“This is Our Story” Showcases Valpo Students as Artists, Musicians

The two-night concert of “This is Our Story”, performed in the Valparaiso High School Gymnasium, ended on December 6, 2011. Handing out programs for parents, grandparents and friends of the musicians and singers were the Valparaiso High School Varsity Singers, two of whom were seniors Katelyn Marak and Michael Ohm.

First, all concert-goers were delighted by an art show with Valparaiso Community Schools’ elementary-through-high school artists. Mrs. Cumming, an elementary school art teacher said, “There are so many talented kids; it’s hard to select the best ones.”

Cummings continued, “I think the art show is a great positive experience for the children, and as art teachers we love to see the students standing by their art work with beaming eyes of happiness and getting their picture taken with their work.”

Mrs. Nietert, an art teacher at Benjamin Franklin Middle School, commented about the art show saying, “I think the children are awesome and their work is spectacular. It is truly an honor to teach them each year.”

Walking into the gymnasium, you can hear sounds of horns, clarinets and violins warming up. This program has been performed for over 25 years and has grown spectacularly, to the point that it had to be divided up into two different nights of performances.

Director Daniel Pritchett said, “The intent of this show is to let people know that there are a lot of people involved with the arts. The arts have always been important to the school system and this is a free gift to the community from that school system.”

Orchestra Director Tim Koph said, “What a unique privilege it is to have the students for up to eight years. I get to see the children grow from 5th to 12th grade, and there is nothing more rewarding than to see our young promising students grow into talented successful adults.”

Speaking about the performance of the evening by the 5th, 6th and 7th grade orchestra, Koph said he is particularly proud of a piece “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring”, written by Bach that he arranged. Koph explained, “I didn’t think that they would be able to learn the piece, but to my surprise they have learned it well. It is a piece usually performed by kids at the high school level.”

Allison Bewick, part of the BFMS Orchestra, plays the cello. She said she started learning the cello because she wanted something “unique and with a rich sound.” She was privileged to play the piece “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” by Bach, with Koph directing.

All of the melodies performed by the bands, orchestras and choirs flowed together beautifully, with the sound of thunderous applause held to the very end.

Click here for photos from Monday's program!Click here for photos from Tuesday's program!