Creativity to Help the Hungry

At left:  Mary Queen of the Holy Rosary 8th grade students built a mountain of food in the school rotunda this past October to benefit God's Pantry.

Youth Service America YSA) is looking to fund creative projects, designed and implemented by young people, ages 5 to 25, to help children facing hunger.  Would your students like to participate? Here's the information from the YSA call for grant proposals:


YSA will award 100 Sodexo Youth Grants of $500 each to support youth-led service projects in the United States that address the issue of childhood hunger on Global Youth Service Day (April 20-22, 2012). 
16.2 million children in the United States live at risk of hunger.  YSA and Sodexo are calling on young people, ages 5-25, to help make sure  your peers don't have to worry about where their next meal will come  from. 
We're looking for projects that engage your peers, friends, families, neighbors, Sodexo employees, and other community members in creative, youth-inspired solutions to ending childhood hunger in your community. 
Applications are due by midnight on January 17, 2012.  
Learn more at: www.YSA.org/grants/sodexoyouth  

Sweet Sounds of Christmas

The Lexington Catholic Band and Choir will combine forces for a festive holiday event on Tuesday, Dec. 6, at 7 PM in the Bueter Gymnasium.

With nearly three hundred performers and a variety of music, you are sure to leave in the Christmas spirit! 

Admission is free with a suggested donation (socks, hats, gloves, personal care items, and so on) for the school's Appalachian Christmas Drive.

Come and enjoy this holiday tradition!

Hooray for another Big Blue!

At left:  Principal Becky Brown and some of the Blue Ribbon students at MQHR with their new flag.

Mary Queen of the Holy Rosary School was recently named a Blue Ribbon School for 2011-12 by the US Department of Education and is having a party to celebrate on Friday, Dec. 2, at 1 PM, at MQ Church.

Here's the scoop on Blue Ribbon Schools, from the DOE website:

"The Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private elementary, middle and high schools whose students achieve at very high levels .... The program is part of a larger Department of Education effort to identify and disseminate knowledge about best school leadership and teaching practices.

The Blue Ribbon Schools Program sets a standard of excellence for all schools striving for the highest level of achievement. Each year since 1982, the U.S. Department of Education has sought out schools where students attain and maintain high academic goals, including those that beat the odds. To be named a Blue Ribbon School is to join an elite group. Of more than 138,000 in the United States, just over 6,000 of America's schools have received this honor over the past 28 years. "  Note: Sts. Peter and Paul Regional School and Lexington Catholic High School have also held Blue Ribbon status.

Congrats to Mary Queen of the Holy Rosary on such a great achievement!

SPPS Art Students Create Art for Healing

Above:  The colorful mural created for young patients at UK Children's Hospital

Cindi Russell of SPPS sends this update:

The elementary students at Sts. Peter and Paul School have created a mural to share with the families and children at the UK Children’s Hospital.  Art teacher, Hayley Harris asked the students to come up with an idea to cheer up the children in the hospital and their families.  They came up with the idea of smiling animals.  After students had created many smiling animals, the Art Club put them together into a cheerful mural, “The Smiling Animal Mural”. 

The public cannot view the mural.  It is displayed in a part of the hospital where only children being treated and their families are allowed.  After it is taken down, it will be displayed at the school so that all can enjoy it.

St Leo Students Visit St. Meinrad

Above, St. Leo Art Club students visited St. Meinrad Archabbey in Indiana

Rosie Fedorchuk, Art and Music teacher at St. Leo School in Versailles, sends this report:

St. Leo Art Club went on a field trip to St.Meinrad Monastery to study religious art. Brother Martin (seen at right with the students) is an artist who gave St.Leo students a personal tour of some of the incredible artwork around St. Meinrad. He painted the triptych in the sanctuary and much of his artwork can be seen around St. Meinrad and in the gift shop. It was a great learning experience for our students who were also able to attend noon office with the monks and learn about monastic life.

At left, the students saw this beautiful mural in the Chapter Room.

St. Leo art club will begin their own mosaic of St. Leo this month on November 10th, the feast of St. Leo.
 
At right, this stained glass window at St. Meinrad depicts St. Leo.

Celebrate at the LCHS Fall Concert

(The Arts Blog is back at last, after some long, drawn out technical difficulties!)

The Lexington Catholic Choirs invite everybody to their Fall Concert, entitled "Celebrate with Music,"  on Thursday, November 3, beginning at 7 PM.  Here's the scoop from the LCHS Choirs Facebook page:

Eight choirs will perform pieces with topics themed on music and singing.

