Thriving Fine Arts Program at Noonan Academy

Noonan Elementary Academy is an independent Catholic school in Mokena serving preschool through 8th grade. They have a thriving fine arts program boasting opportunities for students to participate in band, choir, and drama.

At the end of March sixteen students in 5th through 8th grade participated in Noonan Academy’s spring musical, “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown”. Mrs. Marta Koonce has been the drama director at the Academy for eleven years. She is the drama director at Lincoln-Way West as well as a board member at Curtain Call Theater in Mokena. Ms. Anastasia Karnezis is an alumnus of the Academy and graduated from Valparaiso University in May of 2022 with a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance with a concentration in Opera and a minor in Acting. She currently teaches private voice and piano lessons at Noonan Academy.

At the beginning of May seven choir members participated in the Academy’s annual spring Band & Choir concert. Mrs. Koonce is also the choir director at the Academy. It was a difficult year for choir as they were only able to come together to practice as a group the second half of the school year due to COVID restrictions. The choir members performed “Jesus, Hope of the World” by Paul Tate, “Bless the Lord” by Ken Candeo, and “Happiness” form the musical production of “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” by Clark Gesner.

Beginning and Advanced band also joined the choir at the Academy’s annual spring Band & Choir concert. Mr. Rocco Carioto has been the band director at the Academy for the past eleven years. “It has been a year full of challenges coming back from Covid and re-establishing a routine and a mindset for the band program, but we survived and have moved forward.” Band started the year with Zoom practices through the end of 2021 and were able to come together to practice as a group the second half of the school year. Eleven band members took the stage with those in Beginning Band performing “The Three Note Song” by Rocco Carioto and “Mary Had a Little Lamb” traditional Folk song, and Advanced Band performing “A short Music History” arranged by Douglas Wagner, “The Syncopated Clock” by Leroy Anderson, and “Wonderful World” by George David Weiss and Bob Thiele, arranged by Robert Longfield.

The fine arts program is possible because of the foundation that is laid in the Academy’s preschool’s Trim a Tree program where students as young as three have the opportunity to sing for their parents. It then progresses to winter and spring performances on stage in the Jr. High, and to opportunities to participate in an oratory contest, choir, and beginning band. In 5th grade students have the ability to showcase their talents in an annual talent show and speech competition, in addition to choir, band, and drama.

Noonan Elementary Academy is an independent Catholic school in Mokena serving preschool through 8th grade. Noonan provides its students with a rigorous and innovative educational program that is academically challenging and personally supportive. Noonan is committed to developing the full potential of each student by fostering intellectual development, strong character formation, and spiritual growth. Scholarships are available; please contact Mr. Dunn, Principal of Noonan Elementary Academy, for more information or visit their website at www.noonanacademy.org