NorthwoodArts '07–'08 Annual Report

NORTHWOODARTS

2007–2008

Annual Report

Northwood High School ★ Pittsboro, NC 27312 ★ 919.542.4181

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orthwood High School in Chatham County, nc serves a diverse population of more than 900 students and the Arts Education Department is one of the most vibrant parts of the landscape. Hundreds of students enroll in arts classes and participate in band competitions, choral ensembles, drama productions, visual art exhibitions and dance concerts. This retrospective highlights their activities and achievements during 2007–2008 academic year.

Pursuing Excellence American Anthems, the NHS Marching Charger Band competition program, introduced students to music of the distinguished, Pulitzer-prize winning American composer, Morton Gould. Participating in five area festivals, the band The 2007 NHS Marching brought home two Grand ChamChargers were awarded A/ pionships. Lewis Jones (baritone AA Band Championships at both the 34th Annual Central sax) and Joe Graybeal (french horn), NC Band Festival in Elon and were named to this year’s nc Bandthe Brick Capital Classic in Sanford. masters’ Association All-District Band and performed in concert at unc’s Memorial Hall. Jones was named a finalist for Appalachian State University’s premier Hayes Music Scholarship, and in April received an asu Chancellor’s Scholarship. Graybeal was named to this year’s AllState Band and Andrew Southerland (Euphonium) was selected to attend Governor’s School with a concentration in Music during the summer of 2008.

The Acting Ensemble’s presentation of The Diary of Anne Frank drew the largest audience ever for a fall drama production.

In November, Lori Carlin’s Acting Ensemble presented three powerful performances of The Diary of Anne Frank. To prepare, the cast traveled to the Holocaust Museum in Washington, dc and met with Dr. Carlin’s former teacher and mentor for a weekend of study and reflection.

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Two December concerts presented more than 70 dancers performing works by dance instructor Leah Smith and student choreographers, Hannah Pendergrast, Renee Difranco, and Hailey Allen. Students also created costuming and lighting design to mount this annual production. A highlight, Good Tidings We Bring, included student musician Preston Mason in a live performance on the mandolin with the Dance Company.

Holiday Festival, the annual winter music concert, featured performances by the nhs Concert Choir, and the nhs Marching and Symphonic Bands. Choral works included, among others, a capella English carols, the 16th Century Spanish carol, Riu, Riu, Chiu, and a movement from Haydn’s Creation. Band performances included two selections by Leroy Anderson, A Christmas Festival, and Senior Lewis Jones’ arrangement of Sleigh Ride for brass ensemble.

2007–2009 marks a national centennial celebration for Anderson, one of the most popular American composers of instrumental works in the 20th Century. The concert is also noteworthy as the 7th Annual Benefit Concert for cora, the Chatham Outreach Alliance. Held each year in conjunction with the nhs Key Club, Eli Clark-Kramer, president of the NHS Chapter of the this community service event is the National Art Honor Society, largest food drive of the year for cora. presented one of the Senior Exhibits at the Winter Art Show in January.

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Spring Collaborations The new year’s Winter Art Show featured work from all of Leslie Burwell’s classes, including senior exhibitions from her advanced students. In February, artist-in-residence Vidabeth Benson joined art students for a twoweek concentration in silk screen printing. Art student Travis Mann was selected to attend Governor’s School in Winston-Salem with a focus on visual arts studies.

March is Music in Our Schools Month, Youth Theater Month, and Art in Our Schools Month. So it’s especially appropriate that at Northwood, March is synonymous with the Annual Spring Musical. Open to the entire student body, this The cast of Grease! presented interdisciplinary, volunteer effort a rousing version of “Born is a collaboration of the entire arts to Hand Jive” for Chatham K-8 students the week before education department. As many as opening night . a hundred students participate not only on stage as cast members, but as set builders and decorators, technicians, musicians, graphic designers, stage hands, costumers and make-up artists. This year’s exuberant revival of Grease! (previously mounted at nhs in 1988 and 1998) broke all previous attendance records during Dr. Carlin’s 11-year tenure and sold-out two of the three performances.

May brings the Spring Dance Concerts, this year with 18 seniors performing for the final time on the Northwood stage. The Dance Company then took a much anticipated trip to New York City. They participated

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in three master classes—one with a member of the Broadway cast of Chicago, another with a cast member of Hairspray, and a third at the famed Alvin Ailey Dance Center.