This concert will feature a guest barbershop quartet, Overtones, members of The Kentuckians Chorus, a premiere of a student composition Cantate Domine by current student, Blake Wilson (class of 2012). The finale of the concert will be a medley of The Sound of Music.

 

The concert will be preceded by a performance by our newest a cappella group The Knight N Ga...ls at 6:30pm in the Theater Lobby.

 

Come and let the music take you away.....

Arts Celebration at Christ the King

Here's the news from Jeremy Howard (Choir/Vocal Director), Kathy Shewmaker (Band Director) and Mary Joe Quinn (Art Teacher) about the big event at CTK School:

CKS will be hosting an Arts Celebration this Thursday, May 19 from 5:45 – 7:45. The evening will include an art exhibit and performances by the Middle School Band, vocal soloists, dramatic scenes from Romeo and Juliet and Seussical, Jr., and the Middle School Choir.
Remember to stop by the Arts Gift Shoppe to purchase original student-made artwork and stationary, and order your copy of “CKS Presents Seussical, Jr.”

Tentative Schedule is as follows:

Art Exhibit: 5:45 – 7:45
Band Concert: 5:45 – 6:10
Vocal Solos & Duets: 6:15 – 6:35
Drama: 6:40 – 6:55
Vocal Solos & Duets: 7:00 – 7:20
Choir Concert: 7:25 – 7:45
 
This celebration is made possible with a grant from the W. Paul and Lucille C. Little Foundation.  We thank the Foundation for their generous support of the arts!!

Picnic with the Knights at LCHS

Tonight, May 16, is the Picnic with the Knights' Pops Night! Choir Director Adam Beeken sends this invite:

This is our annual Pops Concert. The theme is "Let's Go to the Movies" We have a NEW location this year- in the Bueter (New) Gym.

We start with a potluck dinner (plenty of food!).

Pre concert music and food start at 6:00pm...

This is an informal and fun concert. All are invited!

Art Show and Musical

Looks like April 2011 will close out with sunshine along with more wonderful arts programs.

The Lexington Catholic Collin Cox Memorial Art Show runs from April 28 through May 10 at the Carnegie Arts Center, located in Gratz Park at 251 West Second St in downtown Lexington. The show features the work of LCHS art students, including paintings, drawings, and more. The Opening Reception is Thursday, April 28, from 5 PM till 7:30 PM at the Carnegie Center.

Then it's time for the LCHS Drama Department's production of Curtains! a musical who-done-it and a show-within-a-show. All this for only $5! The show runs April 28, April 29, and April 30 at 7:30 PM, and you can get your tickets at the door.

It's ARTrageous!

Seton Catholic Schools invites everyone to attend their second annual "The ARTrageous Event," on Thursday, April 28, 2011, 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Seton Catholic School, 1740 Summerhill Drive, Lexington KY.

Seton's ARTrageous is a fun-filled evening celebrating the arts with music, refreshments, and the Fine Arts Exhibition featuring the work of Seton's creative rising Stars.

Throughout the year, Seton students in grades K-8 create outstanding works of art that are judged by renown artists or professionals in art and design. The top selected works, which receive recognition ribbons, will be revealed on the evening of the event!

Seton asks if you will please RSVP to Lori Kilpatrick (you would like your share of refreshments, now wouldn't you??) at lkirkpatrick@cdlex.org or 859-273-7827.

Hope to see you there!

Hope to see you there!

Singing All Spring Long

Above: The Lexington Catholic Choir belt it out at the entrance to Universal Studios in sunny Florida!

The Lexington Catholic HS Choirs kept the music coming all spring long:

A big bunch of students participated in KMEA district solo and ensemble events, with great results. Special congrats to these students who received the Distinguished I rating: Cheyenne Davis, Katie Hamlin, Isabel Pena, Austin Ryan, Anna Beth Schneider, Caroline Simpson, and Kelsey VonderHaar. At the District Choir Festival, all three of LCHS- Chorale, Advanced Women's, & Chamber Choir received an overall rating of I (distinguished). This is the highest rating a choir can receive. This is the first time that all of the ensembles have earned this rating, so kudos to all choir members for their hard work to make it happen.

Then on March 4, Lex Cath hosted the First Annual "Voices in Harmony" concert featuring sixteen different high school and college a cappella groups (no instruments, only voices!) from all over, including UK's Accousticats and 11th Hour from Kettering OH, fresh from their appearance on the TV show "Sing Off." The final concert was sold out, and the audience was completely wowed by the amazing talent. LCHS had a couple of awards winners in the competition: MidKnight M'Ladyes received an award for original high school arrangement and member Margaret Leer won an award for best high school vocal percussion.

