Upper School students named Overture Semifinalists

Congratulations to senior Evelyn Gao  and juniors Kavan Vadavelu and Keliang Yao for being named Overture semifinalists! Gao is a semifinalist for visual arts, Vadavelu is a semifinalist for theater, and Yao is a semifinalist for instrumental music. The two will compete in their respective finals on Feb. 3 at the Aronoff Center. Finalists will be announced on Feb. 5.

Freshman featured on NPR

We’re proud to announce freshman Beckett Ceron’s “From the Top” podcast episode is available now! “From the Top” features the astounding performances and captivating personal stories of talented, classically trained young musicians from across the country and is broadcast on nearly 200 stations nationwide.

In 2022, Ceron participated in the Guitar Foundation of America’s mentor program. The GFA commissioned Colombian composer Carlos Bedoya to write a piece for Ceron, called “De Esquina a Esquina,” which Ceron plays during the podcast episode. You can listen to “From the Top.”

Graphic provided by “From the Top.”

Doherty third graders glaze ceramic gnome homes

Doherty third graders in art teacher Kacey Watkins’ class are learning how to glaze their sculpted gnome houses. Watkins discussed the importance of having two coats of glaze and equal coverage to get the best results after their homes are fired in the kiln. After students painted their base coat colors, they started to add details such as flowers, vines, and more that brought their already magical sculptures to life. 

Lotspeich second graders play melody chimes

Lotspeich second graders learned the basics of playing melody chimes on Jan. 23. Melody chimes are percussion instruments that use softer, or yarn-wound, clapper heads to create a smooth note. The instrument is able to play one note, like a handbell, and depending on its design the note can range from a C3 to a C5. The second graders will continue to practice their skills with the instrument in preparation for a performance during Arts Alive. 

Sixth graders learn color blending

Sixth graders in Elissa Donovan’s art class continued to strengthen their color-blending skills using acrylic paint. Students were tasked with creating smooth transitions of one color going from light to dark. Through trial and error, sixth graders became more familiar with balancing the best ratios of white, black, and their main color, to ensure there were no harsh lines in their transition painting.