HIGHLAND PARK HIGH SCHOOL Tuesday, April 25 through Friday, April 28 The Fine Arts Department and the Highland Park High School PTO Proudly Present... FOCUS ON THE ARTS 2017 The mission of FOCUS is to increase the appreciation and understanding of the arts and of art professionals through more than 250 workshops, performances, and lectures, all free of charge. We seek to educate and entertain people of multicultural and diverse backgrounds by exposing them to the many facets of the arts. The three-day and three-evening celebration of the arts has been the impetus for careers and the inspiration for lifelong interest in the arts. This is evident by the more than five dozen alumni who are returning to share their talents. It is our goal to continue this tradition at Highland Park High School. We sincerely thank the hundreds of community volunteers who have generously given their time and talents with enthusiasm and grace. It has been a pleasure to work with the parents, students and staff at Highland Park High School in preparing FOCUS 2017. This year we are extremely proud to present to you the 26th celebration of FOCUS ON THE ARTS! FOCUS HPHS Coordinator .... Jody Weinberg PTO Coordinators ........... Susan Humerick Elaine Klein Pam Lowy Ellen Saslow HISTORY of FOCUS ON THE ARTS In 1964, Highland Park High School through the visionary efforts of Dr. John W. Price, Shirley M. Hartz, and Ruth Esserman, developed a program that would expose students and the community to quality visual and performing arts. The goal was to build an appreciation and understanding of the arts and art professionals by the students and the community of Highland Park. Thanks to the twenty years of leadership by retired coordinator and HPHS visual art teacher, Ann Slavick, FOCUS has grown to include communication arts and more cutting edge artists. By showcasing the talents of our own high school students, FOCUS has created the opportunity for students to work side by side with professionals in their field of expertise. FOCUS is clearly a collaboration of the city, school, students, staff, and community members. It is our hope that your discoveries at FOCUS 2017 will ignite a spark in you that will fuel your lifelong journey in the arts – whether it be as an artist or arts supporter! Table of Contents Sincere Thanks ................................................. 3 Opening Night ................................................. 4 Art Night ...................................................... 6 Dance Night ................................................... 8 Artists in Residence. 10 Daily Focus Schedule ........................................... 12 Schedule of Events by Day ....................................... 14 Opening Assembly ............................................. 20 The Artists and Workshop Descriptions ............................. 21 Student Showcase .............................................. 67 Finale ........................................................ 70 Administrators and Coordinators ................................. 71 Very Special Thanks ............................................. 72 Focus Student Leadership Board .................................. 72 Committees ................................................... 73 Stage & Tech Crews ............................................ 77 Grateful Appreciation ........................................... 78 Special Thanks ................................................. 81 HPHS Building and Grounds Staff ................................. 82 Index of Artists ................................................ 83 A special thanks for all the support given to FOCUS by Superintendent, Christopher Dignam Assistant Superintendents, Barry Bolek, Sue Hebson Principal, Tom Koulentes Assistant Principals, Eileen McMahon, Patrick Sassen, Casey Wright Deans, Claudia Lopez, Bryan Rome Fine Arts Department Chair, Amy Burnetti Activities Director, Lesa Friedrich PTO Co-Presidents, Debbie Krug, Joni Friedman District 113 Board of Education President Annette Lidawer, Vice President Julie Gordon Michelle Culver, Debbie Hymen, Alena Laube, Stacey Meyer, David Small 2 Focus On The Arts 2017 Our Sincere Thanks Guardian Angel YEA! Highland Park Diamond Angel Saslow Family Platinum Angel Cari and Michael J. Sacks Golden Angel Anonymous City of Highland Park Cultural Arts Commission Highland Park Community Foundation Highland Park High School PTO Nancy and Andy Mills Angel Jack Miller Family Foundation David and Robin Small Beth and Michael Wexler Family Benefactor Wendy and Jim Abrams Abt Family Marcy and Billy Abt Lisa and Jeff Aronin Cheryl and Carey Cooper Richard Cortesi Cunniff Family District 113 Education Foundation Don Family Jeff Elowe and Family First Bank of Highland Park Lisa and JB Fleisher Frazer Family Highland Park Bank & Trust A Wintrust Community