During the four-day trip, they also attended three Broadway shows: Chicago, Hairspray, and the 2008 Tony Award Best Musical, In the Heights.

Sixty-six dance students and parents traveled with Ms. Smith to NYC for a week of master classes and Broadway shows.

Back at Northwood, the Vocal Ensemble presented solo recitals, as well as Encore! The Music of Our Time, a program in conjunction with the nhs Show Choir, now in its second year.

Before the academic year ended in June with the Spring Art Show, one more tradition took center stage, the Annual Concert for Memorial Day, presented by the nhs Concert Band. This year’s program included Rhythm Danse by Richard Saucedo, taught and conducted by Senior Lewis Jones. [See this performance online at http://chathamncschools.ning.com/ video/video/show?id=2079231%3AV ideo%3A982] A special treat was the return of more than 20 nhs alumni musicians who joined the band for the finale, America’s Finest, a musical More than 20 NHS alumni tribute to each division of America’s musicians returned to perform armed forces. Alumni also sat in with America’s Finest with the Concert Band at the 2008 the Jazz Ensemble for the reception Concert for Memorial Day. and dance that followed. Parent Chris

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Hooft received the 2008 Richardson Award, presented by the Band Boosters, for dedication and service to the instrumental music program.

Reaching Out Through a wide range of activities, the faculty makes a concerted effort to present performances and information sessions for middle schoolers to introduce them to opportunities for arts study in high school. During the fall, the Marching Band toured area schools presenting the American Anthems program along with a question & answer session. The band also offered a Shadow Program at Northwood. Middle school band students (and parents) were invited to several open rehearsals to see how marching band competition programs are put together, and to learn the basics of marching on the field with the band members.

Choral students toured area schools during the holiday season. Each year, the spring musical company goes on tour, visiting Chatham elementary and middle schools to present a preview of the upcoming production. Students see musical numbers by the performers in costume, and get to ask questions. The nhs Concert & Jazz Bands visited Perry Harrison, North Chatham, and Horton schools to introduce students to the various high school instrumental music programs. [see the Jazz Band’s performance of St. Thomas online here: http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9EFVHXCAGg] Northwood’s Summer Drama Camp gives Chatham elementary and middle school students a taste of working

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in the theatre and also provides high school theatre students leadership experience as camp counselors. During the week with Dr. Carlin and the counselors, students work on acting techniques, improvisation games, putting together skits and preparing a short play for family and friends.

Lifelong Learners

This year’s Drama Camp play was A Stone in the Road.

The young performers drew an audience of about one hundred parents, family, and friends.

Each year, Northwood faculty members pursue professional development activities and we celebrate the recent achievements of two members of the arts education department. Visual Arts Instructor Leslie Burwell became nhs’s newest Board Certified Teacher in the fall of 2007. In February, department chair Lori Carlin successfully defended her dissertation to receive her phd degree in Educational Research and Policy Analysis from ncsu.

Building Community Support For many years, parents and community volunteers have worked as nhs Band Boosters, primarily to support the marching band, as well as the entire nhs Instrumental Music Department. It has become a cornerstone of the program and vital to the its continuing success. Boosters provide crew members for competitions (moving musicians and instruments on and off the field), provide transportation to events, organize

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2008 NHS AEF Scholarship Recipients Charity Alston Visual Arts Nathan Bright Instrumental Music Eli Clark-Kramer Theatre Arts Jason Hadley Instrumental Music

snacks and water for musicians on competition days, and chaperone the band. They also assist students raising funds, and provide continuity, leadership, and mentoring. Boosters oversee an annual budget in excess of $30,000 to support these award-winning student musicians. Visit the Marching Charger Band website throughout the year to learn about their ongoing activities (http://northwood-chargersmarchingband.blogspot.com/).

Hannah Pendergrast Dance

During the summer of 2007, the executive board began discussions about establishing a similar organization to support the entire arts education department. nhs faculty responded with enthusiasm.