Obviously, after all this achievement, it's time to go to - Orlando! What could be more fun than a full bus singing its way through the night and jumping up to sing all day for a few more days in the Florida sun? Turns out, nothing, as the LCHS choirs worked their magic again. Six LC choirs participated in the Orlandofest competition, and all of the choirs performed at the entrance to Universal Studios. In the competition, three choirs receive excellent ratings (the highest you can receive)- Advanced Women's Choir, MidKnight M'Ladyes, and Chamber Choir. In the separate divisions, Chorale and Advanced Women's Choir placed 2nd, while Chamber Choir and MidKnight M'Ladyes earned first place!

Congrats again to all the LC Choirs on their many epic performances!

And then it was back to Lexington for the annual Masterworks concert on April 14 at the Cathedral of Christ the King The LCHS Chorale was joined by a professional orchestra for an outstanding event built on the them of Rene Clausen's "A New Creation."

More Honors Band Honors

Above: Brass Guys Extraordinaire Karl R. and Maxwell L

Lexington Catholic HS Band Director Allison Weitkamp sends this update:

Two of our students were selected to play with Honors Bands in our area:

Karl Roggenkamp, a junior who plays French Horn and Maxwell Leslie, a freshman who plays trombone were selected to join 350 applicants from all over KY to attend Eastern KY University's High School Honor Band, Feb. 24-26.

In addition, Karl also played French Horn in the KY Music Educators Association District 7 High School Honor Band, Mar. 24-26. Participants were selected by audition from all schools in our 8 county district. The workshop was held at Bryan Station High School with a concert finale at Lafayette High School in Lexington.

Congratulations to these outstanding musicians!

"In Remembrance" at LCHS

Above: Dr. James Mulholland rehearsed his original composition, "One Final Song," with the Lexington Catholic Concert Choir. The annual spring concert featured all of Lexington Catholic's choirs of over 170 students. The theme for this concert was "In Remembrance," and students and audience members were given an opportunity to memorialize someone of their choosing. The concert also featured special performances by soloists, a string quartet, and the world premiere of "One Final Song," commissioned by the LCHS choir program.

LCHS Choir Director Adam Beeken sent this update:

I want to thank everyone for their performance and attendance at the March 29 Spring Choir Concert : In Remembrance. It was in my opinion one of the most meaningful and touching concerts in my tenure at Lexington Catholic. I was very proud to be a member of the Lexington Catholic community. The memorial trees were a poignant reminder of what the concert was about. If you are interested, the trees are currently being hosted in the school chapel if you would like to see them up close.

I also want to thank all of the volunteers (especially the boosters) for working out the details of the concert. Also a special thank you to our concert sponsors-the Grimm & Wilden families.

Above, Assistant Choir Director Rob Vanover directs the Beginning Choir during "In Remembrance."

Seton Student Sings in Chicago

Above: Seton Student Kayla Duncan recently sang with the American Choral Directors Association's Children's National Honor Chorus.

Amy Black, Music Teacher at Seton Catholic School in Lexington, send this report:

Seton fifth grader, Kayla Duncan was one of 300 students from across the country to audition and be accepted in this year's ACDA National Children's Honor Choir. Last week, Kayla and her parents travelled to Chicago for the conference where she worked with internationally known conductor and founder of the the Indianapolis Children's Choir, Henry Leck. Kayla is a first soprano in Seton's Star Singers.

Congratulations to Kayla!

At left, the assembled chorus warms up in the Red Lacquer Room of the historic Palmer House in Chicago.

Below: close up on Kayla!

Photos from the Gallery Hop

Above: Scene from the recent Gallery Hop at Sts. Peter & Paul School, Lexington

Sts. Peter & Paul School in Lexington displayed art work from various Catholic schools during the downtown Gallery Hop on February 18. Here are some photos from the event.



At left, some art in progress

Seen below, the refreshments table was also a work of art.

C

Checking out artwork in the hall.

Above: looking at artwork on the other side.

Beth Ettensohn, art teacher at SPPS, and Rosie Fedorchuk, art teacher at St. Leo School, Versailles, pause for a photo.

Close up of the Gummy Bear Eiffel Tower - wow!

Musicians Reap Outstanding Ratings at KMEA

Above: These members of the Lexington Catholic Band performed at the KMEA Festival

Allison Weitkamp, Band Director at several of our Catholic schools and hard-working District 7 Band Manager for KMEA, sent this update :

Here are some pictures and the results from the KY Music Educators Association (KMEA) Solo and Ensemble Festival that was held on Feb. 19 at LC. Almost every event from the Diocese earned a Proficient or Distinguished rating, which are the top 2 ratings given at the Festival!

