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FINE ARTS
The Arts are the Heart of Morristown School's Curriculum
THE TWENTY FIFTH ANNUAL ART SHOW
Saturday, April 28, 2012 was the district's 25th Annual Art Show. The Gallery started in the A Pod, filled with work from all year. In the multipurpose room, Student Art was on display, judged and awarded. The Show begins at 8 am and ends at 11 am. A side visit to the school's Desert Sonoran Trail has become a tradition during the Art Show.
The Morristown Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) staged its 25th Annual Pancake Breakfast in conjunction with the Art Show, as well as their Twelfth Annual Silent Auction. Proceeds assist the school with its Artist in Residence program.
Members of the Wickenburg Art Club judged the student art from the school curriculum and also manned demonstration tables during the show.
A highlight of the morning was the reveal of the video presentation by students under the direction of Artist in Residence, Harper Piver.Piver is a dancer and multimedia artist.She specializes in explorations in dance, video, writing for performance, and the creative process with students and community members.Her work with our students combined movement and dance with the creation of video.Students used video cameras and then under her guidance, edited the footage to share their residency experiences. Piver was present to meet attendees of the show.
John Gallagher of the world renowned Gallagher family of wood carvers and painters, has been on hand in the past demonstrating his craft. He was back this year demonstrating his carving technique as well as showing guests how to carve on a bar of soap. The Gallagher family was featured in the June 1998 issue of Arizona Highways and have been seen in the Arizona Short Story portion of the Channel 15 news.
Frank Gallagher in 2004
Wickenburg Children's cultural Organization (WCO) sponsored a concert by the West Valley Symphony in partnership with the Del E.Webb Center in Wickenburg Nov 22, 2011. Students traveled to Wickenburg. WCO also provided assistance with transportation costs .
Persephone worked with Morristown Students
With more than 20 years' experience as an entertainer, musician, composer, and teacher, Persephone has a Bachelor of Music degree in music therapy/jazz performance from Arizona State University. As a music therapist, she writes inspiring songs and quickly establishes a rapport with her audiences. She has devoted much of her time helping the special needs population in hospitals and hospices. Her piano CD, Garden of Your Soul, reveals her commitment to the healing power of music, while her children's CD, Kid at Heart, reveals a range of playful, educational, therapeutic, and thoughtful songs.
Her public performance with the Children was Friday, April 8, 2011
Juanita Hull-Carlson was present two years ago to meet with all and showcase the great mosaics made by students during her residency.
Featured at the 2003 Art Show was
"The Bench" created by students with the help of artist, Juanita "MS Nita" Hull-Carlson. Ms Nita also features The Bench On her web site. This has remained a point of interest at the annual art show. Be sure to ask to see it anytime you visit the school. Ms. Nita is our artist again this year and the mosaic creations will be on display.
She is a teacher and artist who has taught and created in Europe and the United States. She has completed a number of residences since going on the ACA Roster in 1999. Click on The Bench and it will take you to her web site for much more information.
Thanks also to Friends of Music Committee, Inc of Wickenburg, General Federated Woman's Club-Morristown, Circle City Homeowners Association, Morristown Parent Teacher Student Association and others for providing matching funds for this residency. Members of the GFWC and the Community at large also contributed quite a bit of the "junk" used in the project.
Arizona Schools Making a Differance featured Hull-Carlson's residency at Morristown School in an article you may see by clicking here and scrolling down.
AFTER SCHOOL ARTS PROGRAM IS NOW TAUGHT BY BRENDA LOVEJOY
She is working with students in the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Grant program every Monday: 2-3 pm for primary grades and 4-5 pm for upper grades. Brenda has the special ability to work with donated items to produce fine arts creations.
Violin lessons also continue in the 21st Century Community Learning Centers after school program with instructor Dana Rainey. Students have the opportunity to work toward attending a summer Music Camp in Wickenburg summer of 2012.Over 60 students participated in Morristown School’s summer violin program.
Chamber Music West , in partnership with the Wickenburg Children's cultural Organization, sponsored the Pacifica Quartet, a world class chamber ensemblefor the students of Morristown, Aguila and the Wickenburg Christian Academy in December 2010. This was the fifth year Chamber Music West has partnered with Wickenburg Children's cultural Organization to bring world class music to our local schools and the 34th year CMW has brought classical music to the NW Valley.
Chamber Music West sponsored the Ying String Quartet in the past, a world class ensemble.This was the fourth year Chamber Music West has partnered with Wickenburg Children's cultural Organization to bring world class music to our local schools.
Click on their name and find out more about this group.
