February, 2022

Topeka High School

• 02/07/22 from 7-8pm : Jazz Band Concert in the THS band room
• 03/04/22 & 03/05/22 @ 7pm, and 03/06/22 @2pm : Musical production: Fiddler on the Roof. Tickets are $8.00 and can be purchased, cash only, at the door. This production is being presented as part of the celebration of Topeka High's 150th Anniversary, as such THS alumni have been invited to take part on stage in the opening number, "Tradition," as well as playing in the pit orchestra.
  

Topeka West High School

• 02/10/22-02/12/22 @ 7pm, and 02/13/22 @ 2pm : Musical production: School House Rock Live, admission is $8 (see bottom of newsletter for more information)
• 02/07/22 : West Area Orchestra Festival (the first ever!) at 7pm, free admission, features all of Landon MS, French MS, and Topeka West orchestra students!

Chase Middle School

• 02/24/22 @ 6:30pm: Musical production: Disney's High School Musical Jr, admission is $2 with limited seating

Ross Elementary

• 02/09/22 from 6:30-7:30pm : Second and Third Grade Music Program

McClure Elementary

• 02/10/22 from 6-6:30pm : Kindergarten Concert
• 02/10/22 from 7-7:30pm: Third Grade Concert

Lowman Hill Elementary

• 02/08/22 from 6-6:30pm : Second Grade Program
• 02/08/22 from 7-7:30pm : Third Grade Program

February is the month of the Kansas Music Educators Association convention.

"The mission of the Kansas Music Educators Association is to support music educators by fostering leadership, providing professional development, and promoting the advocacy of music learning in schools and communities.

KMEA will provide leadership in:

• Recruiting, retaining, and mentoring of music educators
• Encouraging the professional growth and development of music educators
• Improving the quality of music education in Kansas
• Responding to the changes that technology brings to music education
• Strengthening performance ensembles

To achieve this mission, KMEA will continue to strengthen its organization through a teamwork
approach that reaches out to individuals and groups within communities" (ksmea.org)

Congratulations to our TPS music students for their selection into the Kansas Music Educators Association All-State Ensembles. The students will travel to Wichita February 24th - 26th for rehearsals and their culminating concerts.

KMEA All-State Treble Choir:

Rachel Gaul, TWHS, Alto 1

Autumn Lane, THS, Alto 1

Lilia Potter, TWHS, Alto 1

Patience Wagner, TWHS, Alto 1

All-State Mixed Choir:

Tagan Ortega, THS, Tenor 1

All-State Band:

Grace Erwin, THS, Flute

Walter Evans, THS, Clarinet

Julian Ramcharan, TWHS, Trumpet

Owen Deines, THS, Alternate Tenor Sax

All-Sate Orchestra:

Andrew Anderson, THS, Cello

Miles Cusick, TWHS, Trumpet

Students of Topeka Public Schools submitted photos to the Scholastic Art and Writing Competition. After being accepted, they can be awarded a gold or silver key. Gold key winners have a chance for their artwork to move further in the competition for greater awards.

Congratulations!

(Click on the desired picture to see it full-screen)

The Eastern Kansas Scholastic Art Awards Exhibition will be featured in Mark Arts School of Creativity and Youth Gallery from February 18 – March 26, 2022.

The Mark Arts galleries are open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Admission is free.

The annual Thespian Festival occurs in Wichita on January 6th. This festival allows students to watch productions from other visiting schools, compete in various theater-related activities, and attend workshops on acting, auditioning, stage make-up, playwriting, singing, dancing, etc. After the annual festival comes the International Festival in June.

Troupe #3061attended the annual Thespian Festival, and also competed in the Theater Quiz Bowl (an event in which two teams compete in a high-stakes game of theater smarts), taking first place, earning them Gold Troupe Status!

During auditions, two students qualified for nationals, and three seniors auditioned for colleges. One of those seniors received over 25 callbacks and was offered a spot as one of twelve for a private school back east! To qualify for nationals, students to participate at IFT (International Thespian Festival), students must first earn an overall Superior score at a qualifying event (which is State Thespian Festival). Students must then fundraise, because attending Nationals is a bit expensive (it is around $850.00 per person if they are sent).

Katie Murphy, the theater director for Topeka West High School, was named Teacher of the Year for our region! You can read her interview with KSNT here, or watch it here

Congratulations!

Topeka High's Thespian Troupe #210 also participated in the festival. Owen Deines (Sound Design) and James Kensinger (Monologue Performance) both received Superior ratings in Individual Events, qualifying them to take their events to the International Thespian Festival. Savannah Mazas & Elliot Akerstrom (Duo Acting) received Excellent ratings.

The science and fine arts students at Williams Elementary sculpted and painted their own clay pinch pot creatures

... National Ukulele Day (Feb 2)

... National Guitar Day (Feb 11)

... Library Lovers' Day (Feb 14)

... Floral Design Day (Feb 28)

Last month, many students of the Topeka Public Schools placed in the Living the Dream Competition. To see their artwork, and to read more about the foundation, visit here

Chris Reynolds

Consulting Teacher of Fine Arts

Kailey Johnson

Data Recorder, Music Librarian

Email: creynolds@tps501.org
Website: topekapublicschools.net/
Phone: (785) 295-3944

Like and subscribe to this newsletter for monthly updates on the Topeka Public Schools Fine Arts programs! Have a great February.