SPPS Students Experience Petting Zoo

Nanci Barnhart, Arts Coordinator at Sts. Peter and Paul School in Lexington, sends this update about the collaborative arts effort at SPPS:

Recently, the students at St. Peter & Paul school were treated to a visit from the Lexington Philharmonic’s Instrument Petting Zoo. Mr. Joe Tackett, Education Director of the orchestra, brought instruments of every family, size, and shape. He introduced the instruments and demonstrated the proper techniques for playing them. Afterward, the students were able to experiment with violins, trumpets, trombones, woodwinds, and various percussion instruments. We are beginning a partnership with the Philharmonic this fall. Each month will bring a new experience for our students. In December we will hear a performance by the Niles Quartet, followed by a visit from different Philharmonic musicians. Each class will “adopt” a member of the orchestra, who will visit their classroom and play for them, helping to engage them in classical music. We will attend the orchestra’s Discovery Concert in March, where we will get a backstage pass to view the inner workings of the orchestra.

The Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade students will begin “Breakfast with the Arts” the first week of December. They will meet with Mrs. Barnhart to discuss and share their experiences with the Art-to-Go bags, have a snack, and enjoy an Arts enrichment activity. The Art-to-Go bags are a parent/child activity in Art or Music. Drama bags are being made for distribution in January with our 3rd grade students.

Advent Art at St. Leo

Students in the Art Club at St. Leo School in Versailles recently started work on a huge Advent calendar to use for morning prayer at the school this season.

Art teacher Rosie Fedorchuk sent some photos of the artists in action!

Diocesan Schools at the CKMEA Choral Festival

Above: Choir One performs at the Central Kentucky Music Educators Association Festival

The CKMEA Festival featured the talented honor choir students from several schools in the Diocese of Lexington: St. Agatha Academy, Christ the King, Mary Queen of the Holy Rosary, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, and Sts. Peter and Paul. Under the direction of John Stenger, the students performed a variety of classical and modern songs, inlcuding Laudate Pueri, Shady Grove, Shine on Me, and The Kazoo Koncerto (!). After some full days of rehearsal, the choir performed for family and friends at Eastern KY University's auditorium on Nov. 7.

Congratulations to our choir students on their excellent performance!

Our Lady of the Mountains hosts an Artist in Residence

Above: Kindergarten students enjoyed learning a traditional folk song with Ms. Jennifer Rose and teacher Christy Terry.

Sue Miller from Our Lady of the Mountains School sent us this report. OLM has had great success in obtaining grant funding from the Kentucky Arts Council and other sources to bring artists into the classroom and then incorporating parents and the wider community into the arts program.

Our Lady of the Mountains School in Paintsville recently welcomed Ms. Jennifer Rose, an internationally known instructor of Appalachian Dance and Music, for an intensive, week-long Artist in Residence Program. The program was funded by a grant from the Kentucky Arts Council and was designed to provide an intensive study and experience in Appalachian culture.
Matching funds for the grant were provided by Citizens National Bank, The Highlands Foundation, and the Perrin family.

Students and teachers received instruction in a variety of Appalachian dance styles, including square, circle, and longways dances. In addition, the students learned a variety of folk songs and participated in discussions related to the unique ethnic heritage of the Eastern Kentucky Mountains. Multiple cross-curricular activities were incorporated into the week-long program, including a traditional Appalachian lunch, arts and crafts, and games.

As part of the program, Ms. Rose also conducted a Professional Development Seminar attended by teachers from the Johnson and Magoffin County school systems on incorporating Appalachian culture into standard classroom curriculum. Ms. Rose also provided a presentation to school parents on the value of arts education and exploring traditional Appalachian culture in the home environment. The program culminated in a dance and singing recital for family and friends in the school's third floor ballroom.

Our Lady of the Mountains School continues to aggressively pursue grant opportunities to supplement the art and music programs offered to students in grades pre-school through
eight. For more information, please contact the school office at 606-789-3661.

LCHS Choir Members at the Honors Choir in Morehead

Twenty-seven members of Lexington Catholic's choir traveled to Morehead State University on Monday, Nov. 10 to participate in the State Honor Choir event held on the campus.

Students practiced hard all day Monday and Tuesday with Dr. Andre Thomas from Florida State University and Dr. Andrew Larsen from Stetson University (FL), finishing up with a wonderful concert on Tuesday night. LCHS Senior Catherine Gorrell wowed the crowd with her rendition of "God Help the Outcasts" from Disney's Hunchback of Notre Dame and was named the winner of the solo competition.

Congratulations to Catherine and all the Honor Choir students, shown in the photo above!