Gallery 37 Spring Open House 2010!

Please join us in celebrating the
eleventh annual Chicago Public Schools

Gallery 37 Advanced Arts Education Program
SPRING OPEN HOUSE!

PERFORMING ARTS SHOWCASE
Featuring performances in Vocal, Dance, Theater & Jazz
Wednesday & Thursday, May 26th & 27th - 2010
Shows at 2:15 & 5:30 PM - 1st floor Storefront Theater
&
VISUAL ARTS EXHIBITION & CULINARY SHOWCASE
Featuring visual and media artwork and culinary delights
Opening reception Friday, May 28th - 2010, 3:00-7:00 PM
5th floor CenterSpace. Gallery exhibition runs from 05/24/10-06/08/10

all events are located at:
Gallery 37 Center for the Arts
66 E. Randolph St.
Chicago IL. 60601

Please contact us at 312) 742-1461 or rherlo@cityofchicago.org if you have any questions or to RSVP for any of the Spring 10 Performances

Vocal Arts Takes City Vocal Contest By Storm!

Congrats to all participates who entered the Chicago Citywide Vocal Solo Contest!

The contest took place at Whitney Young High School on Saturday, March 27th and was sponsored by the Office of Academic Enhancement and the Office of Fine Arts.

We are extremely proud of our Vocal Arts Students who represented Gallery 37 at a very high level (see ratings below). The Chicago Citywide Vocal Solo & Ensemble Contest is a wonderful opportunity for our students to showcase their hard work and talents and receive constructive criticism from an experienced judge. It was definitely a day of learning and of fun for all involved!

Vocal Arts Citywide Vocal Contest 2010 Results

Solos

Kiana Hearon “Star Vicino” Honors Superior*

Kathryn Cook “Zuiegnung” Excellent

Michelle Padilla “Widmung” Excellent

Whitney Powell “Lullaby” Superior

LaSinda Smith “Pie Jesu” Excellent

Amber Taylor “O Rest in the Lord” Excellent

Robert Wunderschonen “Im Wunderschonen” Superior

Marco Reed “He Never Said a Mumbling Word” Excellent

Aronzo Taylor “Beau Soir” Superior

Stanley Washington “Sometimes I Feel….” Honors Superior*

Vanessa Fortenberry “Gia Sole del Gange” Superior

Ensembles

Dillon M. & Vanessa F. Bach Magnificat (duet) Honors Superior*

Men’s Ensemble “Come Sing to Me of Heaven” Excellent

Women’s Ensemble “Three Little Maids from School” Very Good

Watch a clip from "Elixir of Love", the opera we will be attending this March at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

Stanley from Whitney Young filming his NFAA Audition Tape --- Break a leg, Stanley!

Preparing for our debut at the Pritker Pavillion, Grant Park

"The English Choral Tradition: A Workshop", by Whitney

On a fair Wednesday, within the heart of Chicago, a British gentleman proceeded to the 2nd west level of Gallery 37 Center of the Arts. His presence was of clear existence within a windowed room that housed the Vocal Arts students. " Can you name me five European composer's?" His English accent bounce heavily among the students. Some of us (the students) found the assignment baffling. As for the others, the task came across as sweet as French toffee. "Okay, who would like to give it a try?" his voice flooded the room once more. After several minutes of contemplating composers and English choral procedure, King Henry the 8th was the topic of discussion. And on this topic, this is some of what we learned:

King Henry the 8th was an infamous king to the Catholic Church which had a huge, if not the largest, influence on the Western European Choral Tradition as we know it today. Known for the price of his wives head to end his marriages, King Henry couldn't help but to steal our attention. Because of King Henry's ideals in marriage, with his power and status in society, he had managed to break away from the Catholic Church and start his own: "The Church of England". What spurred from this great movement was a new style of choral music. Another important fact to note is that King Henry suggested that music should be written down so that music played within the walls of his church would be of his approval, thus the tradition of oral music had died. This was a revolution in that it made it easier for religious music pieces to be learned far and wide with accuracy, just as the original composer had intended.

"Can I hear you sing!" our guest asked us. It took us a few minutes to assemble, but nevertheless, we took to our positions and sang "Rejoice". After the small performance, the English gentleman proceed on to the next task his day had set for him and, like the rest of the world, we proceeded on with ours as well. Thank you, Mr. Stirling, for taking a little time to share

King Henry the 8th was an infamous king to the Catholic Church which had a huge, if not the largest, influence on the Western European Choral Tradition as we know it today. Known for the price of his wives head to end his marriages, King Henry couldn't help but to steal our attention. Because of King Henry's ideals in marriage, with his power and status in society, he had managed to break away from the Catholic Church and start his own: "The Church of England". What spurred from this great movement was a new style of choral music. Another important fact to note is that King Henry suggested that music should be written down so that music played within the walls of his church would be of his approval, thus the tradition of oral music had died. This was a revolution in that it made it easier for religious music pieces to be learned far and wide with accuracy, just as the original composer had intended.

