Upper School students focused on the arts during Experience Arts Week, setting aside time for artistic performances as well as classes in a wide-range of creative topics.
Experience Arts Week opened with a performance by SWAY, an African drumming group. Following the performance, ninth and tenth graders attended two different workshops, one in African drumming and another in hip hop dance.
Upperclassmen attended mini-classes in subjects such as photography, calligraphy, pottery, improvisation, mime, PhotoShop, figurine painting, 3D animation, American TV, and musical composition and recording. Classes were taught by Upper School faculty members, parents, and
volunteers. Guest teachers included Ken Eaton who taught photography, professional actress Kim Fields who taught American TV, sculptor Rachel Edson, and calligraphy artist Michael Smith. Alumnus Kelvin McConnell (’07) also taught a session on musical composition and recording. McConnell composed tracks for “Turn My Swag On,” which was recorded by well-known artist Soulja Boy.
On Thursday, students enjoyed the worship music of Open Door, a band based out of Mount Paran Church, along with a short message by Dr. David C. Cooper, pastor of Mount Paran. Dr. Cooper, who is also a guitarist in Open Door, spoke about the creativity God has placed in each person and our call to use it.
The week culminated in an “All-Star Alumni Concert,” featuring Aaron Childree (’07), Sara Rachele (’07), and Kevin Middlebrooks (‘12).
“I was very excited about the changes and upgrades we made this year as we transitioned from Arts Day to Experience Arts Week," said Jason Van Bemmel, Upper School principal. "The diversity of musical groups- from SWAY to Open Door to our alumni artists- and the range of workshops and mini-class offerings allowed our students to experience a diversity of arts in a variety of settings. The feedback from our students was overwhelmingly positive and we are already looking forward to next year.”