Saint Paul students take center stage at Ordway Center

Saint Paul students take center stage at Ordway Center
4/15/2002 10:10 AM

Music and art lovers in the Twin Cities will have a unique opportunity to experience the talents of Saint Paul Public Schools’ finest high school performers and artists at the Honors Concert and Art Exhibit on Tuesday, April 30 at Ordway Center for the Performing Arts and the Minnesota Museum of American Art.

An Artists’ Reception will kick off the evening from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Minnesota Museum of American Art, fifth floor, Landmark Center 75 W. Fifth St., Saint Paul. Paintings, drawings, photographs, sculptures and other works of art by Saint Paul Public Schools students were judged and selected for the exhibit by professional artists. For the first time this year, the student artwork will remain on exhibit at the museum for viewing from 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday-Friday through May 15.

A World Party from 6:15 to 7:15 p.m. in Ordway Center’s Marzitelli Foyer, with entertainment by Saint Paul elementary and junior high students, will precede the concert.

The Honors Concert begins at 7:30 p.m. in Ordway Center’s Main Hall and features performances by a citywide orchestra, band and choir. Students were selected to perform from special auditions held earlier this spring. Students participating in the concert will perform under the direction of professional conductors. In all, more than 300 students will participate in the concert and exhibit.

“The Honors Concert and Art Exhibit not only showcases the talents of students, it is a way to increase student achievement by building students’ self-discipline and confidence,” said Saint Paul Public Schools Superintendent Patricia Harvey. “The students have worked so hard on their musical performances and art. This event allows students of all backgrounds to experience success in the real world of the arts.”

“We are thrilled to once again highlight the talent and accomplishments of so many students,” said Kevin McCollum, president and CEO of Ordway Center. “These talented artists will always have the memory of playing on the Ordway Center stage, and the audience will enjoy the opportunity to witness their accomplishments. This is a wonderful experience for us all.”

Concert tickets are $5 general admission and are available at the Ordway Center Box Office, 345 Washington St., Saint Paul; by phone at 651-224-4222, TDD/TTY: 651-282-3100; or online at www.ordway.org.

Jurors for the Ordway Center Honors Art Exhibit are Kinji Akagawa, professor of fine arts and critical studies, Minneapolis College of Art and Design, and Bill Jeter, visual arts teacher, Perpich Center for Arts Education.

The orchestra students will perform under the direction of Claudette Laureano, who served as co-director of the Minnesota Youth Symphonies. The band will perform under the direction of Robert Stacke, chair of the Music Department and director of Concert Band, Jazz Ensemble, and Gospel Praise Ensemble at Augsburg College. The choir will perform under the direction of Jan Gilbertson, who taught vocal music at Park High School in Cottage Grove for 28 years, and who has been named to the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame.

The Honors Concert and Art Exhibit, hosted this year by Minnesota Public Radio host Mindy Ratner, is a presentation of the planet Ordway“ 2001-02 Target“ Season, with additional support from the Minnesota State Arts Board. Education at Ordway Center is sponsored by 3M.

The Saint Paul Public Schools provide a world of opportunities for a diverse population of more than 44,000 students from pre-kindergarten to grade 12 at more than 100 schools and programs, including seven senior high schools and one K-12 school.

As Saint Paul’s art museum, the Minnesota Museum of American Art presents special exhibitions as well as selections from the museum’s collection of American art. Housed in Landmark Center galleries, the museum’s exhibitions are open to the public and free of charge.

Ordway Center for the Performing Arts is recognized as one of the leading nonprofit performing arts centers in the nation, and has been under the leadership of President and Chief Executive Officer Kevin McCollum since 1995. In 2001, Ordway Center served an audience of nearly 400,000 from throughout the Midwest. Its mission is to host, present, and create performing arts that engage artists and entertain and educate diverse audiences. Dedicated to serving the entire community, Ordway Center produces outstanding theatrical works; presents the finest performances of theater, dance, and music; provides a performing home for some of the Twin Cities’ most vital arts organizations; and serves thousands of children and adults each year through education and community programs.