1,671 students participate in 15th Annual Spring Arts Festival Open House at Watchung Hills Regional High School
The Open House of the 15th annual student Spring Arts Festival, on Tuesday, May 12, showcased the contributions of many of this year’s 1,671 participating students, including the art pieces and performances in wood working, jewelry, pottery, graphic design, photography, drawing, painting and fine arts artists, as well as musicians and singers.
Artwork was on display throughout the school’s atrium entrance and the hallways up near the Performing Arts Center, instrumental, choral, and theater arts and arts studios.
And, performances featuring student singers and musicians in individual performances, in duets, and in various combinations and small groups, received enthusiastic receptions for several hours in the Performing Arts Center.
The full concert spring performances by the music department will be held during the first week of June, the instrumental performance will be held at 7 p.m., Wednesday, June 3, and the choral performance will be held at 7 p.m., Friday, June 5.
The Arts Festival Film presentations and Theater performances were held on Wednesday, May 13, generated films being shown in the South Auditorium, and a Theater performances, featuring student work on stage and behind the scenes in production, were held in Room 94.
Various iterations of student achievement in dance were presented Thursday, May 14, through Saturday, May 16, in the Performing Arts Center.
“Our students’ work shows imagination, creativity, and an emerging, often acquired, sense of technique, all of which are a reflection on the commitment and professionalism of our Arts staff,” said Brad Commerford, supervisor for Arts and World Languages.
The Arts Department faculty include:
Visual Arts: Vincent Colabella, Photography; Brian Dursee, Fine Arts; Kate Griffin, Visual Arts, Fine Arts, Photography; Michelle Truskowski, Jewelry, Ceramics, Visual Arts; Susan Beodecker, Crafts, Sculpture; Gilliam Crisman, Ceramics; Steven Speeney, Graphic Design; and Joan Thomson, Visual Arts, Fine Arts;
Music: Angela DiIoria Bird, Music, Vocal Music; and David Udell, Music, Instrumental Music;
Theatre: Douglas Eaton, Theatre Arts
Dance: Caitlyn Barrows, Dance; and
Career Arts: Rocco Iacavone, Video Production, TV Broadcasting; and William Mulligan, Wood Arts.
Submitted by Denis J. Kelly
