Youth in Arts Week

When: Monday, April 28 through Saturday, May 3. Performances are at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, April 28, 29 and

30 at WICA. A fine artists reception is at 5 to

7 p.m. Saturday, May 3 at South Whidbey Commons Backroom.

Where: Throughout downtown Langley and at Whidbey Island Center for the Arts.

Audition: 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Monday,

April 14 at Whidbey Island Academy.

Info: Call Linda Good at 221-6439.

Youth in Arts Week showcases young talent

Just as her fertile fields have produced a bounty of food for so many seasons, so Whidbey Island has fostered young artists like an abundance of so many healthy crops.

From as young as the age of 3, island children have spent season after season under the guidance of enlightened parents, teachers and art patrons honing their artistic prowess and finally blossoming into the talented young artists they become.

And every year, the South Whidbey School District — together with community volunteers and patrons — recognize the accomplishments of island student artists in all fields of artistic study during “Youth in Arts Week.” This year, it’s Monday, April 28 through Saturday, May 3.

Visual art by young island artists will be displayed at locations around Langley, including the post office, the South Whidbey Commons Backroom and in the lobby of Whidbey Island Center for the Arts.

The art featured is by students from kindergarten through high school age. The artists are from each of the South Whidbey public schools as well as Whidbey Island Academy, Whidbey Island Waldorf School and the South Whidbey Youth Connection photo journaling class taught by Chris Highland.

A student artists reception will be held during the Langley Art Walk between 5 and 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 3 at the South Whidbey Commons Backroom.

Performing artists will take the WICA stage at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday,

April 28, 29 and 30.

The idea is to allow the community a chance to glimpse the progression of local student artists.

Youth in Arts Week is an important event in that it gives students a chance to display or perform their work in a professional venue and to become familiar with that part of an artist’s process.

The performing artists are introduced to all the amenities of a professional theater at WICA; lighting, sound, backstage and dressing rooms. Additionally, the theater’s smaller size offers an intimate connection between the audience and the performer that is unique to WICA.

A student showcase of performing arts is scheduled for Monday, April 28.

The school district collaborates with the community to show the musical, dance or theater talents of students who are from kindergarten to high school age.

Students who want to be a part of the showcase can come to Whidbey Island Academy from

3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Monday, April 14 to audition.

Musicians, actors, singers or dancers are encouraged to audition; prepare one polished piece no longer than three minutes long. Group performances of two or more students are allowed five minutes to audition.

Performances begin on Tuesday, April 29 when the Middle School Music Plus program will feature soloists from the middle school and other students in the community.

The concert will wrap up with performances from two Langley Middle School jazz combos and one high school jazz combo.

String night is Wednesday, April 30 and will feature approximately 30 bowed (violin, viola, cello) and plucked (guitar) string students from all over the island.

The music students who participate in Youth in Arts Week range in age from 3 to 18 and have been studying for as little as one year and as long as 10.

“It will be a great time to honor the hard work and accomplishments of the string students from Whidbey Island,” said Island Strings teacher Kat Fritz.

Student performers will represent Island Strings, Whidbey Island Academy, Bayview High School and six private music instruction studios.

Pieces from a variety of styles will be performed including compositions for guitar, the Suzuki violin repertoire, a variety of fiddle medleys from the American and Celtic traditions, Vivaldi concertos and the famous Bach “Concerto in D minor for Two Violins.”

The students will be accompanied on piano and by a small string ensemble of local teachers and musicians from Whibey Island orchestras.

Youth in Arts Week is no longer supported by school district funds, said organizer Linda Good.

It is only through the generous support of local community members and volunteers that the event continues.

Generous donations from Frank Rose and

Dr. Rick Prael, hours of volunteered time from the staff at Island Strings, parents and Jessica Foley, Fritz, Kris Rodden, Diane Fraser, Fred Lundahl and Americorps volunteer Katie Woodzick have made this event possible.

Good said that Youth in Arts Week is looking for someone to organize the event for next year.

For info regarding the event, auditions or volunteering, call Good at 221-6439.

Contributions to support Youth in Arts are greatly appreciated and can be sent to South Whidbey Schools Foundation, PO Box 24, Freeland, WA 98249.

Patricia Duff can be reached at 221-5300 or pduff@southwhidbeyrecord.com.