D228 Hosts 44th Annual Keith Anderson Fine Arts Festival

District 228's Board of Education held its 44th Annual District 228 Keith Anderson Fine Arts Festival last week, celebrating the artistic creativity and musical excellence of the District’s band and choir students. As host school, Principal Brad Sikora welcomed students and families and invited everyone to enjoy the wonderful music and displayed artwork.

A special addition to the Festival's Art Exhibit from our outstanding high school art students was artwork from some of the District's feeder Middle Schools. Central Park, Jack Hille, and Prairie Hills also participated in the Festival Art Exhibit and showcased the talent that is soon to be at the District high schools.

Douglass Bratt was the guest conductor for the District Honors Jazz Ensemble. Bratt, an Associate Professor of Music at Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills and the Coordinator of Academic Music, led the District Honors Jazz Ensemble in three numbers including “Blues in the Closet” by Pettiford, “Cold Duck Time” by Harris, and “West Coast Blues” by Montgomery. Dr. Eduardo Garcia-Novelli, the Chair of the Music Department of Carthage College, directed the District Honors Chorus in “Et Misericordia” by Arnesen, “Gloria in Excelsis” by Haydn, and “Jubilate Deo” by Anglea. Jose Oliver Riojas, who leads master class in classical saxophone and chamber woodwinds at University of Illinois at Chicago School of Theatre and Music Master Classes, directed the District Honors Symphonic Band in “Ascend” by Hazo, “Lightning Field” by Mackey, and “Rippling Watercolors” by Balmages. Senior Breanne Horvath said, “I really liked it because I got to see different ways to view music and incorporate art. We also got to spend time with the other schools and that was also cool.” “It was nice to get an outside perspective on music and get a different perspective on how someone else directs music. It was hard sometimes because I am used to Mr. Pazik, but it was nice to experience a different point of view,” said OFHS Junior Alyssa Ryan.

The District Fine Arts Department teachers and staff includes: Jennifer Reid (Interim Fine Arts Supervisor/Art), Ben Salgado (Music-BR), Vincent Aiello (Music-TP), Victor Pazik (Music-OF/TP), Valeaka Freeman (Music-HC), Nicholas Rojek (Music-OF), Edgar Gonzalez (Art-HC/BR/TP), Adam Pries (Art-TP), Jamilah Adebesin-Mason (Art-HC), and Dan Chambers (Art-OF). Accompanists are: Joann Visser (BR), Matthew Kooi (OF/TP), Jason Jones (HC), and Anna Treisenberg (OF). A highlight of the Festival was the Eleanor C. Ferraro Fine Arts Scholarship Fund Award. As part of the application process, senior fine arts students majoring in the fine arts in college submitted essays, letters of recommendation, artwork, or YouTube videos.

Four students were named recipients of scholarship award. The award recipients were: Hillcrest High School's Timeon Oyeyemi (Visual Arts $1,500), Tinley Park High School's Carl Joseph Holup (Band $1,000), Oak Forest High School's Delaney Barnes (Choral $1,000) and Breanne Morrissey (Choral $1,000). The Ferraro Family has sponsored scholarships for Bremen District #228 Fine Arts students for many years. Eleanor Ferraro was a District 228 Board member for 13 years. Mrs. Ferraro’s daughters presented the scholarships.