2007-2008 Artist in Residence Experience
In 2007-08 students had an incredible experience with Muralist, Theresa Shastakovich. This wonderful mural is now hanging in the Main lobby of the school
WICKENBURG CHILDREN'S CULTURAL ORGANIZATION'S A. WALLACE DENNY STING PROGRAM HAD PUBLIC PERFORMANCE
Students in the Violin program sponsored by the WCO with Arizona Community Foundation funds from the A. Wallace Denny trust displayed what they have learned this semester on Monday, May 19 2008. Under the direction of instructor Chrystal Smothers from Phoenix Conservatory of Music, a partner with WCO in this project, students demonstrated skills learned. This program continues thanks to a 21st Century Community Learning Centers Grant.
"Having walked on stage together over 1600 times in the past sixteen years the St. Lawrence String Quartet (SLSQ) has established itself among the world-class chamber ensembles of its generation. In 1992, they won both the Banff International String Quartet Competition and Young Concert Artists Auditions, launching them on a performing career that has brought them across North and South America, Europe and Asia.
The long awaited initial recording of the St. Lawrence Quartet, Schumann's First and Third Quartets, was released in May 1999 to great critical acclaim. The CD received the coveted German critics award, the Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik, as well as Canada's annual Juno Award. BBC Music Magazine gave the recording its "highest rating," calling it the benchmark recording of the works. In October of 2001, EMI released their recording of string quartets of Tchaikovsky. In 2002 their recording Yiddishbbuk featuring the chamber music of the celebrated Argentinean-American composer Osvaldo Golijov received two Grammy nominations. Their most recent recording, Awakening, celebrates the string quartets of Christos Hatzis."
THANKS TO Wickenburg Children's cultural Organization FOR BRINGING DAVID BRUMMITT OF THE BRUMMITT/TAYLOR MUSIC LISTENING PROGRAM to Morristown School. The Wickenburg Children's cultural Organization donated the first Brummitt/Taylor program to Morristown School. This non-directed listening and learning program was part of the Small Schools Arts Initiative grant in which Morristown School participated.
David Brummitt visited with teachers at the school and provided a free updated training on the program at the Little Red School House in Wickenburg.
APS was on site in 06-07, filming some of the activities the WCO provides for schools, including David Brummitt's visit to the school.
Friends of Music, Wickenburg Brought Todd Green to Morristown School Friday, January 20, 2006 Todd Green performed for Morristown students. He is a uniquely talented multi-insturmentalist who performs nationally in the fine arts and college markets. His all original music is a blend of classical and improved music from around the world. If you click on his name you can find out much more about him.
STATE ARTS INITIATIVE GRANT FOR SMALL SCHOOLS CONSORTIUM
Morristown School was part of the Small Schools' Consortium for an Arts Initiative that trains teachers to integrate the arts into other academic subject areas.
Research shows this practice can increase learning abilities as well as test scores.
Dr. Carroll Rinehart worked with students in Opera residencies as part of this grant in 2005-2006. Click on his name and you will go to Tucson School District's site. Scroll down the page for honors paid to him as well as his work integrating arts into the curriculum and visa versa through the OMA project (Opening Minds Through the Arts).
At the end of the residency student created operas were performed by students for the public. Students were part of the entire process from writing the opera, casting, set development, performing and more.
Susan Bendix worked with students in medium of dance. And, Dr. Don Doyle worked with students in the area of storytelling. The school hopes for an addition of a storytelling component to the 20th Annual Art Show.
Arizona Department of Education Arts Initiative Grant administered by Maricopa County Schools Office Brought Opera Soup a production of the Arizona Opera Company to Morristown School Arizona Opera Company performed Opera Soup for students in the multi purpose room. Four singers, an accompanist and a stage manager are the team that made twelve week tour, reaching over 30,000 Arizona students. The performance was self contained, providing its own sound system and piano.
Young, professional Opera Singers used the "Soup" theme to show all of the "ingredients" that go into an Opera. Many well known opera pieces were used to convey the message.
The Del E. Webb Center worked with Morristown School This group hopes to bring more of the Arts to all of the schools in the Wickenburg area.
The Phoenix Symphony String Section Came To Morristown School
Thanks to the "Wickenburg Cultural Organization" the Phoenix Symphony String Section performed right here in Morristown School on Wednesday, December 18 2002. To our knowledge, this is the first time a group of this size and reknown has come to our community. Students from Aguila School also attended this performance. All students expressed delight with the program and you could hear their cheers for the performers through out the school.
Phoenix Conservatory of Music Came to Morristown School The Phoenix Conservatory of Music worked with the after school programs Spring 2002. They presented their Exploring Music Program. Teachers received training on this program, including meeting the State Music Standards, and were very excited about it. This Program was sponsored by the Wickenburg Chamber Orchestra and State Chemical Abuse Prevention funds. WCO sponsored another Phoenix Conservatory of Music Training January 20, 2007. Click here to see the Phoenix Conservatory of Music's web page