Bank Caryn and Harlan Kahn LAPIZ Caryl and Burt Lasko Felicia and Michael Perlman Sharfman Family Sodexo Dean and Jody Weinberg 3 Opening Night 2017 OPENING NIGHT CELEBRATION Tuesday, April 25, 7:00 p.m. Highland Park High School Auditorium A Few of my Favorite Things: An Evening with Tyne Daly Love. Music. French. Stories for Children. We open this year’s celebration with a very special evening created especially for Focus on the Arts. We are honored to have the Emmy and Tony Award-winning Tyne Daly, joined by HPHS alum Dan K. Kurland and talented musicians in some of HPHS's most advanced ensembles, performing wonderful selections of song and poetry. As we explore the favorite things of our guest performer, the audience will be taken on a journey of music and words. "I'm hoping it will be as surprising as the tasting menu at the old Charlie Trotter's." -- Tyne Daly This is an evening not to be missed! This program is partially funded by the Highland Park Cultural Arts Commission in partnership with the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency. 4 Focus On The Arts 2017 Opening Night Tyne Daly Tyne Daly has been a professional actress since 1963. She most recently starred in the new Broadway musical IT SHOULDA BEEN YOU, after creating the role of Katharine Gerard in Terrence McNally's 20th Broadway production, MOTHERS AND SONS, for which she was nominated for a Tony Award and an Outer Critics Circle Award. She holds the record for the most Emmys won by a dramatic actress with 6 Emmys for her work on "Judging Amy," "Christy," and "Cagney and Lacey." She was recently seen in HELLO, MY NAME IS DORIS and LOOKING: THE MOVIE. She will next appear in SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING to be released in 2017. Among her many other honors, she won the Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for her performance as Madame Rose in GYPSY, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and in 2011 she was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame. Dan K. Kurland Pianist and Artistic Advisor HPHS alum Dan K. Kurland is establishing himself as one of today’s most talented and versatile collaborative pianists, in both vocal and instrumental repertories. Recent performances in New York include Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall, as well as Steinway Hall, The DiMenna Center, and The Guggenheim Museum. Concert appearances with actors Tyne Daly, Shalita Grant, Ernestine Jackson, Michael Kostroff, violinist Charles Yang, cellist Julian Schwarz, and the critically acclaimed string quintet SYBARITE5. photo: Larry Lapidus Winner, Finalist Prize with tenor Spencer Lang at Wigmore Hall/Kohn Foundation International Song Competition (London). Currently a C.V. Starr doctoral fellow at The Juilliard School, he is founding music director/pianist for the Vocal Arts Cabaret and curator of the collaborative piano department’s Two Piano Concerts. Frequently a pianist for opera productions, he has been engaged at Wolf Trap Opera, The Glimmerglass Festival, and Music Academy of the West. World premiere performances include compositions by German Cáceres and Jared Miller. Former faculty, Franco-American Vocal Academy (Périgueux, France). 5 Art Night ART NIGHT Wednesday, April 26, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Cafeteria, Student Commons, and Walkways Experience the excitement of Art Night, showcasing an eclectic selection of professional local artists. Take the opportunity to interact with the artists as you enjoy seeing their work displayed and watch as they work on pieces in progress. Talented HPHS visual art students also present their work. We are delighted to have you join us for this exciting evening that is free and open to HPHS students, families of all ages and community members. ART NIGHT EXHIBITORS Tony Armendariz ...................................Watercolor Claire Ashley ...............................Inflatable Sculpture Nancy Pochis Bank* ....................................Mural Jim Beck ............................................ Bonsai Amy Butts ..............................Jewelry/Metalsmithing Chicago Woodturners ..................Turned Wood Art & Craft Derek Christensen .........................Reclaimed Creations Tony Collias .........................................Painting Pate Conaway ......................................Visual Art Mary Ellen Croteau ...............Assemblage - Plastic Bottle Caps Gayle Farbstein & Elizabeth Hwang ...................... Ikebana Matt Fitzsimmons ...................................Ceramics Linny Freeman ....................................Silk Painting Lisa Goesling. Scratchboard William Goldman ..............................Metal Sculpture Iris Goldstein ............................Plaster Relief Sculpture Joe Greenberg .......................................