"Can I hear you sing!" our guest asked us. It took us a few minutes to assemble, but nevertheless, we took to our positions and sang "Rejoice". After the small performance, the English gentleman proceed on to the next task his day had set for him and, like the rest of the world, we proceeded on with ours as well. Thank you, Mr. Stirling, for taking a little time to share your musical knowledge of the musical history of your country, the great Great Britain. your musical knowledge of the musical history of your country, the great Great Britain

Mishelle Padilla

Mishelle from Whitney Young

Mishelle Padilla.

Many of you might mistake me for Hispanic because of my last name, but in truth it's actually pronounced Pah-dil-yah. A double “l” in Filipino language automatically turns into a “liya” sound. And yes I am a Filipino if that didn’t give it away! The big 1-8 is due for me this Monday on October 12th. I am excited tot urn 18 and am looking forward to it! I am currently a senior at Whitney Young High School, graduating class of 2010. I am taking both honors and college classes this year so you know the saying, “Senior year is a blow off year”… well that definitely does not apply to me. But asides the hard obstacles that I have to endure this year, I enjoy going to school to see my friends and learn interesting topics in different subjects. Once I finish with high school, I am eagerly looking forward to get accepted to one of North America's prominent universities, whichever college that may be waiting for me. There I will pursue nursing program, and be a certified nurse in the end. My motto in life is "live, laugh, and love." With the academic goal that I have set forth before me, it will be of no fulfillment if I do not acquire each of these main points in my life.

(picture coming soon)

Aronzo from King College Prep

My name is Aronzo. I am 17 years old and a junior at King College Prep High School. When I was a 6th grader at Sutherland Elementary School, I had heard that my school was doing a musical. A director from the Beverly Arts Center was coming to do a program and, although I wasn’t so sure, I decided to try. I was one of the most silent students in Sutherland, never said a word unless spoken to and plus…I was shy in front of people most of the time “anti-social” to put it at that. “But Ronnie, you have a wonderful voice” my Mother said to me. Well I have been singing since I was 1 ½ years old…basically songs from “Barney & Friends”. I loved singing Christmas Carols all through the house so I thought, “Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad!” During the audition process, we had to get in front of every one and sing a song. My hands started to feel clammy and my heart starting beating, but I kept my cool. When it was my turn, I took my time going up on to the stage thinking if I ever should have done this. So I looked at all my classmates who all seemed to be very anxious to hear me since I was I was so silent. I song “If I only had a Brain” from “The Wizard of Oz” they loved it! I felt so relieved and proud after sharing my voice to every one. We did “The Wiz in Oz” a mixture of the “The Wiz” and the “Wizard of Oz” I got the role as the Tin Man and felt so proud that I had what it took in the director to do this role. My brother on the other hand was a Flying Monkey and decided after the show ended that he’ll just stick to paper than the stage. After the show I had a certain interest for Musical Theatre, you got to express yourself through singing and acting and dancing which were now my favorite things to do! I decided not to stop there… the Theater program was coming back again, we did “Cinderella” that year and I was the Prince, and right before my 8th grade graduation, we did “Grease” and I played “Danny Zuko.” My Mom and Dad have been very supportive of me all these years. One night my Dad came home and told me that the director from the school wanted to be in “Fame” thatthey were doing at the Beverly Arts Center, this would be way different this would be a production in an actual theater full of seats and lights! I agreed and got the role as “Tyrone Jackson” in Fame. Who would have know that I would be staying at the Beverly arts Center for 3 more years Musical Theater opportunities and so far I’ve been cast as Aladdin, Charlie Bucket, a nerd named Troy, and even a 10 year old boy waiting for Santa Claus. I figured out around the age of 15 that I should start getting paid for acting and singing on stage but didn’t know where to go. One of my classmates recommended a place called Gallery so I had to check it out. Coincidentally, my High School drama teacher Mr. Zavanut was saying that Gallery 37’s ASM program was having auditions for “Godspell” and that they would get paid a total of $540!!!! My parents said go for it and I went for it…I GOT IN!!!! Not surprisingly, the Vocal Arts Program at Gallery 37 has changed me as a musical theater actor and as a person too. I have made plenty of good friends. I also call it my second home because I can’t stay away from it. Though at first I was overwhelmed by how professional the program is, I have to say it has been at this point in time the best place of my performing career and I hope for many more fantastic years that the thrilling sensation performing has to offer me! Thank You Gallery 37! Thank You!