“Building a Place We Belong” started take shape last year with a full house for the Fall Fine Arts Kick- Off and the award winning musical production of “The Wiz.” The Hennepin Theatre Trust SpotLight Program presented five actors from “The Wiz” with outstanding performance awards. The instrumental students participated at the State Solo & Ensemble Contest for the first time in many years and two the- atre classes were added to the course offerings.
With the number of students participating in the arts up over 300%, this upcoming year will feature a new select choir, a women’s choir and numerous additional theatre classes. A special project with Vocal Essence, a professional choir, has invited the select choir, Washburn Voices, to participate in their Cantare Program. Students will have the opportunity to work with a composer from Mexico to compose a new work for the Washburn Voices. The SpotLight musical will take place in March. Check the Wash- burn website for dates and details.
The auditorium is the center of all the new activity. The district is doing a number of structural and elec- trical updates this summer. This will not include new house lights, new seats and fresh paint. These will have to wait until additional funding can be secured. Please come take in an art show, a concert or the musical. You won’t walk away disappointed!
Nancy Lee, Music Department