Student artwork and music will be highlighted Thursday at Marist High School on Chicago’s South Side.
The senior art show will be at 6 to 8 p.m. at the school’s Murphy Art Center, 4200 W. 115th St. The show will include displays photography, drawing, painting, ceramics and graphic designs.
A string ensemble concert also will be 6 p.m. followed by the chorus concert at 7 p.m. Both concerts will take place in the school’s chapel.
The event is free.
“The band students have been preparing for this concert for several months,” Marist band director Andrew Creagh said. “We performed the concert on our band tour to New Orleans during the last week of March. The Marist band is one of the most successful organizations at Marist due to the students’ and band parents’ work ethic, dedication, musical excellence and perseverance.”
The seven students who make up the string ensemble under Ceagh’s instruction will be playing “Barcarolle,” “The Irish Baker”, “Pastoral Symphony”, “Russian Sailors’ Dance”, “Moonlighting”, “Procession of the Nobles”, “Down in Yon Forest”, “Flight of the Furies” and “Amadeus.”
“We play every day, focusing on one piece. On the first day we might just play through it, and then we start to try smaller parts,” said clarinet Gavin Donnelly, a 17-year-old senior. “As the concert nears we might spend 20 minutes on four measures perfecting things. We work on tone, rhythm, and pitch for each instrument and section.”
Aside from the string ensemble, there are 48 students representing all grade levels in this year’s choir, led by director Erin Kelly.
This year’s concert choir includes songs from various different genres-Broadway, folk, Italian opera, rock, a cappella, patriotic and gospel. Some of the titles include the following: “Wild Mountain Thyme”, “Lashia Ch’io Pianga”, “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”, a Beatles medley and a “My Fair Lady” medley.
“The Marist High School choir is made up of serious, passionate music students striving to improve their technique individually, as well as an ensemble,” Kelly said. “In order to prepare for this concert, students practice not only every day in class, but also many hours independently at home as well as several after school rehearsals. They show commitment and dedication during the rehearsal process in order to have the best possible performance at the concert.”
Marist, which has hosted a senior art show for more than 20 years, is expecting more than 100 people to attend the program.
All Marist senior art students who are taking an upper-level art class participate in the show. The classes include Studio Art Honors, AP Studio Art, Wheel 1, 2 and 3 and Graphic Design 2.
“The show will offer family, friends and members of the community an opportunity to view our senior’s artistic excellence,” said Patti Arvesen, director of Marist student activities. “Those who attend will definitely enjoy these stunning works of art.”
There are about 40 seniors planning to display art work.
“I feel like the show is a good chance to show that we have worked hard and that we take pride in what we’ve designed,” said Jonathan Vugrin, 18, of Oak Lawn. “It will let the world see that we are not just amateurs, but that we are making our way.”
Vugrin hopes his graphic arts beginnings at Marist will lead him to pursue a degree and career in advertising and graphic design.
The students are responsible for planning and selecting pieces for the event with the advice given from their art teachers, Rita Ator, Nancy Briggs and Brian Keane. In addition, the students are responsible for creating the exhibit’s promotional pieces.
“I think it is important for students to have art to be able to express themselves,” Arvesen said. “Art is a form of visual communication. When our students learn to master the ability to communicate through art, they are gaining life skills, along with self-confidence. The show will offer family, friends and members of the community an opportunity to view our senior’s artistic excellence. Those who attend will definitely enjoy these stunning works of art.”
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Samantha Pacella, 18, of Oak Lawn, said: “It’s exciting and it’s really great to showcase our talent and it means a lot to me as an artist. There are not a lot of opportunities to do it, and it gives us the opportunity to be alongside other artists discussing our work and showing our style as artists. It’s a great opportunity for everyone.”
Kelly White is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.