School district's 'Fine Arts Expo' set for March 15

Tiffany Price from Vickie Parks' art class at Grassy Pond Elementary proudly displays her art work. Cherokee County students will be the main attraction at the district's annual Fine Arts Expo March 15th at Gaffney High School. This year's audience will see the first performance of the Gaffney Area Middle School Honor Band.

The Honor Band consists of students from each Gaffney area middle school (Granard, Ewing, and Gaffney Middle). Conductors for the March 15 performance will be Cherokee County middle school band directors. Performance is scheduled at 7:00 p.m. in the GHS auditorium.

Also performing will be the Elementary Honors Choir (6:00 in auditorium) under the direction of guest clinician/director Mrs. Dale Fischer of Spartanburg District #1. Dr. David Thompson of Limestone College is the guest accompanist. The choir is made up of students from all elementary schools in our district. These students will gather at Gaffney High School on Thursday, March 15th to rehearse with Mrs. Fischer for the evening performance.

The Middle School Honors Choirs will combine for rehearsal on March 14th to prepare for the Expo. Selections include "Seasons of Love," "100 Years" and "A Time for Peace." District middle school choral directors conduct the choir and serve as accompanists. This performance is scheduled at 6:30 in the GHS auditorium.

Vickie Parks' students at Grassy Pond Elementary work on art projects for the art expo. The evening's program also includes performances by the Blacksburg High School Band and Blacksburg Middle School band. Piano music will be provided by Blacksburg and Gaffney High piano classes throughout the evening.

Gaffney High Drama classes will perform at the opening ceremony at 5:35. Additional scheduled performances include the GHS Winter Guard, GHS Step Team, GHS Gospel Choir, and GHS Concert and Honors Choirs.

The evening will conclude with an 8:00 performance by the Gaffney High School Band of Gold. Throughout the evening, a variety of visual art created by students from district elementary, middle, and high schools will be displayed in hallways and the Commons Area.

"I just want the public to know how important the arts are in our public schools," states Granard Middle art instructor Noah Lindemann. "It has been proven that there is a correlation between those who excel in the [visual and performing] arts and those who do well on PACT tests. We are continuing our research to offer new proof of this. South Carolina is a leader [in arts education] for the whole United States, and continues to show the way. At Granard, I continue to produce HANDSON ART with my students. We explore 2-D and 3-D projects and prepare for a high school art curriculum."

Grassy Pond Elementary student Leander Foster works on a painting in Vickie Parks' art class. The 2007 Cherokee County Arts Expo will begin at 5:30 P.M., and concludes at 8:30 P.M. There is no charge for this event, and EVERYONE is invited to attend.

Granard Middle band members Matthew Wade, J.D. Scruggs and Kevin Clary play their horns. Band members from Elliott Rawells' band class at Granard Middle practice for the upcoming Arts Expo. Two of Granard Middle school's chorus class sing out as they practice for the Arts Expo. GHS piano student Cammeron Bradley practices for the upcoming Arts Expo. Rayanda Propst looks on as her art instructor, Noah Lindemann explains the day's art activity. Gaffney High art students Kayla Rodriguex and Troy Perry are shown working on paintings. Student artwork will be showcased at the art expo. GHS student Roderick Savage works on a ceramic pot as instructor Jennifer Wilsher watches his progress. Instructor Jennifer Wilsher helps a Gaffney High student work on her ceramic piece.