While the pandemic has been less than ideal, it has not stopped the Fine Arts Department from pushing full steam ahead. Although the scheduled performances for band, chorus, dance, and guitar were canceled, we were so grateful to give Ms. Spark the send-off she deserved with "Oklahoma." The show was an absolute success and the perfect swan song for what has been a long and illustrious career at St. Pius X. We will miss you, Bonnie! A huge thank you to our tech crew and their fearless leader, Mr. Cordell, Ms. Turek, Mr. LaBreck, and all of the students who performed in the pit! We were also fortunate enough to showcase our incredibly talented visual artists in the Juried Arts Show before school was shut down. As per usual, Ms. Brannon did a stellar job hosting the show and turning the school into a beautiful art gallery for the evening.
During these strange times, the department has adapted remarkably well to the virtual environment. Our main focus, as always, is providing our students with an outlet for creativity and sharing their talents with the community. Accordingly, we have a few special things planned for the St. Pius X community. We will be honoring our graduating seniors who will be pursuing the arts in college at our Fine Arts Signing Day on May 1st. As we are unable to host the event in person, we will be acknowledging these seniors via social media and various publications. Guitar and chorus have been diligently working on putting together a few virtual performances for the St. Pius X community. Check out a few below, and be on the lookout for more exciting videos in the very near future! Although many of our scheduled performances were canceled, we are holding out hope for a few early summer performances if the pandemic situation improves. Obviously, the students' safety is our primary concern so we'll be monitoring the situation closely.
As we wrap up the year, we would like to thank our SPAS board, Ms. Maria Solsrud, and all of the parents who made this year possible. We couldn't have done it without you! We would also like to thank Mr. Steve Spellman. Mr. Spellman has been the guiding light for our department over the past twenty years and the greatest patron of the arts. We owe all of our success to you and wish you and your family all the best!
Brion Kennedy
Fine Arts Department Chair
