed.

Many of the best and brightest West Aurora School District students in music, art, dance and drama will perform Feb. 4 at the district’s Fine Arts Festival.

“Those who attend should expect to be blown away by talented students of District 129,” said Jonathan McLear, West Aurora High School choral director.

The festival will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 4 at the high school, 1201 W. New York St. Admission is free. Visitors are welcome to enter at doors 1 and 22.

Festival visitors will be surrounded by art created in several different media, including paintings, pottery and photography. And everywhere they turn, they will see and hear music and singing from performers in elementary school, middle school and high school.

“My greatest joy is seeing the younger students get excited about what they will be able to do in the coming years while at the same time seeing the older students reflect back on their growth and development during their time in District 129,” McLear said.

McLear is working with Jewel Middle School art teacher Eva Balek and Greenman Elementary School music teacher/choral director Kim Scharf to plan the festival. The three of them are leading the organization of hundreds of young performers and artists from across the district.

“The whole festival is art in its many forms,” Balek said. “The nice thing for the public to see and experience is the creative growth that is showcased by having the festival be grades K through 12. West Aurora has a very good Fine Arts program in grades K through 12 and we can show everyone how special our district is in fostering creative expression in the students.”

West High musical groups will include the Madrigal Singers, Freshman Band, Symphonic Winds, Wind Ensemble, Stage Band, Wind Symphony, Jazz Band, Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Lab Band.

One of those performers is West High junior Amy Arrocena, who plays clarinet in the top band, Wind Symphony, and in other groups. She has played at the festival since her freshman year and always looks forward to it.

“The festival is really interesting,” said Arrocena, who has played clarinet since elementary school. “There are a lot of things to look at.”

One of the key highlights for Scharf is a performance by the four middle school choirs, which will include more than 200 students.

“This is going to be an exciting day full of art and music,” she said. “I encourage visitors to see as many musical groups as they can and to take time to enjoy the visual art displayed in the halls.”

Other groups include a show choir from Freeman Elementary, the Fearn Dancers and the McCleery Superstars.

“Many of the West High jazz bands will be performing, two of which will have recently returned home from a jazz festival at Purdue University,” McLear said. “The Madrigal Singers will be performing a program comprised of selections from their Madrigal Dinner this past December, as well as some new pieces they’ve been preparing for our upcoming ‘Animals’ concert on March 7. The West Aurora Band program will be well represented with performances from four of our large concert bands. You may even hear a small vocal ensemble performing in the halls or stairwell.”

Quiz

Answer to previous quiz: The three West Aurora district schools named for presidents are Lincoln, Washington and Jefferson. Ricky Rieckert was the first one to answer the question.

This week’s quiz: What year did Schneider Elementary open? A West High T-shirt will be awarded to the first reader who delivers the correct answer to mchapin@sd129.org or (630) 301-5044. For more information, visit www.sd129.org.

Mike Chapin is the community relations director for West Aurora School District 129.