Every year Malvern Prep holds two arts festivals in the Duffy Center featuring the work of visual arts students and performances from students enrolled in the arts program. This year the Spring Arts Festival was held on Wednesday April 10th and Thursday April 11th. Everyone from faculty members to students and alumni – possibly even a professional quarterback, but reports are not confirmed – attended the event, which displayed the talents of Malvern students through musical performance and artwork.
Junior Jake Anderson, a member of both the Liturgical Music group and Ceramics, described the Arts Festival as, ”a balance between what you can see and what you can’t see. It was pretty cool.” This was also the last arts festival for this senior class which included many students who have been apart of the arts department for their entire malvern careers.
At Wednesday night’s Band Concert, various band groups performed, including Middle School Band, Jazz Improvisation, and the Jazz Band. Mr. Delpizzo, who teaches and directs the Upper School Jazz Ensembles, acknowledged the departure of the seniors after the performances. He noted, “It was bittersweet because we are going to miss the seniors, yet it’s really exciting because now the juniors are able to step up.”
While there were plenty of highlights on wednesday. However, nothing stood out like senior Alex Tran’s solo piano performance of Chopin’s Polonaise in A-Flat . This piece was his last performance on stage as a Malvern student and the word “awesome” does it justice.
Thursday night’s Choir Concert brought energy just like wednesday. There were performances from Middle School Chorus, Liturgical Music Group, Men’s Chorus, Guitar Ensemble and the Combined Chorus. Max McClatchy had a great solo during the Men’s Chorus performance of The Beatles song I Get By With a Little Help from my Friends. Notre Dame’s Women’s Chorale joined the Men’s Chorus on stage for several numbers. I personally enjoyed The Who medley arranged and performed by the guitar ensemble which included songs like Baba O’Rilly and Pinball Wizard. I may be a little biased – I am in the guitar ensemble and this was fun to perform.
On both Wednesday and Thursday nights, the visual art portion of the Spring Arts Festival took place from six to seven. Pieces from various classes including Middle School Art, Photography, Ceramics, Graphic Design, Sculpture, and Studio Art were on display.
One of the coolest parts about the visual art portion of the Spring Arts Festival was the different exhibits by some of the seniors including Mike Cenci, Kevin Rodgers, and Brendan Hollingsworth. These exhibits displayed works from throughout their Malvern careers. The displays were a true culmination for many of the seniors, featuring a senior student’s entire body of work. Mr. Muntz, who teaches Studio Art and Sculpture classes especially enjoyed the seniors work. “It’s neat to see their (the seniors) greatest hits, if you will, their best of four years hung up from the floor to the ceiling.”
Brandon Butz ‘14, who has attended and been a part of various art shows through his involvement in photography, ceramics and chorus said, “I had a great time at this show, it was definitely one of the best I have been to. The Duffy Center was trickling with talent.” As someone who has taken part in the spring arts festival for all six of my years here I know how fun and exciting the festival can be. It’s a great way to signify the beginning of the end the school year and a fantastic place to exhibit your hard work.
Congratulations to the seniors who were a part of the arts department and good luck in your future artistic endeavors. Even though the Spring Arts show was only a springboard for some of the seniors artistic careers, it still is bittersweet time as the seniors leave a place that they have called home throughout high school careers. In the words of Brendan Hollingsworth, class of ‘13, “It’s sad … it sure is sad.”
