Arts Archives - Page 25 of 40

MCPS Performing Arts Students Shine in Awards Celebration

Published May 25, 2023 at 7:28AM

Dozens of MCPS high school seniors were recognized for their accomplishments in dance, theatre performance, technical theatre, choral and instrumental music, media arts, and 2D and 3D visual art at the 22nd annual Superintendent’s All-County Fine Arts Awards Celebration on May 22 at Seneca Valley High School.

The event featured musical and dance performances from four high schools, plus the All-County Dance Ensemble, which performed Origins, choreographed by Alice Howes and directed by Tiffany Alastanos. Other performances included—

MoCo Native and Good Counsel Alumna, Phylicia Pearl Mpasi, Stars in Upcoming ‘The Color Purple’ Remake

By MCS Staff

Published May 24, 2023 at 7:47AM

Phylicia Pearl Mpasi, a Montgomery County native and 2011 graduate of Good Counsel in Olney, will star as young Celine in the upcoming remake of The Color Purple. The movie portrays the story of the life-long struggles of an African American woman living in the south during the early 1900s and is a remake of the 1985 classic film starring Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover, and Oprah Winfrey that was directed by Steven Spielberg.

Mpasi will play lead character Celie Harris Johnson in her younger years, with Fantasia Barrino playing the lead character as an older adult. Per a bio on Coverfly, Mpasi “is the joyful daughter of Congolese immigrants. An alumna of Elon University, this actress, writer, comedian, and singer was seen in Broadway’s The Lion King and desires to tell stories showcasing the excellence of underrepresented people through a comedic lens.”

Beyond MoCo: City of Hyattsville Celebrates Jim Henson With New Informational Signage in Courtyard

By MCS Staff

Published May 21, 2023 at 8:00PM

The City of Hyattsville and The Jim Henson Legacy celebrated Jim Henson’s connection to Hyattsville with a special community event this past Friday and Saturday at the Jim Henson Courtyard in Hyattsville’s Driskell Park. The event featured a sing-a-long to The Muppet Movie (1979), puppet- making crafts, and the unveiling of new informational signage in the courtyard.

Per the City of Hyattsville: Jim Henson (1936-1990), the visionary artist and inventor of The Muppets, moved to the Hyattsville area as a child and was a student at Hyattsville’s Northwestern High School and nearby University of Maryland, College Park. He began developing prototypes for the Muppets while in high school and in 1955 debuted a nightly five-minute show on local cable station WRC-TV-4 called Sam and Friends. The show set the stage for Henson’s career and the eventual development of The Muppet Show.

WOODMOORstock 2023 is happening on June 10th, 2023 (55 Bands, 11 stages)

By MCS Staff

Published May 16, 2023 at 1:56PM

Silver Spring’s Woodmoor neighborhood music festival, known as WOODMOORstock, will be held for the second consecutive year on Saturday, June 10 (rain date: June 11) from 12pm-6pm. Festival organizers have released the lineup and schedule below, which includes 55 bands who will be playing on 11 volunteer stages around the Woodmoor neighborhood.

Many of the inaugural WOODMOORstock performers are set to return this year, and nearly 40 great new additions to the lineup from all over DC Metro and Baltimore area, including: Pinky Lemon, Dot Dash, Sleeping on Saturn, The Grasso Brothers, Black Shag Sherpas, The Threetles, and many more.

Wyclef Jean, Gyptian, and More Set to Perform at Scotland Freedom Day Concert at MoCo Fairgrounds in June

By MCS Staff

Published May 10, 2023 at 7:36AM

The Scotland Juneteenth Festival, and its presenting sponsor Minds in Motion Child Care, are bringing recording artists Wyclef Jean, Gyptian, Jamaican reggae legend Tarrus Riley with opening act Dean Fraser & The Blak Soil Band, and more for the Freedom Day Concert at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds on Monday, June 19th. Tickets can be purchased here. Additional information below:

Celebrating the past and present of the first places African-Americans owned land in Montgomery County, the Scotland community of Potomac, has announced significant expansion of the annual Scotland Juneteenth Heritage Festival for 2023. Featuring a children’s carnival and musical performance highlighted above, as well as art exhibitions, food, sports, and presentations on Black history in this region, the events for the federal holiday on Monday, June 19, will be spread across the Cabin John Regional Park, Cabin John Village, the Montgomery County Fairgrounds, and the Scotland community on Seven Locks Road.

