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A Journey of Discovery FOCUS on the Arts
2009
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This site is run
by an outside provider. Highland Park High
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FOCUS ON THE ARTS IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: OPENING NIGHT &
DANCE NIGHT TICKETS Focus Team
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April 27 - Opening Night7:30PM - 9:30 PM |
April 28 - Art Night6:30 - 9:00 PM |
April 29 - Dance Night7:30 -
10:00 PM
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Focus Program Changes TUESDAY: 4th period……Architecture - Tom Jacobs principal at Krueck & Sexton is replacing Mark Sexton…..A343 WEDNESDAY:
2nd period…..Showcase – Chardonnay/Keeshin/Shapiro is
now 2nd period in E117 Choral Room not 4th period THURSDAY:
2ND period…..Showcase – Goldstein/Pomerantz/Hopkins/Rosenberg
room changed from E106 Orchestra Room to E117 Choral Room
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FOCUS ON THE ARTS 2009 In 1964, Highland Park High School developed the concept of a unique arts outreach program that would expose students and the community to the world of visual and performing arts. The mission of FOCUS has always been to increase appreciation and understanding of the arts and of the professionals engaged in them. Highland Park is a community rich in tradition, ethnic diversity and heritage. FOCUS seeks to address and represent Highland Park’s multicultural and multigenerational community by educationally presenting art forms that engage people of widely diverse backgrounds. FOCUS has been the impetus for careers and the inspiration for a lifelong interest in the arts for many people. It is our goal to continue this tradition of creating the artists and art audiences of the future. During the 22nd biennial FOCUS ’09 (April 27-30) … A Journey of Discovery, we will once again explore the many facets of art; not as distant, esoteric disciplines, but as the day-to-day creativity of truly gifted, diverse people. FOCUS will educate & communicate the universal arts language to HPHS students, as well as surrounding communities including Highland Park, Highwood, Fort Sheridan and the entire (underserved) Chicago Metropolitan area. Participating students will experience many forms of art themselves, thus expanding and enriching their lives forever. Volunteers (including PTO members, HPHS staff & faculty, students, and community members) work together to coordinate more than 200 artists to present workshops and performances in their areas of expertise, over the period of three days and three evenings, all free of charge and open to the public. Spanning three evenings, our special events include: 1) an Opening Night celebration performance (Music); 2) Art Night, which transforms the high school into a living art institute, where people interact with visual artists who exhibit and demonstrate their work, providing a “hands on” experience for their audience; 3) Dance Night featuring an array of professional dance troupes in our auditorium, exploring different cultures and dance forms. All of our evening events reach an excess of one thousand people per night, and feature professional performers. Daytime events include master classes, hands-on workshops, demonstrations, lectures and performances including the entire spectrum of the arts with an emphasis placed on participation by all in attendance. The FOCUS budget has developed through contributions from Highland Park High School and its PTO, private individuals, civic agencies and organizations, local businesses and private corporations. FOCUS culls a nucleus of talented and skilled leaders from the community, faculty and students. This group gives thousands of volunteer hours to launch a consistently well-conceived, well-regarded program. In past years, FOCUS has been the impetus for careers and the inspiration for lifelong interests in the arts.
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FOCUS ON THE ARTS Some things really are meant to be. For many students, finding their passion is a simple task. For others, like me, our passion finds us. I had no intention of becoming such an involved member of the Fine Arts Program at Highland Park High School, and if it weren’t for a friend of mine, I may not have been. I was initially drawn into theatre because that friend, who was my ride home one day, encouraged me to audition for the fall musical my freshman year. The rest, as they say, is history. This year FOCUS on the Arts invites students to take their own journey to discover the joy and sense of fulfillment that the arts can provide. No other program offers both students and parents the chance to explore their interests in the arts in such a unique, hands-on way. FOCUS is an event that brings the community together through the richness of performance, education, and enjoyment. FOCUS is a wonderful opportunity for students who normally wouldn’t get involved in the arts to discover a part of them that they never knew existed. The 3-day event allows students to explore new interests ranging from glass-blowing to West African percussion and everything in between. Regardless of where you fall on that spectrum, FOCUS promises to be an unforgettable journey.
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