Visual & Performing Arts Department

Choir Performances in March
The St. Francis Concert Choir is scheduled to perform at the “Sing For Your Life” concert on Saturday, March 3rd at 1 PM at Peace United Church in Santa Cruz. The “Sing For Your Life” concert is a benefit event that raises money for our very own Performing Arts program. Most of the money from tickets sold by St. Francis will come back to our school. This year we are raising funds for two newly articulated needs: Acoustic panelling and an HVAC system in the Performing Arts room. See below for more details.
 
On Wednesday, March 7th the Concert Choir travels to Santa Cruz High School to participate in the CCS Choral Festival. This is a wonderful event where the choir gets to sing festival level repertoire in front of four renowned choral artists from the state, who judge the performance. Then, the choir will participate in a brief workshop with one of the judges to increase their understanding of choral performance.
 
Projects for “The Music Man”
There is a palpable excitement in the air for our upcoming production of “The Music Man”! This is a thrilling time for the VAPA Department, as this will be the BIGGEST production we've put on to date! Because of the magnitude of this production there are a lot of minor projects that need to be completed. If you have a desire to help out and to fulfill your community service hours, please contact Nicole Dewig at [email protected]. Projects include sewing canvases for backdrops, assisting with assembling the stage, providing healthy snacks during rehearsals, preparing meals for students during production week, etc.
 
Fund-A-Need for the Performing Arts
As the various musical groups at St. Francis continue to grow and develop their skills, there has been an increased awareness of the poor acoustics in the Performing Arts room (B2). Students must be able to hear one another to attain a cohesive sound, and the acoustics in B2 were actually designed for a weight room - not a choral / band room. The VAPA department is working with the school and an acoustical engineer to find an affordable solution to provide quality acoustics for improved musical learning.
 
Additionally, the HVAC system in B2 is breaking down and funds must be raised to assist the school in purchasing an HVAC system for the Performing Arts room. Not only do we want to ensure that our students and faculty members are comfortable in their environment, it is also very important that musical equipment be stored at moderate, steady temperatures. We run the risk of damaging sensitive musical equipment if we cannot maintain a steady temperature in B2.
 
With improved acoustics and a quality HVAC system, the intention is that the Performing Arts Department will continue to provide quality college prep experiences for its students and families.
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