Fine arts take international turn at St. Viator’s Winter Festival
The Winter Fine Arts Festival had a distinctly international flavor to it this year, as guests filled Saint Viator High School’s Jeuck Auditorium for an afternoon filled with music, songs and dances designed around the season.
Even the name of the show, sounded a little like something out of Great Britain: “A Very, Happy Christmas.”
It served as a springboard for Saint Viator art students and those in the National Art Honor Society, who interpreted the theme in a variety of different imagery.
They ranged from students in Adobe Photoshop creating happy portraits, to Art I students using their iPads to create silhouettes of angels. Even digital photography students and those in Ceramics I got into the act with their unique designs.
“This year every student enrolled in an art class was represented in our display,” says William Faltinoski, fine arts department chairman. “Part of creating art is having others see it and appreciate it.”
The performance part of the show opened with members of the combined concert and symphonic bands — performing under the direction of Nick Martin — playing a Ukrainian Bell Carol and “A Canadian Brass Christmas.”
Members of the Chamber Singers followed, opening their set with the 16th Century French carol, “Un Flambeau, Jeanette, Isabelle,” while the Concert Choir sang the traditional Spanish Christmas carol, “Riu, Riu, Chiu,” which also dates back to the 16th century and honors the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Both ensembles performed under the direction of Kristina Sandrock, and were accompanied by Robin Rotela.
Even members of the Orchesis Club got into the act, performing an original dance — choreographed by Jennifer Cupani, moderator — to “Carol of the Bells,” which originated as a Ukranian folk song, back in 1916.
Members of the Saint Viator Jazz Band kept it real, playing their own jazzy renditions of such American holiday classics as “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”
They opened their set with a Big Band Christmas, which wove together all-time favorite Christmas carols in a variety of jazz styles and tempos.
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