MCPS Honored for Commitment to Music Education

By MCS Staff

Published May 9, 2023 at 7:31AM

MCPS has been honored with the Best Communities for Music Education designation from The NAMM Foundation for its outstanding commitment to music education. Now in its 24th year, the Best Communities for Music Education designation is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement in efforts to provide music access and education to all students.

To qualify for the designation, MCPS staff answered detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program and community music-making programs. Responses were verified by school officials and reviewed by the Music Research Institute at the University of Kansas.

Student at Einstein’s VAC, Olivia Ensign, Wins 8th District’s Congressional Art Competition

By MCS Staff

Published May 9, 2023 at 7:23AM

The winner of the 2023 Congressional Art Competition for Maryland’s 8th District is Olivia Ensign from the MCPS Visual Arts Center at Albert Einstein High School. Olivia’s piece is titled The Memory Quilt: Pieces of Myself.

“Each spring, the Congressional Institute sponsors a nationwide high school visual art competition to recognize and encourage artistic talent in the nation and in each congressional district. Now in its 42nd year, more than 650,000 high school students have participated since the competition’s inception in 1982.”

MCPS Countywide Art Show at Montgomery Mall This Month

By MCS Staff

Published May 1, 2023 at 7:02AM

Two art shows showcasing the work of MCPS students will soon be open in Montgomery County– Westfield Montgomery Mall and Rockville Memorial Library. More information on each below:

The MCPS Countywide Art Show at Westfield Montgomery Mall will be available during mall hours from May 2–May 21. The elementary showcase will run from May 2–7; the middle school showcase will be available from May 9–14, and the high school showcase will be open from May 16–21.

MCPS: Art Contest Invites Students to Speak Out Against Hate

By MCS Staff

Published May 1, 2023 at 6:50AM

Per MCPS: To combat a rise in hateful speech across the country, MCPS is inviting students in Grades 3–12 to create 2D visual artwork that speaks out against hate and advocates for acceptance of all people.

MCPS will showcase entries on its website and award first, second and third places to students at the elementary, middle and high school levels. Winners will have their work displayed at the Superintendent’s Fine Arts Celebration, in the Board of Education room and their school will receive a print of the artwork for display. Artwork will be judged based on creativity, craftsmanship and composition. Submissions are due Friday, May 12. Submission Form.

Gaithersburg Announces 2023 Storm Drain Art Contest Winners

By MCS Staff

Published April 28, 2023 at 7:37AM

The Gaithersburg Parks, Arts & Recreation Corporation (G-PARC) Arts & Culture Alliance, in conjunction with the City Stormwater Management and Cultural Events & Services Divisions, is pleased to announce the winners & honorable mentions of our Storm Drain Art Contest 2023. The judges selected their artwork out of a total of 46 entries for its great interpretation of the contest theme, which was to bring attention to the importance of protecting our Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Per G-PARC: The eleven winners’ artwork will be painted on the storm drain covers at two locations in two phases. Phase 1 will paint on Saturday, June 3 (rain date June 4) in Diamond Farm Park. The second phase will paint in Walder Park in the Fall. The winning designs & honorable mentions may also be used in banners, posters, coloring books, other educational materials, and on social media. Congratulations to our winners & honorable mentions:

Rockville Little Theatre (RLT) Wins Big at ESTA

By MCS Staff

Published April 21, 2023 at 11:10AM

Rockville Little Theatre (RLT) has announced that their production of “Pride@Prejudice” by Daniel Elihu Kramer was selected Outstanding Production at ESTA (Eastern States Theatre Association) on Sat., April 15 at the Tatnall School in Wilmington, Delaware. Participating states included New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland). “Pride@Prejudice” received several other accolades as well:

– Outstanding Achievement in Ensemble Acting – Niranjali Amerasinghe, Lena Winter, Meghan Williams Elkins, Ian Swank and Joseph Coracle