Entertainment

MCPS Honored for Commitment to Music Education

By MCS Staff

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.

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

By MCS Staff

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.”

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Contestant From Silver Spring, Kevin Belle (AKA Whiskey Ginger), Wins $42,798 in Three Day Jeopardy Run

By MCS Staff

Originally from Silver Spring, Kevin Belle is a trail planner whose total earnings on Jeopardy! were $42,798, after winning three games and participating in a fourth. The run started last week and ran until Wednesday night, when Kevin failed to defend his title. He was the winning contestant on Ken Jenning’s last show as host before a long hiatus.

Kevin stole the show during his Q&A with Jennings, revealing he also goes by “Whiskey Ginger.” Whiskey Ginger is Belle’s drag persona that he refers to as a “spicy redhead.” Belle explained during the contestant chat segment, “And I also host trivia online as Whiskey Ginger on Zoom, I picked it up during the pandemic.” He then urged Jennings to give drag a shot, saying “And you’ve got a very talented makeup crew here Ken and I was hoping maybe one day we could convince you to do it here as well.” Ken laughed out loud and upon collecting himself, said, “I was trying to think of a good Jeopardy!-themed drag name. Maybe Della Double?” “Miss Information might be nice too,” Kevin replied. Featured photo courtesy of Kevin Belle/WhiseyGingDrag 

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MoCo Business Returns to Shark Tank for Update on Friday, May 5

By MCS Staff

Bethesda-based clothing line Collars & Co. was featured on the November 11 episode of Shark Tank on ABC.  Many may have seen the clothing company’s signature item, the “Dress Collar Polo”, a buttery soft polo with a standard English spread collar that is said to be more comfortable than a normal collared shirt. Collar & Co went on Shark Tank seeking $300K for 4% equity at a $7.5 Million valuation from the sharks and ended up striking a deal. The business will return on the May 5th edition of Shark Tank for a business update. More below on how their initial Shark Tank appearance went:

According to its website, Collars & Co.’s mission is to “provide men and women with extremely high quality clothing that not only looks great, but feels amazing as well.” The business sells shirts, sweaters, underwear, and accessories. Bethesda resident Justin Baer presented his product, asking for $300K for a 4% equity (valuation of $7.5M). The business launched in 2021 and went viral on TikTok, leading to 500 orders off the bat and $40K in revenue the first month after the video’s release.

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MCPS Countywide Art Show at Montgomery Mall This Month

By MCS Staff

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.

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MCPS: Art Contest Invites Students to Speak Out Against Hate

By MCS Staff

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.

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Gaithersburg Announces 2023 Storm Drain Art Contest Winners

By MCS Staff

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:

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Rockville Little Theatre (RLT) Wins Big at ESTA

By MCS Staff

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

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MoCo’s Young Mazino Stars in New Netflix Series ‘Beef’

By MCS Staff

Beef was last week’s #1 series on Netflix. The show is about a near-accident in a parking lot that turns two strangers into enemies. The argument, or “beef”, quickly develops to escalating acts of revenge as Amy (Ali Wong) and Danny (Steven Yeun) learn about each other’s identities and families and become more and more involved in each other’s lives. The role of Danny’s younger brother, Paul, is played by MoCo native Young Mazino.

Mazino is a Silver Spring native and graduated from Sherwood in 2009, where he excelled in track & field. He has previously been in shows like Prodigal Son, Blue Bloods and New Amsterdam, but Beef marks what’s likely Mazino’s most popular role to date. In an interview with PEOPLE magazine, Mazino mentioned growing up in Maryland  and developing an interest in music and acting at a very young age. “Growing up as a kid I played the violin and I was performing just seemingly endlessly in concerts and recitals,” he told PEOPLE. “Since elementary school, I was always participating in the school plays,” he said, recalling of his early experience acting, “that feeling was electric, just getting to be outside of myself.”

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Magruder Alumnus Gbenga Akinnagbe Now On Hit STARZ Series Power Book II: Ghost

By MCS Staff

Actor Gbenga Akinnagbe has starred in many high-profile roles, bursting onto the scene as Chris Partlow for 30 episodes in HBO’s The Wire (2002-2008). The MoCo native and Magruder High School alumnus recently made his debut on the STARZ hit show Power Book II: Ghost, playing the role of billionaire Ron Samuel Jenkins (RSJ).

Akinnagbe grew up in Montgomery County and has stated that he was in and out of the Mark Twain School in Rockville, an alternative school that operated under than name until 2009 for students with consistent behavioral or attendance issues. When he got to Magruder on a permanent basis, Akinnagbe joined the wrestling team. “Fast forward a couple of years to when I was in Magruder full-time, and I started wrestling then. I was fortunate. I was really good at it, and I was recruited Division I the next year, my senior year to Bucknell to wrestle.” he said in a Washington Post interview in 2008.

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