Verona students show off talent at arts festival

The halls of Verona High School filled with music of many genres while students showcased their talents at a Creative Arts Festival on Wednesday, May 31. 

Music started the show in the hallway and the Verona High School Spotlight Players performed one-act shows in the library. The Engineering Club raced dragster cars in the new gym. More art was displayed around the school, along with a face-painting fundraiser for Hearts of Hope. 

“It’s such a fun night because this is music that we don’t have in the choir concerts, we don’t have in the band concerts,” chorus teacher Claire Ma said. “… We’ve got kids that play piano and play guitar, so it allows them to showcase all the other musical talents that they have.”

Ma noted how the genres shifted from Elvis Presley rock and roll to Broadway tunes and modern pop. The students performed in groups for the Jazz Ensemble and Chamber Choir, plus duet and solo pieces.

Student David Karpinski sang “If I Can’t Love Her” from “Beauty and the Beast” and dedicated it to his father. Karpinski’s father died four years ago. The Chamber Choir performed in remembrance of the victims of the Manchester bombing. 

Verona High School Assistant Principal Thomas Lancaster said he was proud of the students’ efforts.

“Their passion, their collaboration, it’s really impressive,” Lancaster said.

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The art exhibition included drawings from observation and design assignments given in class and made use of mediums such as pencil, charcoal, colored pencil, watercolor, tempera, India ink and collage. Hand-built ceramics pieces such as mugs, plates, containers, figures and animals were displayed plus glass and ceramic mosaics. Fashion students also exhibited their handmade clothing designs.

Hand-painted flower pots with flowers were sold by the National Art Honor Society as a fundraiser to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

The art stayed on display at the high school through Thursday morning. 

Email: jongsma@northjersey.com