The 21st Annual Honors Concert was a Success!

The 21st Annual Honors Concert, Performance Art, and Art Exhibition, co-produced by Saint Paul Public Schools and the Ordway with support from the College of Visual Arts, was a success! Nearly 800 parents, families, friends and community members came to experience the skill and talent of hundreds of Saint Paul Public Schools high school students on April 24, 2012.

Here is one account of an audience member's experience attending this event, who came to not only to see her grandson, but to see all the students as well:

“Tuesday night we attended the Saint Paul Public Schools Honors concert. As we waited to be seated, an usher asked, ‘Who are you here for?’ ‘All of the students,’ we replied, than admitted that, yes, we did have a grandson playing tuba. The truth was that all the students from all of Saint Paul’s public high schools gave a beautiful performance. We and other families—some of whom were in the Ordway for the first time—were brought to our feet by the choir, visual art, performance art, band, and orchestra; all were worthy of standing ovations. Everyone in Saint Paul benefits from the music program and owe thanks to the benefactors, teachers, and staff. The greatest thanks is to the inspiring students. Lots of practice time results in learning the music in their schools, selection through tryouts and time spent in rehearsing with the guest conductors. In a few years, some of those students will be performing at the level we heard Thursday night. And the rest will enjoy attending such a concert as much at those of us who gave a standing ovation to the SPCO two nights later.”

- Kathleen Vellenga, Saint Paul

Congratulations to the students for putting on an excellent performance proving their superior skills in the performing and visual arts! Also, a big thank you to everyone involved, and this includes all the family, friends, and community members that attended this great event. Thank you all for your continued support of arts education.

Photo by Smitty