The 2014 Youth in Arts Festival, a showcase highlighting the creative talents of over 400 students from Dearborn Public Schools (DPS) and Henry Ford Community College, takes place on Wednesday, April 16 from 4 to 8:30 p.m. at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center.
The Festival, a colorful and high energy event, features visual, instrumental, choral and theatrical offerings and the opening of the DPS City Wide Art Show. Admission is free and open to the public to enjoy and show support for the students.
The Youth in Arts Festival is a project of the nonprofit Dearborn Community Fund (DCF).
“This event is truly a festival—not just a concert—because of the variety and high spirited energy of the art and the performances by Dearborn students,” explains DCF Executive Director EmmaJean Woodyard. “It’s exciting for everyone involved because this is the one time during the year that all of the schools in Dearborn showcase their arts initiatives at one time, in one place, to demonstrate how many of our young people are involved in the arts. It’s also offers a unique opportunity for the students to see and hear what their peers are doing.”
Festival activities begin at 4 p.m. with the opening of Dearborn Public Schools City Wide Art Show at the Center’s Padzieski Gallery. The exhibit, which remains in the Gallery through May 28, includes selected works from K-12 students. Opening remarks occur at 4:10 p.m. in the Michael A. Guido Theater followed by Senior Talks in the Gallery at 5:30 p.m.
Artist demonstrations in the theater lobby commence at 6:30 p.m. with music provided by the Dearborn Youth Symphony Flute Ensemble. Representatives from the Dearborn Symphony and Friends of the Dearborn Symphony will host an information table.
A Collage Performance, under the direction of G. Kevin Dewey, begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Michael A. Guido Theater. Special guest performers include two Dearborn Public Schools graduates, violinist Linda (Puroff) Tolias and actor/singer Darrow Bernick. Joining Tolias for her performance will be her husband, violinist Peter Tolias.
Choral performances will include: the Elementary Honors Choir, Jim Walters, Director; the Secondary Honors Choir, Jennifer Pegouske, director; Fordson High School Vocal Ensemble, Matthew Laura, director; and a Henry Ford Community College Vocal Ensemble, G. Kevin Dewey, director.
Instrumental performances will be provided by: Maples Music Ensemble, Catherine Prowse, director; Dearborn High Concert Band and a Sax Quartet, Jeff Oshnock, director; and Smith Middle School’s Orchestra and Band, Eric Shea, director.
Edsel Ford theater arts students under the direction of Robert Doyle will perform selections from “Peter Pan.”
The Youth in Arts Festival is a co-operative project by the DCF, Dearborn Public Schools and Henry Ford Community College with valuable support provided by the City of Dearborn/Parks & Recreation Department, Dearborn Community Arts Council, Dearborn Education Foundation and Margaret Schaefer.
For more information about the Youth in Arts Festival, other DCF projects or how to contribute to the Fund, call 313-943-5478.