In September 2007, the nhs Arts Education Foundation was formed with a core group of parents, students, faculty, and community members. It is a community initiative with a stated mission of “ensuring excellence in arts education by identifying, creating, and supporting programs that enrich learning, foster student achievement, and increase community involvement.” An inaugural benefit concert and auction was held April 12 to fund the establishment of five annual $1000 college scholarships— one each for achievements in Choral Music, Dance, Drama, Instrumental Music, and Visual Arts. Presentation of these scholarships was made on May 29 at the

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nhs Awards Night ceremony. In addition to fund raising efforts, foundation members promote arts programming, instruction, and outreach efforts. They provide hospitality at nhs arts programs and are a resource for arts education faculty members. Visit the nhsaef website (www.nhsaef.org) for news, alumni updates, and to see photo albums of nhs arts events.

There you can “A student whose life is enriched by also become a the arts has a better chance of staying member or make in school, achieving in school, and a donation. succeeding after he or she graduates

from school. Academically and socially, through self-confidence and improved communication skills, a young mind is broadened and a life enriched.“

The Band Boosters and the nhsaef are eager to welcome not —Senator Edward Kennedy only parents, but community and business members as well. Join these groups to share your time, talents, ideas, and expertise. Contact Arts Education faculty members or leaders of the Band Boosters and the nhsaef to volunteer for the exciting year ahead!

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NHS Patrons & Sponsors 2007–2008 Show Stoppers John & Janet Allen Dr. Walton and Laura Avery The Balint Family Alton Chewning & Suzanne Harris Th Clark-Kramer Family Jeff & Gina Harrison Dennis and Jeannie Major The McClarnon Family Karl and Kathy Shaffer Andrea and Bob Stark Page & Jim Vernon Encore Jim & Mary Schoonard Hats Off Jim & Sharon Kirkman Susan Strozier & Dave Smith Lib & Thomas Harriss The Perry Family Applause Charles Anderson & Nancy Easterling Cassidy & Fahrbach Design Partners Patty Blanton & Bob McConnaughey Cynthia Hermans Paul Harrell & Rebecca Peel Chris & Jane Kaman Hart and Michael Phillips and Carole Lee Bresky Michael Poole & Marjorie Rohrbach Advertisers Antonella’s Salon & European Skin Care Chatham Marketplace CrystalTrip.com The Food Fairy, Inc. Fusions Art and Fine Craft Gallery Tom Harriss Lib Harriss, Stampin’ Up Local Latte Pittsboro Chevrolet Pre-Owned Super Center Pittsboro Merchants Association SunTrust Bank

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NHS Arts Education Faculty 2008–2009 Leslie Burwell Visual Arts lburwell@chatham.k12.nc.us Lori Major Carlin, chair Theater Arts lmajor@chatham.k12.nc.us Eugene Cottrell Instrumental Music cottrell@chatham.k12.nc.us Marilyn Shugart Vocal Arts mshugart@chatham.k12.nc.us Leah Smith Dance lksmith@chatham.k12.nc.us

Supporting Northwood Arts

NHS Band Boosters Martha Almond co-president marrt@embarqmail.com Liz Absher co-president LizAbsher@aol.com

http://northwood-chargers-marchingband.blogspot.com/

Gina Harrison president gina_harrison@mac.com

www.NHSAEF.org

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2008–2009 season of Northwoodarts

Join us for the

September

27 Marching Band Competition, Dixie Classic, Danville, VA

October

18 Marching Band Competition, Central NC Band Festival, Elon, NC 25 Marching Band Competition, Brick Capital Classic, Sanford, NC

November

1 Marching Band Competition, Viking Classic, Southern Pines, NC 13 Drama Performance, 7 pm 14 Drama Performance, 7 pm 15 Drama Performance, 7 pm

December

11 Band & Choral Winter Concert, 7 pm 13 Dance Concert, 7 pm 14 Dance Concert, 3 pm

January

9 Senior Exhibition, Art Show & Dinner, 6 - 9 pm 10 Art Show

March 19 26 27 28

Band Contest Preview Concert, 7 pm Spring Musical, Into the Woods, 7 pm Spring Musical, Into the Woods, 7 pm Spring Musical, Into the Woods, 7 pm

May 14 16 17 19 21 28 29 30

Jazz & Percussion Concert, 7 pm Dance Concert, 7 pm Dance Concert, 4 pm Voice Ensemble & Lyric Choir Recital, 7 pm Band Memorial Day Concert, 7 pm Art Show, 7 pm Art Show, 7 pm Art Show, 7 pm

Visit Northwood High School online at http://www8.chatham.k12.nc.us/nhs/index.html