Congratulations to ISW’s students on a wonderful concert! We also owe our Performing Arts faculty, Brigitte DeHaven, Heather Butler, Kate Gregori, and Todd Apple, a huge round of applause. 

 
Not only was the performance entertaining, it also highlighted many of the strengths of our performing arts program–solfege (which is taught in very few places and typically with much older students), technically complex music (harmonies and partner songs–again, rarely attempted with students earlier than high school), poetry (Night Before Christmas), drama (Sleeping Beauty), and a big dose of fun (think Rudolph!) Our program involves every student in the school, and our directors do a great deal with a relatively small number of students. Our directors also consider the input of the students when making choices. Believe, for example, was the result of a student campaign. Some of the harmonies we heard were written by the students themselves. The results were lovely.
 
At ISW, our students are also taught the value of flexibility. So far this year, we have held performances at the Loudoun Street Mall, Spring Arbor Assisted Care, First Presbyterian Weekday Preschool, Our Beautiful Church sanctuary, the UU Church of the Shenandoah Valley, and of course, ISW. While there are many valuable lessons to be learned from these experiences (as in today when the church arranged the stage differently than it had been in rehearsal), we would also dearly love for ISW to have its own stage…
 
And finally, I have to comment on the growth we have seen in our 8th graders. What a long way they have come since that first Middle School winter concert in 2011. We can see the phenomenal adults they will soon become in their faces and in their maturing stage presence. 
 
Ms. Brigitte often tells the students that their number one job in performing is to bring joy to others. Looking out into the audience last night, I could see they succeeded. Again, congratulations to all our wonderful students and the talented, visionary adults who co-create ISW with them.
 
Happy holidays,
Claire

17 December 2013