ACNV NEWS

Teens Show Artistic Talents at Regional Competition

6th Annual Competition held by the Arts Council of the North Valley

(PHOENIX) – Hundreds of visitors were greatly impressed by the artistic talents of these visual fine art students from eight area high schools and one charter school at the 6th Annual ACNV Regional Teen Art Competition and Exhibit presented by the Arts Council of the North Valley (ACNV).

“We were thrilled with the response to the exhibit,” said Willine Evans, event chair.  “People were amazed that the artwork was done by high school students from ninth to twelfth grades and not professional artists.”

Students from Barry Goldwater-Phoenix, Boulder Creek-Anthem, Cactus Shadows-Cave Creek, Deer Valley-Glendale, Mountain Ridge-Glendale,  Sandra Day O’Connor-Phoenix, Sunrise Mountain-Peoria high schools, and The Caepe School-Anthem, all part of the north valley, competed for honors, their artwork having been selected from their respective schools.  The exhibit was judged by Michelle Korf, Executive Director, from the Scottsdale Artists’ School.

Best in Show was awarded to India Williams for her pencil drawing titled “Trashy Treasure”. India, a student of Jason Lohmeier at Sandra Day O’Connor received a gift certificate for $300 from the Scottsdale Artists’ School, a gift card for $75 from Arizona Art Supply, large portfolio from The Caepe School and an artist portfolio from ACNV.

The Award of Excellence went to Andrea Eaton for her mixed media piece titled “Delirium”.  Andrea, a student of Larry Page at Barry Goldwater received a gift certificate for $200 from the Scottsdale Artists’ School, a gift card of $50 from Arizona Art Supply, $25 gift certificate and art supplies from The Caepe School, and an artist portfolio from ACNV.

The following students were awarded Honorable Mention: Spencer Lee, Reyna Mosley, Soo-Young Park, David Lester, Amanda Wells, Kelsey Shores, Chuck Harrison, Alex Spayde, Patrick Swan and Brock Baird. Each of these winners received an artist portfolio from ACNV.

In recognition of their achievement, all students whose artwork was on exhibit received a Certificate of Participation award from ACNV.  As well, teachers of the exhibitors were awarded an Art teacher Certificate of Participation.

People’s Choice Award winner was Amanda Wells for her detailed pencil drawing.  Amanda, a student of Stephanie Sullinger-Dukarm at  Deer Valley High School received a gift card for $25 from Arizona Art Supply and a certificate from ACNV.

“The Regional Teen Art Competition was made possible with the support of the Outlets at Anthem, Scottsdale Artists’ School, Arizona Art Supply, The Caepe School, the Arizona Commission on the Arts, the Ida G and Stanley T Halbreich Foundation and our ACNV members and volunteers.  Thank you all so much!” said Ms Evans.

(PHOENIX) – The Arts Council of the North Valley brings Dr. Kazadi wa Mukuna to Boulder Creek High School for a day of African vocal music.

On March 22, 2011 Dr. Kazadi wa Mukuna, renowned ethnomusicologist and Director of the African Ensemble at the Hugh A. Glauser School of Music at Kent State University in Kent Ohio was invited to Phoenix by the Musical Instrument Museum to review and assist with the Brazilian and African Musical Instrument Exhibit.

During his visit to Phoenix, Dr. Mukuna, an African and Brazilian specialist was approached by the Arts Council of the North Valley requesting that he work with the Boulder Creek High School Choirs under the direction of Kirk Douglas, Choir Director. Kazadi worked with the Honors Choir, Mixed Chorus and the Concert Choir teaching African songs and introducing complicated rhythms and melodies.

“I enjoyed working with the students at Boulder Creek High School. They were very receptive and responsive to my African music presentations. One interesting observation that occurred to me was that the students were much quicker to grasp new sounds (new language) when instruction was oral as compared to the pace of learning from the printed word. While time did not permit their grasping of the complicated African rhythms, their response showed that given more time they would have been able to comprehend and perform the music.” said Dr Mukuna.

The students were enthusiastic and as word spread that Dr. Mukuna was performing, students from other classes requested to attend. The percussion section of the Boulder Creek band attended and performed and a great learning environment was created.

“Thank you to the Arts Council of the North Valley for its success in arranging for Kazadi to come in and work with Boulder Creek High School students. The kids had fun learning the music and the culture. Here it is one week later and the kids are still talking about his presentation. I even had teachers from other classes tell me how excited the kids were when they went to their next class after singing with Kazadi," said Kirk Douglas, Choir Director.

The Arts Council of the North Valley’s mission is to provide leadership in support of artistic excellence, understanding and education of the arts, and to nurture the cultural life and vitality of our community. The ACNV is a donation funded, volunteer-based, 501(c)(3) nonprofit that would not exist without the generosity of their donors and public support they receive through matching grants from the Arizona Commission on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.