(At left: MQHR Band)

Proficient Ratings

Aaron Ayotte - Oboe Solo, Lexington Catholic

Ann Marie Swisher - Clarinet Solo, Mary Queen

Hendren/Norton -Flute Duet, Mary Queen

Ivy/Marks/Geoghegan - Mixed Ensemble, Mary Queen

Molly Mace - Clarinet Solo, Mary Queen

McEvoy/Mace - Percussion Ensemble, Mary Queen

Anna McEvoy -Snare Solo, Mary Queen

Hayley Schindler - Woodwind Ensemble, Seton

Emily DeLetter - Woodwind Ensemble, Seton

Sydney Scruggs - Clarinet Solo, Sts. Peter and Paul

Kennedy/Winfield - Clarinet Duet, Sts. Peter and Paul

Clemmons/Thiel - Mallet Duet, Sts. Peter and Paul

Payne/Spanier - Mixed Ensemble, Sts. Peter and Paul

Danielle Doering - Trumpet Solo, Sts. Peter and Paul

(At right: Members of the Sts. Peter & Paul Band)

Distinguished Ratings

Megan Hailey -Flute Solo, Lexington Catholic

Meier/Hassur - Woodwind Ensemble, Lexington Catholic

Zack Howell - Alto Saxophone Solo, Lexington Catholic

Hannah Ruggles - Flute Solo, Lexington Catholic

Karl Roggenkamp - Horn Solo, Lexington Catholic

Ruggles/Thesing/Sproull - Mixed Ensemble, Lexington Catholic

Sara Sproull -Trombone Solo, Lexington Catholic

Tyler Wells - Alto Saxophone, Solo Lexington Catholic

Hayce Jeon - Flute Solo, Lexington Catholic

Boyoon Choi - Flute Solo, Lexington Catholic

Megan Vance -Trumpet Solo, Lexington Catholic

Jeon/Choi/Lim - Woodwind Ensemble, Lexington Catholic

Madolyn Ivy - Alto Saxophone Solo, Mary Queen

Hendren/Armstrong - Mixed Ensemble, Mary Queen

Norton/Jones/Thiry -Woodwind Ensemble, Mary Queen

Tran/Banahan - Percussion Ensemble, Mary Queen

Grant Peck - Trombone Solo, Mary Queen

Matt Beaven -Trumpet Solo, Mary Queen

Armstrong/Wells - Trumpet Duet, Mary Queen

Liz Noonan - Alto Saxophone ,Solo Mary Queen

Mattie Fogle - Clarinet Solo, Mary Queen

Caroline Quigley - Flute Solo, Mary Queen

Elise Maul - Flute Solo, Mary Queen

Maul/Quigley - Flute Duet, Mary Queen

King/Yeager/Noonan - Brass Ensemble, Mary Queen

Helen Holthaus - Flute Solo, Mary Queen

Olivia Bodart - Flute Solo, Mary Queen

Kate Renaud - Trombone Solo, Mary Queen

Michael DeLetter - Brass Quartet, Seton

Derby Carter - Trumpet Solo, Seton

John Thesing - Brass Ensemble, Seton

Connor - Woodwind Ensemble, Seton

Danielle Conner - Clarinet Solo, Seton

Anna Bast - Flute Solo, St. Agatha (photo at left)

