May 1, 2013
Dear MPA Community,
It is with great regret that, due to illness, we must cancel the recital scheduled for May 7th at MPA. We will be performing at 2pm on May 12th, at the Germanic American Institute at 301 Summit Avenue in Saint Paul. Tickets must be reserved by May 8th, and include Kaffee and Kuchen. Click here for more information. We would love to share some music with you on Mother’s day and hope to see you there!!
Best Regards,
John Baldwin and Ronit Yalon
Applied Painting Class Paints A Piano!
April 23, 2013
For the second year, 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 including the study of artist Wassily Kandinsky, whose work is closely related to musical compositions. In addition to working on the piano together, students simultaneously were creating individual compositions also inspired by Kandinsky and another related artists.
The piano will be on display at our Upper School Semester Two Art Show, opening on Wednesday, May 22. Then, it will be part of the Grand Old Day parade, along with other pianos from the Paint A Piano program.
For more information:
Register for Summer Private Band Lessons
April 18, 2013
We are pleased to say that we are again offering private band lessons at MPA this summer. Private lessons are one of the most effective ways of making significant strides when it comes to developing individual playing skills on any instrument. The benefits of private lessons include personalized attention, customized pace of instruction, and faster progress, to name just a few. If you are interested in registering your child for private band lessons this summer, please contact Renae Wantock, or click here for the registration form.
Students Selected to Participate in MBDA All-State Honor Bands
April 11, 2013
Congratulations to Sofie Netteberg (grade 9, bassoon) and John Townsend
(grade 8, euphonium) who were selected through recorded auditions to
participate in the 2012-2013 Minnesota Band Directors Association
All-State Honor Bands. Sofie is a member of the 9-10 Honor Band while
John is a member of the 6-8 Honor Band.![image[1].jpeg](https://www.moundsparkacademy.org/mpa-news/arts/assets_c/2013/04/image%5B1%5D-thumb-230x172-5620.jpeg)
Both students were selected from over 220 students who auditioned for each of their respective bands. They will rehearse with guest conductors on Saturday, April 20th and perform a concert on Sunday, April 21st at 2:00pm in the auditorium of Chanhassen High School.
The Honor Bands are an on-going project of MBDA, a professional
organization of band directors representing band programs of all grade
level from throughout the state of Minnesota. The mission of MBDA is to
assist in the development of band directors and band programs in schools,
colleges, and communities throughout Minnesota.
Visual Artists Participate in Art 4 Shelter
April 11, 2013
Art 4 Shelter is an art benefit sale for Simpson Housing Services, whose mission is to house, support and advocate for people experiencing homelessness.
The Art 4 Shelter exhibit and sale is one night only, featuring over 1000 original works of art on paper. The works sell for $30 (for 5 X 7) and $150 (for 8 X 10). The sale will be held at 7:00, May 2, 2012 at the Burnet Gallery, Chambers Hotel, in downtown Minneapolis.
The following upper school artists had artwork chosen to represent MPA at this event: Aaron Hathaway, Michelle Galbavy, Margaret Lee, Alyssa Hokanson, and Jessican Jallen. Congratulations to these five artists, and thank you to so many others that were willing to submit their work to be considered for this opportunity. Sample batik paintings (seen attached) from last year’s Applied Painting class are also being donated for sale at the event.
This is the third year that MPA has participated in Art 4 Shelter. It is a great opportunity for our visual artists to exhibit their work in the community while helping to raise money for an excellent cause!
For more information: www.art4shelter.org and https://www.simpsonhousing.org/
Students Selected for Scholastic Art Awards
March 14, 2013
Congratulations to the following artists
for having their work selected to be included in the
Minnesota Scholastic Art Awards Exhibition!
Their art work was included in the digital gallery
at the College of Visual Arts Gallery, St. Paul this past month.
Charlotte Collanti, Grade 12- “Triptych”, Drawing- Honorable Mention Award
Isabella McKeown, Grade 11, “Jam Session Set”, Ceramics- Silver Key Award
Laura Nicholson, Grade 11, “Animal Pour”, Ceramics- Silver Key Award
Jack Indritz, Grade 8, “Hummingbird Resting”, Ceramics- Honorable Mention Award.
Students Selected for Best 100 Juried Art Exhibit
March 7, 2013
Congratulations to the following visual artists who had their work selected to be part of the Les Farrington Best 100 Juried Art Exhibition!
Ralph Dunn, Photography
David Rozinka, Ceramics
Andy Marnach, Ceramics
Eliza Edwards, Drawing
Aaron Hathaway, Mixed Media
Rachael Kozen, Painting
Nearly one thousand pieces were submitted by metro area high school students, and a panel of local jurors selected the “Best 100” to comprise the exhibit. The opening reception and award ceremony will be at 6:30pm on Thursday evening, March 7, at the AZ Gallery, 308 Prince Street, St. Paul. The artwork will be on display through the month of March.
MPA 4th Grader Selected for Pianos on Parade Program
March 7, 2013
Congratulations to fourth grade artist, Ellen Vergin, who was selected to be part of the local Pianos on Parade program!
Pianos on Parade is a joint collaboration between Keys 4/4 Kids (K44K), a local nonprofit organization, and the mayor’s office of Saint Paul. Together, K44K, Saint Paul, the local community and business sponsors will showcase the work of artist/student teams as they ‘artistically transform’ 15 pianos.
After submitting an application, Ellen was selected to be on one of the artist/student teams! She will be paired with a local artist during an ‘ice breaking’ event at the Mall of American on Sunday April 14th, Noon-4pm at the Terrace in Nickelodeon Universe. Then, she and the artist will work together to paint a real, working piano, with much of the work being done at the Mall of America® over the weekend of May 18-19th. Artist/student teams will each be given a particular color, and challenged to represent and artistically interpret this color on their piano.
Pianos will be placed on a float for the Grand Old Days parade on June 2nd and then on sidewalks and parks across the city of St. Paul for 2 months over the summer.
Keys 4/4 Kids was founded by MPA alum, Newell Hill. Learn more about the organization and this event at:
https://keys44kids.com/paint-a-piano-program
February 21, 2013
Congratulations to Ingrid Dai and Andrew Grant who performed with the State 9-10 High School Mixed Honor Choir at Central Lutheran Church in downtown Minneapolis on Thursday, February 14. Conducted by Judy Sagen, the Honor Choir sang works by Antonio Vivaldi, Stephen Foster, Dan Forrest, Mark Hayes, and Russell Robinson.
Congratulations to Jackson Beck, Mason McElvain, and Stefan Schwochau who performed with the All-State Men’s Choir at Benson Great Hall on Saturday, February 16. Under the direction of Christopher Aspaas, the choirs sang repertoire that included an aboriginal tune, German lieder, and two original works by Minnesota composers.
Upper School Vocal Concert this Saturday
February 21, 2013
The Upper School Vocal Concert, “Soul and Spirit” is on Saturday, February 23 at 7:30 p.m. MPA’s five Upper School Choirs present music that promises to “soothe the soul” and “lift the spirit”. Highlights include a delightful French chanson called Je Ne Fus Jamais Si Aise, the Finnish tune Taivas on Sininen, a setting of Rabindranath Tagore’s poetry in Gitanjali Chants, Mozart’s Veni Sancte Spiritus, the gorgeous Stars I Shall Find, and the spiritual Elijah Rock as penned by Moses Hogan. With such a wide range of repertoire, you and your family will hear something new and something familiar to. We hope to see you there!