The creative energy was flowing at Jefferson School on Tuesday night as the school celebrated its Art and Music Festival.
Students and teachers felt the support of family and friends as hundreds of people milled about the school checking out inspired works of art and listening to the dulcet sounds of children’s voices and an instrumental concert.
A giant facade of a Greek temple and the many heads of Cerberus, guardian of the Underworld, greeted visitors to the school while an angry green-faced Medusa looked on.
The gargantuan paper mache sculptures were part of the school’s 4th grade artist-in-residence project this year, called Spiritree. Guest artists helped fourth graders design, create and decorate the creatures, which also tied into the students’ language arts unit on Greek mythology.
Beyond the intimidating monsters, many school walls were covered with students’ art — from clay pots of all shapes and colors, to enormous three-dimensional paper flowers that popped off the poster boards. Students in third, fourth and fifth grades composed the works, led by the school’s art teacher, Laura Kruglinski.
Fifth graders who have been playing an instrument all year got a chance to show off their skills during the first two acts of the concert. The string musicians — led by Anna Sayanagi — took the stage first, playing two songs. Then the fifth grade band — from flutes to horn — kept the crowd entertained with two numbers, including the easily recognizable “Peanuts” theme song, chosen by music teacher Jasmine Bloch.
Members of the fourth and fifth grade chorus sang four songs, closing with a hip scat and dance number set to a Charlie Parker jazz recording. Students in the chorus gave up recess time to practice throughout the year with music teacher Barbara Eames. From the smiles on their faces as they belted out their tunes, it looked like their hard work and sacrifice paid off.
Despite the steamy environment of a crowded auditorium on a sticky Maplewood evening, most of the crowd stayed through the last note and offered applause, hoots and hollers as the evening came to a close.
Jefferson principal Susan Grierson was pleased with the event. “The arts bring out the best in everyone—from 3D drawings hanging on the walls to the band and the orchestra showing what they’ve learned. It was a joyous evening.“
