DEARBORN, Michigan – Visual art, vocal performances and instrumental music will stir the senses on Wednesday, April 25, from 4 to 8:30 p.m., at the 2012 Youth in Arts Festival and opening of the 2012 Dearborn Public Schools City Wide Art Hundreds of talented Dearborn students from kindergarten through high school (K-12) will perform, display and demonstrate their arts during exhibits and a collage concert at the event.
The public is invited to attend this free program, a cooperative project by the Dearborn Community Fund (DCF) and the Dearborn Public Schools, at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center, 15801 Michigan Ave., in Dearborn.
Program Agenda
- 4-5:30 p.m. – Visual Arts / Opening Reception for Dearborn Public Schools City Wide Art Show – featuring artwork from students in kindergarten through high school.
- 4:30-5:30 p.m. and 6:30-7:30 p.m. – Artist Demonstrations
- 5:30 p.m. – Senior Talks – High school seniors share insights about their artwork.
- 6:30-7:30 p.m. – Musical Interlude – The Dearborn Youth Symphony ensembles will perform in the theater lobby.
- 7:30-8:30 p.m. – Collage Musical Performance – Instrumental, choral and theater selections by Elementary through High School students and special guests Kira Frabotta, Paul Bruce and “Blue Fusion” from Henry Ford Community College.
DuVall Elementary fifth grade art class students, from left: Emma Allen, Zoe Rogula, Georgia Ziegler, Kristen Gury, and Brendan Hay. Youth In Arts Night includes art and writing that fifth grade students produced during workshops through Dearborn’s Art In Public Places project.
Performers
Special guest performers include Dearborn public schools graduates who have pursued careers in the arts.
Actor, composer, performer and Dearborn Public Schools teacher Paul Bruce will open the show with a musical number. Also performing will be Dearborn High School and Wayne State University graduate Kira Frabotta, a vocal artist who sings professionally across the region, most recently in a Dearborn Symphony Pops Concert.
Visual Arts
The Youth in Arts Festival features art demonstrations and the artwork of kindergarten through 12th grade students participating in the all-school City Wide Art Show exhibit in the Padzieski Art Gallery. The Art Show runs from April 25 through May 28, 2012.
Choral
Choral performances will highlight the voices of students in the Elementary Honors Choir directed by Jim Walters, the Secondary Honors Choir directed by Jennifer Pegouske, the Dearborn High School Choir directed by Carmelle Atkins, and the Henry Ford Community College Blue Fusion Vocal Jazz Ensemble under the direction of G. Kevin Dewey.
Dramatic Arts
Dearborn High School Theater students will add a dramatic element to the program under the direction of Greg Viscomi.
Instrumental Arts
Representing the power and passion of instrumental arts, the collage concert includes performances of the Fordson Jazz Band conducted by Scott Guthre, the Edsel Ford High School Chamber Group conducted by Mike Kalasz, and the Maples Music Ensemble conducted by Catherine Odam-Prowse. A Dearborn Youth Symphony ensemble directed by Donna Olkowski will perform in the theater lobby.
The Youth in Arts Festival is a cooperative project by the Dearborn Community Fund (DCF) and the Dearborn Public Schools, with support from the Dearborn Community Arts Council and the Dearborn Public Schools Education Foundation.
The DCF is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with the mission to support cultural and recreational programs in Dearborn. For more information about the Youth in Arts Festival, other projects sponsored by the DCF, or how to contribute to the Fund, call 313-943-5478.