Behind the Scenes: Art in the CSD

Art is alive and well in the Cascade School District. From kindergarten through twelfth grade, students are offered exposure to content related to band, choir, graphic arts, visual arts and theater. Art education starts as early as kindergarten for students at Peshastin-Dryden (PD) Elementary.

Students at PD participate in both music and art through specialists who come into their classrooms. The music program at PD focuses on the “basics of everything,” said Mr. Ross, Peshastin’s music teacher. Students are exposed to a small taste of all musical genres and learn about skills such as pitch and crescendos.

Most recently, students made their own drums that they learned to play as part of the class. The art program at Peshastin is run by Ms. Smart and created in partnership with The Methow Arts Alliance supported by the Icicle Fund. This program focuses on fine motor skills.

Students often individually create pieces for larger, collaborative artwork placed on display throughout the school. At Alpine Lakes Elementary (ALPS), students build on the skills they developed during their exposure to music and art at PD. At ALPs, students begin to learn to read music and are exposed to orff instruments, like the xylophone and glockenspeils. The music program at ALPS focuses on a “broad understanding of all aspects of music,” said Mr. Ross.

The art program at Alpine Lakes is facilitated by Ms. Zimmerman. Within this program students learn about the elements of art and the principles of design. This program encourages students to create art from a variety of mediums – everything from watercolors to foil– and also encourages them to create art inspired by a variety of artists from around the world. Those interested in supporting arts from ALPs can look forward to an art night this spring.

The arts programs at Icicle River Middle School (IRMS) expands on basics covered during elementary. The band program at IRMS is directed by Mr. Mitsuyasu.

The first skill taught is how to make sounds on the instrument and then students learn how to play their instruments with other people. As students’ progress through the program, more complicated rhythms are added, their range is expanded, and individual instrument parts also become more independent of others.

Those interested in supporting the Icicle River band can attend their first concert on December 14 in the CHS auditorium. Plans for the future include two concerts on March 15 and May 26, 2022 and participation in a regional band festival on March 16, 2022.

The choir program at IRMS includes 6th, 7th and 8th grade choirs where students are exposed to a variety of pieces and learn to play the ukulele. Many of these students had their first performance ever on October 5 during an indoor concert (the first in two years) at Cascade High School. Those interested in supporting choir, can attend a holiday showcase concert, featuring whole-choir and solo performances, on December 14 at Cascade High School (CHS).

Within the art program at IRMS, run by Mrs. Dillon, seventh and eighth grade students are exposed to subjects such as “Art Through the Ages” and “Art and Your World.” During choir and band concerts, student artwork is selected for display and community members often offer compliments. The arts programs offered through CHS rely on the foundations taught at both the elementary and middle school levels in order to develop students’ skills.

The CHS band program grows student knowledge by expecting students to interpedently apply all skills learned in middle school as they perform a musical repertoire. Within the CHS band program, there are two classes currently being offered, Concert Band and Jazz Band, both taught by Mr. Mitsuyasu. In the spring, a third class, a percussion ensemble, will be added to the program. The concert band showed off their skills as they played music at varsity football games and marched in the Autumn Leaf Parade.

On November 4, the Jazz band performed at the North Central Washington Music Educator’s Association (NCWMEA) Fall Jazz Workshop. “It wasn’t a competition, but students did perform in front of several other high school bands and their directors, and then those directors did a short workshop with us after the performance to talk about our playing and what to work on or think about as we prepare for our next performances. The jazz band played well, especially considering how busy the students were all day helping to host the event at the Snowy Owl Theater,” said Mr. Mitsuyasu. Currently, the concert band is preparing to play during the varsity basketball season.

They will support the boys at their first game on November 30. In January, concert band students will be competing at the Regional Solo & Ensemble contest at Wenatchee High School. Those wishing to support the band program and enjoy the benefits of CHS music instruction, can attend the next concert on March 17, 2022 at 7 p.m. in the CHS auditorium.

Choir at Cascade High School includes two levels: Kodiak Chorale, which any student can enroll in, and Select Choir, which students must audition for. “Kodiak Chorale and Select Choir performed a fall concert on October 5. It was the first indoor concert in two years. Students were very happy with their performance. Chorale sang ‘Ubi Caritas’. Select sang ‘Aya Ngena,’ an African song, and ‘Bring me Little Water, Silvy.’ Together, the two choirs sang ‘The Secret,’” said choir director Mrs. Wall.

The CHS choirs will be joining the middle school and participating in the December 14 concert at CHS. There are a large variety of art classes offered at the high school level including courses where students are able to earn college credit for successful completion. Student artwork is exhibited at band/ choir showcases and Art in the Park events, where students can sell their pieces and make money for their grade’s senior trip. “It was a great marketing experience as students explored being professional artists.Art students sold just under $400 worth of artwork during the one day in the park,” said Mrs. Dillon of the fall Art in the Park experience.

Those interested in supporting arts at CHS can attend an art exhibit and sale from April 25 through May 20, 2022, Art Exhibit and Sale at Leavenworth City Library for Advanced Art and AP artists. A drama class taught by Mr. Allen and opportunities through the CHS Acting Guild are available for interested students at CHS.

This fall, the Acting Guild presented the first in-person play since February 2020: Little Women. “The enthusiasm of the actors was probably the most memorable part of the production. The leads had a lot of lines to learn, and they all did a fabulous job with a difficult script,” said director Mandi Wickline. Tryouts for the winter play Peter Pan are currently underway. Those interested in supporting the drama program at CHS and enjoying this theater production can attend Peter Pan with showings on February 4, 5, 10, 11 and 12,, 2022.