around the POND
In a Good Light Taft continues to rack up the design awards! The Moorhead Wing project received an Edwin F. Guth Memorial Award for Interior Lighting, Regional Award of Merit, from the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IES). After winning the regional award, the project was advanced for international judging. International awards will be announced in November.
n Halo Award nominees Chris Hylwa ’14, Christopher Browner ’12, Will O’Meara ’12, teacher Rick Doyle, Max Flath ’13, Jillian Wipfler ’13, Blake Joblin ’13 and Emily Nelson ’12 at the Palace Theater in Waterbury.
Fearless Theater
It was a tremendous year for the arts at Taft, with students winning accolades in galleries, concert halls and on stage. It was an especially grand year for theater, with extraordinary performances of the classic shows Beauty and the Beast and Harvey, and the original play Roomies (see page 18). All three were recognized this spring with Halo Award nominations. Now in their ninth year, the Halo Awards recognize excellence in high school theater. More than 30 area schools compete for the honors. Taft was nominated in 17 categories, and took home three awards. The full list of nominees is posted at www.taftschool.org/news. q Best Comic Male
Performance in a Musical: Max Flath ’13 as Gaston, Beauty and the Beast (tie)
q Best Standout
Performance by a Male Actor in an Ensemble Production: Chris Hylwa ’14 as Julian, Roomies
q Fearless Award (Play) – Language and subject: Roomies
Other Arts Recognition Earned During the spring term: Alicia Wang ’15, first place (tie), Schubert Club Awards Natalie Tam ’14, second place, 2012 Hudson Philharmonic Orchestra Piano Concerto
Tae Young Woo ’12, concertmaster, Irvine Young Concert Artists Caitlin Morton ’12, first prize – student category, 32nd Annual Photography Exhibition, New Canaan Society of Art
Robert Falcetti
In the Gallery The Mark W. Potter ’48 Gallery hosted a special show for the 50th Reunion class: John Foltz ’62 exhibited an eye-catching collection of his photography, and Kit Youngs ’62 shared a number of paintings. “Both man and nature provide a lot for us to observe,” says Foltz, who seeks out the often overlooked beauty all around. “I tend to see things on a smaller scale; thus I’m seeing small areas of beauty within a larger scene. Abstracts come out of the many ways nature paints and forms abstract shapes, as well as from architecture and sculpture.” For a complete list of gallery shows for the 2012–13 school year, visit www.taftschool.org/pottergallery/markpotter.aspx.
14 Taft Bulletin SUMMER 2012
n Sand and Rock Composition, Fotos by Foltz