By Barb Childs

Meadowdale HS students honored for achievements

Meadowdale High’s Megan Cho was awarded a silver medal in the 2013 National Scholastic Art and Writing Competition. Her printmaking piece, titled “Aquarius” previously won a Gold Award at the regional level. Amanda Amsel-Wood, Megan’s art teacher, said winning a Silver Medal is a “very big deal!”, as there were over 800 submissions of art and writing in our region and only 32 qualified to move on to the national competition. Presented by the Alliance for Young Artists and Writers, these annual awards honor outstanding students in the area of visual art and writing.

Meadowdale rocked the house at this year’s Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, at the University of Idaho. For 46 years, this festival has brought jazz masters together with elementary, junior high, high school and college students to share and celebrate a truly American art form of music. Alex Rivarola, Angela Birchman, Ryan Petriellow, Nick Sanchez and Ori Levari won the Combo Division, wowing the audiences with Alex’s cool arrangement of “Hide and Seek”. Taylor Zickefoose came in first place in the Solo Vocal Division with her amazing performance of “The Good Life”.

Local high schoolers become rising stars
More than 100 high school students and teens from nearly 60 Washington state schools took over The 5th Avenue Theatre to produce their own production of Meredith Willson’s “The Music Man” shortly after the Theatre’s professional production closed. Among those were 11 talented and driven students from the Edmonds School District.

Known as The Rising Start Project: The Music Man, this all-student show was part of a one-of-a-kind educational program that gives teens an opportunity to experience all aspects of staging a musical. Under the guidance of theater professionals, teams of students produced, developed, and marketed the show. Meanwhile, their talented peers rehearsed the original staging, music, and choreography in preparation for three public performances using the sets and costumes from The 5th Avenue mainstage production. The Rising Star Project: The Music Man was directed by Mathew Wright, music directed by Faith Seetoo, and choreographed by Brittany Jamieson, who borrowed from the original direction and staging of Bill Berry, and choreography of Bob Richard, who created the 5th Avenue’s main stage production of “The Music Man.”

“There is no other educational program like this in the country,” said 5th Avenue Theatre Producing Director Bill Berry. “What makes this project truly unique is the opportunity young people have to be mentored by professional artists, staff and crew.” The students selected for The Rising Star Project: The Music Man are the best and brightest of the region. All successfully auditioned or interviewed for their positions on the team. Most come directly from school to rehearse, prepare backstage, and work in the administrative offices.

Local rising stars included:
Ezekiel King, 16, tech crew, Lynnwood High
Onishi Kenzo, 16, tech crew, Lynnwood High
Cole Conefrey, 17, orchestra, Edmonds-Woodway High
Alexander Croce, 14, tech crew, Mountlake Terrace High
Jocelyn Leggett, 17, administration, Mountlake Terrace High
Kathryn Severson, 15, tech crew, Mountlake Terrace High
Kevin Keogh, 15, tech crew, Edmonds Heights K-12
Mariah Lotz, 15, performer – Zaneeta, Edmonds Heights K-12
Mady Griffin, 15, tech crew, Edmonds Heights K-12
Annika Gustafson, 14, performer – ensemble, Edmonds Heights K-12
Isabella Smith, 14, tech crew, Edmonds Heights K-12

Around the town in April
April 1-25, Lynnwood Arts Commission presents Landscape Artist Kelly Sooter in the Lynnwood Library Gallery

“An Intimate Portrait of the West” by landscape artist Kelly Sooter is featured at the Lynnwood Library Gallery through April 25. Working in oil, gouache & texture, Kelly‘s landscapes are a marriage of classical & impressionist artforms developed through many years of studying with some of the best European artists. Her landscapes divulge just enough to begin the journey for the viewer to recall landscapes of their own past. Kelly is very active in the local art community & was named 2012 Volunteer of the Year by the Art Council of Snohomish County. She is represented locally by MaJe Gallery of Edmonds.

April 1-May 3 EdCC presents Circuitous | works by Paul Vexler
View an exhibit of works by Paul Vexler, a local sculptor with numerous public installations and private commissions. See more of his work at www.paulvexler.com.

Of his work, Vexler says, “I want people to approach my work and feel compelled to walk around it and view it from different angles. I want them to walk around it two or three times because the work is helping them to learn to see things that they missed the first time. And most of all, I want them to experience the pleasure of seeing something beautiful.”
Meet the artist! 
4:30-7:30 p.m.  Friday, April 19, Art Gallery, Lynnwood Hall, third floor
Art Gallery Hours
Visit the gallery on the third floor of Lynnwood Hall.
7:30 a.m.-9 p.m., Monday-Thursday
7:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Friday
1-5 p.m., weekends

Friday, April 5 EdCC presents “A Night To Remember”
Project Home Association presents the fourth annual “A Night to Remember” benefit featuring international recording artist Enrique Henao, playing music of the world, at 7 p.m., Friday, April 5, in the Black Box Theatre on the Edmonds CC campus—20000 68th Ave. W, Lynnwood. The evening also includes light appetizers, a no-host bar, and a raffle for 10 unique items. Tickets are $30. Tickets available here.

Henao is a master of classical and jazz music and is known for his soulful interpretations of flamenco and his rhythmically intense renditions of the music of Latin America. He has performed pops, classical, flamenco, jazz, and jazz-flamenco at cafes and on concert stages performing solo and with a long list of music legends including Laurindo Almeida, Charlie Parker, Sammy Davis Jr., Julio Iglesias and Andres Segovia.

Henao has appeared on “The Mike Douglas Show” and “The Tonight Show” and performed for heads of state, including concerts at the White House and the Vatican. He is also a visiting artist with the Washington Commission for the Humanities. Locally, Henao is active in supporting various youth nonprofit organizations, like the Project Home Association.

Project Home Association at Edmonds CC raises funds for the student-based Project Home Program. The purpose of this program and the Project Home Association is to provide housing or scholarships to homeless and near homeless students presently attending Edmonds CC who meet the Project Home requirements. Proceeds from this event support these scholarships.

Saturday, April 6 Barnes & Noble features the Magic Tree House Passport to Adventure Tour
Join the fun as they welcome the Magic Tree House Passport to Adventure Tour. It will be a live theatrical performance with a book stamping for the brand-new volumes in the series. You may bring one ‘Magic Tree House’ book from home for stamping as well! The performance begins Saturday April 6 at 10:00 a.m.

April 19 EdCC presents “Edmonds Unplugged” with Cas Haley
The Edmonds Community College student activities board presents “Edmonds Unplugged,” an acoustic concert featuring Cas Haley, 8 p.m., Friday, April 19, in the college’s Black Box Theatre—Cas Haley will take the stage in an intense and highly personal acoustic performance with his reggae, soul, and bluesy style vocals and acoustic rhythm guitar. Haley was a finalist on the nationwide television show, “America’s Got Talent,” which helped launch his career as a high profile artist. With a loyal fan base and thousands of records sold, Haley is expected to explode in the top 100 charts in the near future. Don’t miss the chance to watch this incredible performer and star in the making.

Advanced ticket purchases are strongly recommended. Seating is limited and the show is anticipated to sell out. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.BlackBoxEdCC.org or call 425-640-1448.

Barb Childs studied pottery at Central Washington University while earning a degree in Business Administration and Community Health Education. She has over 25 years of experience working in the studio, teaching pottery and organizing local art shows, including chairing the Edmonds Art Studio Tour for four years. She also spent 13 years teaching art in a K-8 school. Barb’s work may be seen in Semantics Gallery, Shoreline Arts Council Gallery, Schack Art Center and many local seasonal shows.