Sam Roller - Clarinet Solo, Sts. Peter and Paul

Haley Stacey - Clarinet Solo, Sts. Peter and Paul

Coriale/West - Flute Duet, Sts. Peter and Paul

Abshear/Stacey/Pontrich/Sheehy - Woodwind Ensemble, Sts. Peter and Paul

Adaniel/Segovia/Valenzuela - Woodwind Ensemble, Sts. Peter and Paul

Rizer/Nutter/Lynch/Barton -Mixed Ensemble, Sts. Peter and Paul

Krauss/Kelly - Trombone Duet, Sts. Peter and Paul

Abigail Winfield - Clarinet Solo, Sts. Peter and Paul

Abby Zanone -Flute Solo, Sts. Peter and Paul

Zanone/Kennedy - Woodwind Ensemble, Sts. Peter and Paul

Payne/Scruggs/Doering - Mixed Ensemble, Sts. Peter and Paul

Doering/Clemmons - Mixed Ensemble, Sts. Peter and Paul

Joe Webb - Trumpet Solo, Sts. Peter and Paul

Will Kelly -Trumpet Solo, Sts. Peter and Paul

Kelly/Webb - Trumpet Duet, Sts. Peter and Paul

Hattie Nunley - Clarinet Solo, Sts. Peter and Paul

Hijalda/Kederis - Brass Ensemble, Sts. Peter and Paul

Lauren Phillips - Snare Solo, Sts. Peter and Paul

Robert Kederis -Trombone Solo, Sts. Peter and Paul

At right, band members from Seton Catholic

SPPS Serenades on St. Valentine's Day

Above: The St. Valentine's Day Middle School Chorus from Sts. Peter & Paul and

L-R Jeanne Miller, marketing director for SPPS; Kathleen Turner (Alltech), Mrs. Lyons (Alltech), and Ms. Hathaway & Mrs. Barnhart (SPPS chorus directors)

Nanci Barnhart, Arts Coordinator for Sts. Peter & Paul School in Lexington, sends this report:

On February 14, the SPPS Middle School Chorus visited several of our parishes and supporters and serenaded them with "love" songs. They also delivered special gifts, such as the lily bouquet, at right.

Our first visit was to St. Luke's, where we sang for Fr. Bush and the office staff. We brought Valentine cookies, and our principal, Mrs. Wright, had even baked doggy biscuits for Fr. Bush's dog, Stormie!

Next we travelled to Alltech and performed for Mrs. Deirdre Lyons and office staff. She gave all of our students Alltech hats and pins from the World Equestrian Games. Below, the chorus performs in the Alltech lobby in Nicholasville.

Following the trip to Alltech, the chorus paid a surprise visit to the Central Baptist Hospital office of cariologist Dr. Carol Cotrill, a long-time supporter of SPPS. She was especially fond of "They'll Know We are Christians by Our Love," which she remembers singing at church in the 1970's!

Up next was a visit to the Newman Center, where Fr. Al got into the act with us! We completed the tour with a stop at Morgan Worldwide.

We had such positive reactions from all we visited that we hope to make this an annual event!

Percussion Ensemble Takes the Rhythm on Tour

Above: the LCHS Percussion Ensemble makes some noise for the girls and boys at Seton Catholic.

The Lexington Catholic High School Percussion Ensemble recently visited Seton Catholic School, Mary Queen of the Holy Rosary School and Sts. Peter & Paul Regional School for some dazzling drumming demonstrations. Check out these photos from the tour..

Time for the Big Bucket number at Seton.

The bass drums take it up front at MQHR. Above, Warming up between numbers.

On the stage at Sts. Peter & Paul

Close up on the where the action is.

After the show, the ensemble takes a well-deserved lunch break!

And the winner is..

Above: The Chick-fil-A Cow traveled to St. Mark during Catholic Schools Week to present the talented Cecilia C. with her special prize.

Congratulations to Cecilia Cobb, a second grader at St. Mark in Richmond, who won the Chick-fil-A Picture Contest! Cecilia drew a picture of what she thinks of when she thinks of Chick-fil-A, and she won a Nugget Party for her ENTIRE school!

The contest announcement was the Big Finale to Real Life Radio 1380's "Plaid-A-Palooza" celebration of Catholic Schools Week. The Plaid team traveled to different Catholic schools in the Bluegrass Region throughout the week for all sorts of activities and radio broadcasts. You can check out the photo and audio highlights at Real Life's website at http://www.realliferadio.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=710&Itemid=740

Arts Fair at CTK

Mary Joe Quinn, Art Teacher at Christ the King School in Lexington, sends this information:

On Saturday, January 29,2011 Christ the King School will host its Third Annual Kids Art Fair from 5 until 8pm. Student matted and framed art work will be on display as part of the kick off celebration for Catholic Schools Week. Frames may be purchased as part of this event, which helps support the art program at CTK.

We invite everyone to stop by and enjoy our students' art!

MQHR Music Review

Mark Flannery, music teacher at Mary Queen of the Holy Rosary School in Lexington, sends this update about the variety of music and programs at the school last semester:

During the fall festival at MQHR, our students performed Sleepy Hollow under the stars of the fall sky. Prior to the performance, we were treated to some special guests, “Haitian Harmony,” thanks to Alltech and the World Equestrian Games. Our students and Haitian Harmony performed “He’s Got the Whole World In His Hands,” as a grand finale.

In November, five MQHR 4th and 5th grade students attended the KMEA district 7-11 choral festival at Eastern Kentucky University.

In December, the second grade students of MQHR performed, “Melton the Warm-Hearted Snowman.” The theme of the production was giving back to the community. Instead of an entrance fee we collected breakfast and snack foods for the Ronald McDonald House. We were so proud to have nine large boxes of food donated to the students’ service project organization.