Families and friends gathered at Prairie Knolls Middle School in Elgin on Saturday to enjoy both artwork and musical performances by the students of six Central Community Unit School District 301 schools.
“I am honored to work in a school district that collaborates the achievements of kindergarten through eighth grade students in such a marvelous way,” said Sonya Rohde, Central Middle band director and music teacher at Lily Lake.
The schools represented at the sixth annual Fine Arts Showcase were: Prairie Knolls; Central Middle School, Burlington; Country Trails Elementary School, Elgin; Prairie View Grade School, Elgin; Howard B. Thomas Grade School, Burlington, and Lily Lake Grade School, Maple Park.
“This is a great celebration of the arts,” said Prairie Knolls Principal Matthew Haug. “All of our elementary and middle schools are represented.”
“I love that we can showcase our students,” said Paula Mack, music teacher at Country Trails. “It’s such a fun day getting to see our families.”
“It’s a great community event,” said Maggie Smith, music teacher at Howard B. Thomas. “It’s nice to see families coming together to support the arts.”
The main hall of the middle school was filled with paintings and drawings such as the Spiderman drawing by Brianna Domaleczny of Elgin, a fourth grade student at Country Trails. Domaleczny said she drew it because Spiderman is her brother’s favorite superhero.
There were musical performances by the sixth, seventh and eighth grade bands; the Prairie Knolls and Central Middle jazz bands; the sixth, seventh and eighth grade choirs, and the elementary school choirs.
Two students played the bongos while their sixth grade classmates sang “Changamano” by Sally Albrecht and Jay Althhouse.
The combined choirs performed the final number of “Papa Oom Mow Mow” by Mac Huff.
Schaumburg resident Pam Fricke came to the event with her granddaughters, Mia and Cali, who both attend Prairie View.
“These students are very talented artists,” Fricke said. “They really amaze me.”
Mia sang in the chorus on Saturday. She said her favorite song is “Elijah and Joshua,” an African American spiritual by Albrecht.
Elgin resident Lois Payton enjoyed watching her granddaughter, Emma Payton, sing in the chorus. Lois recalled that she once played the trumpet at Amundsen High School in Chicago.
“I think District 301 has a wonderful music program,” Lois said. “It’s a great opportunity for the children.”
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Denise Moran is a freelance reporter.