The Arts
Young Musicians Day
Saturday, Feb 16, 2010
Details & Registration Form
Congratulations to Karen Van Acker, Terri Goh and Claire Ziegler! All three students were placed into the Honors Ensembles at the IMEA All-State Festival Jan. 29-31, making them among the finest musicians in the state. This great honor is a testament to their dedication and hard work. They continued to rehearse all day Friday (1/29) and again Saturday morning (1/30) in preparation for the concert at 3:15 Saturday (1/30) afternoon. On Monday, Feb 1, about 30 Rosary students participated in the Suburban Christian Conference Fine Arts Festival. This was a great day of music-making with students from the 14 schools in our conference. There was a free concert at 7 pm at Wheaton Academy, 900 N. Prince Crossing Rd, West Chicago. On Thursday, February 11, Ensemble performed at the kick-off gala for the American Cancer Society`s "Relay For Life". This event was held at the Hotel Arista, 2139 City Gate Lane, Naperville (I-88 at Rt 59) at 6pm.
Thanks for your support of the Fine Arts at Rosary!
Music
The Symphony Orchestra, Beginning Chorus, and Advanced Chorus
are credit courses, which meet within the school day. Ensemble is
comprised of girls from the Beginning and Advanced chorus rosters
and is selected by audition. Vox Concordis is a mixed chorus that
rehearses and performs with boys from Marmion. Only students who
are enrolled in Beginning or Advanced Chorus are eligible to participate
in Vox. Both Vox and Ensemble meet after school. Potential music
activities include IMEA, the IHSA Solo/Ensemble Contest, the school
musical, music for school liturgies, and various field trips.
The Symphony (full orchestra / all instruments) has performed across
the United States, including venues such as Lincoln Center in New
York, the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, TN, the Jefferson
Memorial in Washington D.C., and the (1500 seat) Country Tonite
Theatre in Branson, MO.
|
|
| |
All of the Rosary musical ensembles perform for many local organizations. Student may also elect to join the Marmion-Rosary Band, which meets before school at Marmion.
Listen to members of Rosary`s Advanced Chorus sing the National Anthem.
|
| |
Art
A variety of visual arts courses are also offered for credit. These include Drawing, Painting, Ceramics, and Home and Interior Design. Art students have the opportunity to participate in a variety of exhibits and contests throughout the year. The Art Department also helps design and decorate sets for the school musical.
School Musicals
Rosary presents a full-length musical production every November. The musical is selected from Broadway calibre shows and has included such titles as Little Women, The Sound of Music, 42nd Street, and Brigadoon. Auditions for the musical are open to all Rosary and Marmion students. The Symphony Orchestra provides the pit orchestra for the production. There are also opportunities for all students to participate behind the scenes on stage crew and technical crew.
Drama Club
Drama Club is another extra-curricular activity and meets after school. Open to all Rosary students, Drama Club presents two shows each year--a Christmas play and a Spring Show. Drama Club gives the girls the opportunity to learn about theatre arts, stagecraft, directing and producing live theatre. The girls learn about acting through skit exercises as well as by reading scripts and watching examples of live theatre.
|
This November, the McEnroe Auditorium was filled with The Sound of Music. This year’s musical was a phenomenal success, playing to sold out houses and appreciative audiences. It was a perfect way to celebrate the musical’s 50th anniversary.
The beloved Rodgers and Hammerstein premiered on Broadway on November 16, 1959. Written specifically for Mary Martin, it won 5 Tony awards and played for 4 years and over 1,400 performances. In 1965, the film version first sang its way into the hearts of millions and is still shown on television annually to delight new generations.
On November 6th, we were blessed to have a stage full of over 60 actors bringing this classic story to life. From the first sound of the abbey chimes, Sr. Domenica (Rachel Strolle, ’11), Sr. Carolyn (Michelle Dutton, ’10) and Sr. Marilyn (Hannah O’Connor, ’11) led the chorus of nuns, novices and postulants through their morning prayers filling the auditorium with heavenly a cappella singing. Maria (Erin Kofron, ’10) then sang through the aisles filling us all with “The Sound of Music”.
Later, we met the von Trapp children Liesl (Anne Spoden, ’11), Friedrich (Paul Thornton, ’13), Louisa (Lauren Hoss, ’11), Brigitta (Hannah Wulbert, ’12), Kurt (Ethan Issacson-Freeman 5th grader), Marta (Katie O’Donnell-Holy Angels 4th grader), and Gretl (Caroline Robinson-Holy Angels 3rd grader) who, with Maria’s guidance, learned how the power of music can transform our souls. The Captain (Brian Thornton, ’10) also learned this lesson and also learned to love Maria in the process.
Other notable cast members were Julie O’Donnell (’11) and Felipe Rangel (’10) as Elsa and Max, who in the stage production have two wonderful songs. Mary Hurrell (’10), Katie Wall (’10) and Emily Roberts (’11) were the harried, experienced nuns who had to “solve a problem like Maria.” Claire Ziegler (’11) as the Mother Abbess told us to “Climb Every Mountain” and follow our dreams, bringing the show to a poignant, tearful conclusion.
The Rosary Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Mr. Tom Jesse, provided the music and the girls played magnificently. The Richard Rodgers score is designed to be played by a rich, full orchestra and our girls enjoyed every minute.
On Monday night, we invited back an audience to join us in “The Sound of Music Sing-Along!” Once again, the McEnroe auditorium was filled to capacity as the audience got to join in and sing the songs as the cast performed. It was a fun and tune-filled evening that was a benefit for the RHS Fine Arts Boosters.
A special thanks to all who made this production a wonderful success, especially Tom Jesse (Stage and Music Direction), Michelle Butler (Choreography),and Pat Doctor (von Trapp Children Vocal Direction).
|
|
