Fine Arts

September 25, 2014

Lisa Buck Selected for American iPottery Book
Middle and Upper School art teacher Lisa Buck is one of 256 potters across the country who were selected to be featured in an innovative new ebook titled American iPottery. The book contains over three thousand gallery and interactive images plus fifty-seven rotatable three-dimensional images.
Click here for more information or to purchase the ebook.

Painting by Renee Sonka

Renee Sonka Featured at Mahtomedi Art Show
The Wildwood Branch of Washington County Library is hosting a Community Art Show featuring works by local artists. Art will be on display throughout the month of October. Art teacher Renee Sonka has multiple paintings in the exhibit. Join her for a Meet the Artists Reception on Thursday October 23 from 7:00-8:00 p.m.

May 22, 2014

Congratulations to the cast and crew of the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee! They have received a total of ELEVEN Spotlight Awards (essentially the Tony Awards for High School) for MPA’s Spring Musical performance, including Outstanding Overall Production — the highest Spotlight Award honor.

Our students will celebrate their achievements at the SpotLight Showcase on June 8th, 2014. The SpotLight Musical Theatre Program honors and supports Minnesota high school musical theatre students and programs. The SpotLight Showcase is the culmination of a year of high school musical theatre throughout Minnesota.

Overall Production
Outstanding Overall Production

Overall Performance
Outstanding Overall Performance

Individual Awards
Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role:
· Allison Leopold as Olive Ostrovsky
· Henry Sillman as William Barfee
· Phillipe Thao as Coneybear
· Theo Janke-Furman as Chip

Outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role:
· Andrew Grant as Mitch

Honorable Mention Performance in a Leading Role:
· Lizzy Ehren as Logainne
· Ali Herold as Rona
· My Bui as Marcy

Honorable Mention Performance in a Supporting Role:
· Jamie Sobalvarro as Vice Principal Panch

May 22, 2014

For the third year in a row, Applied Painting class is participating in the Paint A Piano Program through Keys 4/4 Kids.  Keys 4/4 Kids is a local non-profit founded by MPA alum, Newell Hill.  Keys 4/4 Kids refurbishes and sells pianos, using profits to help support art and music opportunities in low income neighborhoods.

In preparation for painting the instrument, the Applied Painting class studied the relationship between art and music.  They explored this theme in a variety of ways, starting by pairing the music of George Gershwin (Rhapsody in Blue) with a painting by Joseph Stella (Brooklyn Bridge).  In addition to working on the piano together, students simultaneously created individual compositions also inspired by pairings of songs and paintings.

The piano will be on display at our Upper School Art Show, opening on Wednesday, May 21.  Then, it will be part of the Grand Old Day parade, along with other pianos from the Paint A Piano program.

For more information:
https://keys44kids.com/
https://keys44kids.com/paint-a-piano-program

May 12, 2014

Sofie Netteberg (Class of 2016)  was selected through audition to be a member of the Minnesota Music Educator’s Association All-State Band program.  Sofie will be playing bassoon in the All-State Concert Band under the direction of Craig Kirchhoff from the University of Minnesota. Sofie will spend a week this summer at St. Olaf college in Northfield, rehearsing and performing with top musicians from across the state.  The All-State instrumental groups will reconvene next February for a concert in Orchestra Hall.  On average, 2200 young musicians audition for one of the seven All-State ensembles.  Congratulations to Sofie on this incredible achievement!

February 13, 2014

Please join us for the Upper School Vocal Concert “Soul and Spirit” on Wednesday, February 19 at 7:30  p.m.  Highlights will include two Italian art songs, a Medieval carol, a couple of jazz numbers,  a movement from Bach’s Magnificat, Eric Barnum’s beautiful setting of The Stars Stand Up in the Air, and Rosas Pandan, a Visayan folksong presented by the Concert Choir.  As you can see the Madrigal Singers, Men’s Chorale, Women’s Chorale, and Concert Choir will sing a wide variety of selections that promise to soothe the soul and lift the spirit.  We hope to see you there!

Congratulations to Grace DeBoer and Theo Janke-Furman (Class of 2017) who will participate in the American Choral Director’s Association of Minnesota 9-10 Honor Choirs on Thursday, February 13.  A day of full of rehearsing will commence with a 5:30 p.m. concert at Central Lutheran Church in downtown Minneapolis.  Grace and Theo auditioned and were selected to be members of the Women’s Choir and Mixed Choir earlier this fall.

Congratulations to Kethan Dahlberg (Class of 2014)  who will reconvene with the Minnesota Music Educator’s Association All-State Men’s Choir this weekend.  Under the direction of Lee Nelson from Wartburg College, the All-State Men’s Choir will perform at Orchestra Hall on Saturday, February 15 at 10:30 a.m.  The All-State Women’s and Mixed Choirs will also perform.

Kethan, who auditioned and was selected to sing baritone, attended the All-State Choir camp at St. John’s University in early August.

January 23, 2014

On Saturday, January 18th, four students from MPA participated in the South Eastern Minnesota Band Directors Association 6-8 and 9-10 Honor Bands.  Pictured are John Townsend – euphonium, Lukas Lindgren – percussion, Kelly Myers – trumpet, and Alex Esch – alto sax.   John and Lukas participated in the 9-10 Honor Band, and Kelly and Alex were members of the 6-8 Honor Band.  The students rehearsed all day under a guest conductor with other talented students from the southeast corner of the state.  They then presented a concert that afternoon at Century High School in Rochester.  The students had a great time and represented MPA well!

January 22, 2014

Congratulations to the following artists who have had work selected to be part of the Minnesota Scholastic Art Awards!

Sophy Fitzcollins, 10, Painting, Gold Key
Zoe Wentzel, 10, Painting, Gold Key
Abbie Judge, 12, Mixed Media, Silver Key
Eliza Edwards, 12, Drawing, Silver Key
Eliza Edwards, 12, Mixed Media, Honorable Mention
Grace Ji, 10, Drawing, Honorable Mention

Their work was selected by a panel of judges to be included in an exhibition hosted by the Perpich Center for Arts Education.
Gold and Silver Key artwork will be on display, while Honorable Mention work will be digitally displayed.  See all selected works attached.

MSAA Gold and Silver Key Exhibition
February 5 – 22, 2014

Perpich Center for Arts Education
6125 Olsen Memorial Highway
Golden Valley, Minnesota 55422

A MSAA Flickr Gallery will be available online February 7

Please congratulate these artists for their wonderful accomplishments!