Calgary Journal Online

Fine arts programs important in high schools

Dancers, actors, singers and musicians are busy preparing plays and concerts to entertain the public over the spring months.

Students from various Calgary high schools spend many hours a week practicing lines for plays, lyrics for songs and chords for instruments.

Brigida Battistessa, music director at St. Francis High School said, “I think that in any rehearsal, part of my job is to try to build some confidence for the performances coming up.

“We always try to get them into good habits in rehearsal so when they go on stage it becomes second nature; I think it helps build their confidence level on stage.”

Kathy Fraser, a fine arts teacher at Sir Winston Churchill High School, said that the entire rehearsal process gives performers more than a self-esteem boost; it allows performers to develop friendships.

Creativity in Rehearsing

Battistessa said, “Performances are a huge part of what we do, but I think that there is a creative process that is happening leading up to the performance that is very important.”

Fraser added that along with the creative process, the experience of working in a collaborative setting with their peers gives students a sense of teamwork, compromise and negotiation.

St. Francis band student, Connor Macken, said, “The St. Francis band program gives students the means to be creative and express themselves through music.”

He said that participating in the band provides show experience, and the opportunity to overcome challenges at each performance.

Getting on Stage

Battistessa said rehearsing is one step in the process of getting up on the stage to put on any type of show. “I always tell the students you need to rehearse the way you want to perform. The reward is in the process, the performance is like the icing on the cake – they get to show off what they learn. But my philosophy is that rehearsals are part of the process.”

Battistessa and Fraser both said performing is a risk; it challenges students to step out of their comfort zones, allowing them to grow as individuals.

Fraser said, “I can speak for kids who started in Grade 10 in drama who were afraid of their own shadow. When they walked out of here in Grade 12 they had their heads held high and were confident with themselves.”

Equal Opportunities

Not all high schools in Calgary have the ability to offer music and drama programs. “I think we do a disservice to the students if that is unavailable to them because they need exposure to that type of thing to figure out if they have a desire to perform,” Fraser said.

She added that each student is different, and that not all are skilled in math and science, but some flourish when partaking in something arts related. “We need to be able to celebrate successes whether they are academic or creative.”

Most city high schools offer music, dance or drama performances. A selection of student performances with show details can be found below.

Bishop Carroll High School

- “Us” drama performance

April 11-15

Bishop O’Byrne High School

- Southern Alberta Choralfest

March 18, 21, and 22

Bowness High School

- “Pippin” drama performance

May 16-19

- “Archie” drama performance

April 18-21

Central Memorial High School

- Jazz concert

May 3

- “Fiddler on the Roof” drama performance

May 24-28

- Dance Central

April 12-14

- “Scaramouche” drama performance

April 26-30

Heritage Christian Academy

- “Excelsior!” drama performance

May 16, 18, 19

- Secondary Spring Concert

May 30

Sir Winston Churchill High School

- “Drawn Inward” drama performance

April 13-15

St. Francis High School

- Mardi Gras Music Soiree

March 4

- Choralfest Concert Choir

March 22

William Aberhart High School

- Concert

March 17

- Choralfest Jazz

March 18

- Choralfest Alberta

March 18-22