Youth in Arts Festival

Ford Community and Performing Arts Center, 15801 Michigan Ave, Dearborn, MI | Get Directions »
FREE

Visual art, vocal performances and instrumental music will stir the senses on Wednesday, April 25, at the 2012 Youth in Arts Festival and opening of the 2012 Dearborn Public Schools City Wide Art Show. 

Hundreds of talented Dearborn students from kindergarten through high school will perform, display and demonstrate their arts during exhibits and a collage concert at the event.

The public is invited to attend this free program, a cooperative project by the Dearborn Community Fund and the Dearborn Public Schools.

“We called this the Youth in Arts Festival—not just a concert—because of the variety and high spirited energy of the program,” explains EmmaJean Woodyard, executive director of the Dearborn Community Fund. 

“This event is really exciting for everyone involved because it’s the one time during the year that all of the schools in Dearborn pool all of their arts initiatives together at one time, in one place, to demonstrate how many of our young people are involved in the arts.”  

Honorary chairs for the evening are Mayor John B. O’Reilly, Jr.; DCF Chair Karen Nigosian, and Dearborn Public Schools Superintendent Brian Whiston. 

Special guest performers include Dearborn public schools graduates who have pursued careers in the arts.

Actor, composer, performer and Dearborn Public Schools teacher Paul Bruce will open the show with a musical number.

Also performing will be Dearborn High School and Wayne State University graduate Kira Frabotta, a vocal artist who sings professionally across the region, most recently in a Dearborn Symphony Pops Concert.

Visual Arts

The Youth in Arts Festival features art demonstrations and the artwork of students participating in the all-school City Wide Art Show exhibit in the Padzieski Art Gallery. The art show runs April 25 through May 28.

Choral

Choral performances will highlight the voices of students in the Elementary Honors Choir directed by Jim Walters, the Secondary Honors Choir directed by Jennifer Pegouske, the Dearborn High School Choir directed by Carmelle Atkins, and the Henry Ford Community College Blue Fusion Vocal Jazz Ensemble under the direction of G. Kevin Dewey.

Dramatic Arts

Dearborn High School Theater students will add a dramatic element to the program under the direction of Greg Viscomi.

Instrumental Arts

Representing the power and passion of instrumental arts, the collage concert includes performances of the Fordson Jazz Band conducted by Scott Guthre, the Edsel Ford High School Chamber Group conducted by Mike Kalasz, and the Maples Music Ensemble conducted by Catherine Odam-Prowse. Dearborn Youth Symphony ensemble directed by Donna Olkowski will perform in the theater lobby.

The Youth in Arts Festival is a cooperative project by the Dearborn Community Fund and the Dearborn Public Schools, with support from the Dearborn Community Arts Council and the Dearborn Public Schools Education Foundation.