The 10th Annual Fine Arts Festival 2017
The 2017 Fine Arts Festival (FAF) was held on May 10, 2017, at Siena Heights University. The festival was designed to provide high school students in Lenawee County an opportunity to express their creativity through academic success. Over 420 students registered to participate in one of ten categories: dance, drama, band, orchestra, vocal music, visual arts, creative writing, drumline, 4th wall theater and video production.
Many workshops were available for students to attend during the day. One of the workshops was all about different genres of music and dance. Students had the opportunity to dance with groups Heart Studio, Adrian High School Performing Arts Theater, and the Adrian Center for the Arts. Dan Kesterke, Adrian High School Band Instructor, a professional percussionist, instructed almost 20 students in creating a drumline. Music could be heard all over the Siena Heights campus as they learned new rhythm patterns.
Participants in the Fine Arts Festival received recognition for their unique talents. LISD special needs students worked for the second year with the group 4th Wall Theatre. This group specializes in drama and movement for special needs youth and young adults. They met with the students on May 3rd and 10th in the Adrian High School Performing Arts Theater to create a production to share with family and friends. On the evening of May 10, students demonstrated their newly learned skills by participating in a college style performance in front of a combined audience of 400+ community members and parents.
By incorporating academic success with fine arts, students learned new skills and gained confidence, but most importantly, they had fun.