Justin Kang will be a featured soloist at a March 13 concert presented by the Phoenix Youth Symphony and Phoenix Symphony Orchestra (photo courtesy of ASA).
ASA student featured in concert
The Phoenix Youth Symphony and Phoenix Symphony Orchestra’s Side by Side concert will be held Thursday, March 13, 7:30 p.m., at Phoenix Symphony Hall. The concert will feature Justin Kang, a student at Arizona School for the Arts (ASA).
This unique collaboration of over 150 musicians will feature the Jean and Robert Frankeburger Grand Prize winner, Jane Henricksen, and the Clotilde Otranto Second Prize winner, Kang, performing their concertos with The Phoenix Symphony. After intermission, both orchestras will unite for a grand performance.
The program includes Verdi’s Overture to La Forza Del Destino; Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No. 1 (IIi, IV), featuring Kang; and Elgar’s Cello Concerto (IV), featuring Henriksen; Dvorak’s Symphony No. 9 “From the New World.”
Tickets are available at www.pysorchestras.org/events.
Seniors chosen for European experience
Madison Highland Prep seniors Voss Sellers (left) and Corey Osborn were chosen to hone their soccer skills in Europe as part of the Exact 11 program (submitted photo).
Madison Highland Prep seniors Corey Osborn and Voss Sellers have been chosen to participate in the Exact 11 program, a distinction reserved for the nation’s top high school soccer players. This elite group, handpicked by NCAA and NAIA college coaches, represents the best of high school-aged soccer talent.
As part of the Exact 11 program, Osborn and Sellers will embark on a week-long journey, competing and training in renowned soccer destinations in Europe. They will soak up the rich soccer history, hone their skills under the guidance of top European coaches, and face off against prestigious academy teams. This unique experience seamlessly blends competitive play, high-level training and cultural immersion, offering them an unparalleled opportunity for growth and development.
What’s more, Madison Highland Prep says, Osborn and Sellers are the only representatives from Arizona, making their achievement even more remarkable. The school congratulated these outstanding seniors on their well-deserved selection and wished them “all the best” as they represent the state of Arizona on the international stage.
Students celebrate Black history
In February, Arizona School for the Arts’ Black Student Union celebrated Black History Month with a series of engaging and educational activities.
During the first week of the month, they welcomed special guests Wyndal Chapital, Erica Landreaux and Mike Morrison for an insightful discussion on Black Greek life. Students had the opportunity to learn about the history, impact, and traditions of Black fraternities and sororities, gaining a deeper appreciation for their role in shaping leadership and community.
Magazine takes first-class honors
Xavier College Preparatory’s Art and literary magazine, Pierian Spring, has been recognized as a Recognizing Excellence in Art and Literary Magazines (REALM) First Class magazine by the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE).
This year, schools in 46 states and five countries nominated 422 student magazines. Magazines from middle school, high school, and higher education were welcomed for the 2024 contest. One hundred twenty five magazines were awarded the contest’s highest distinction, REALM First Class.
There were smiles and hugs all around as Brophy’s freshman class hosted Special Olympics Arizona participants to campus in February (photo courtesy of Brophy College Preparatory).
Game Day celebrates inclusion
On Friday, Feb. 7, the Brophy College Preparatory freshman class hosted Special Olympics Arizona participants for the school’s annual Game Day event.
The event is a day filled with sports, dancing, fun and more. The school said in a social media post, “Our Broncos know that we’re at our best when we include everyone and the smiles in these pictures show just how special this day is to all who participate.”
Lobby renamed for long-time teacher
Retired Brophy theater program director and teach Dorothy Dunnion stands in the school’s Black Box Theater lobby that bears her name (photo courtesy of Brophy College Preparatory).
Dorothy Dunnion, who led the Brophy College Preparatory theater program for two decades, and who has continued to generously support the school in the years since her retirement, was celebrated for her efforts in December.
According to the school’s website, Dunnion arrived at Brophy in August 1991 to work as an English teacher, initially teaching five sections of freshman English. With experience teaching theater in New York, she was invited to also become the theater program director; however, her son was a senior at Brophy and her daughter a freshman at Xavier, so she could only consent to helping out as an assistant director. In fall 1995, after her children graduated, she became Brophy Theatre’s director – a position she would hold for 20 years, growing the program into a robust co-curricular force that drew students in from all parts of campus.
Dunnion’s service and support was recognized at a December reception in her honor with the Black Box Theater lobby introduced as the Dorothy Dunnion Lobby.
Fifth graders create puppet shows
In the Arizona School for the Arts Theatre 1: Foundations course, fifth graders embarked on a creative journey in February. They worked in groups to research and select stories from around the world, transforming them into original scripts and engaging puppet shows.
