Akron School for the Arts

FROM SALLY SCHNEIDER:

Where to begin?!

Spending the weekend with 50 FHS choral grads as well as 30 current
Firestone choristers, their director Megan Meyer and accompanist/choir parent Julie Lehman, was a privilege and a joy!

When a teacher spends four years with a student from the age of 14 to 18, one witnesses tremendous growth, rebellion, development. Bonds with the extended family are also formed…and good-byes are tough.

Imagine being able to see and sing with these “kids” again, now in their 30s/40s!

And boy did they sing❤️

They brought their spouses, their children, their parents to the culminating concert and it was an emotional homecoming:)

Graduates came back home from FL, NY, MO, MA as well as all corners of Ohio.

Some off the many occupations represented include ER nurse, nurse practitioners, therapists, dental hygenists, personal trainers, physical therapists, attorneys, accoutants, TV news anchors, engineers, business managers, real estate brokers…and much more. All independent, self-sufficient, thriving, happy🩷

It was my absolute pleasure to conduct this group. Thank you graduates for the lovely flowers, the keepsake, the card but moreso for your travel time/expense and your beautiful voices❤️

Alumni Choir and current. 6/8/24

Symphonic choir at tonight’s Alumni concert; directed by Megan Meyer and Sally Schneider.

Get a sneak peek at the rehearsal for Jelly’s Last Jam on Broadway with Billy Porter and Joaquina Kulukango

Video: See Billy Porter and Joaquina Kalukango Perform the Songs of Jelly's Last Jam The show will begin performances February 21 at New York City Center.

10. Just about 10 years ago we were entering our first venture into flying when we were one of a few schools chosen to pilot Mary Poppins for Disney THEATRICAL’s.

The Firestone Dance Department delivered an impressive and captivating performance this past weekend, showcasing their talent and dedication to the art form. Bravo all!!

Congratulations to the Firestone Chamber Orchestra for earning a 1-Superior rating at the recent OMEA competition. We are very proud of our string students and their director, Sloan Stakleff.

From Sloan Stakleff, strings teacher and director:

"The Firestone Chamber Orchestra performed at OMEA Large Group State Orchestra Competition and received straight I - superior ratings for their performance and a II in sight reading.
Words cannot describe how proud I am of these students for their hard work and dedication that they have put into preparation for this event and they pulled together as a family to put on the best performance they have since I have been the orchestra director at Firestone. Bravo Chamber Orchestra! Proud director right here!"

Mark your calendar.

https://firestoneartboosters.hometownticketing.com/embed/event/2?fbclid=IwAR2i_Wa_Gt651hlHPP5X5EYU6VhNv691hXWhzrygsnrq0hlh2MUUX1cF-qc

Soup Fest 2024 | Firestone Art Booster Club Box Office Soup Fest is a community soup tasting fundraiser dinner. There will be donated raffle items and The Art Graveyard Shop will be available to purchase student made art pieces. This event will raise funds for Firestone ASA Visual Art Students for art gallery field trips, visiting artists and art suppli...

An overdue congratulations to, Dr. Becca Sacks (nee Carter) and to Dr. Contia Prince who were both valuable contributors to the theatre program when they were in school and have gone onto successful careers beyond college!

So proud of you, APS/ASA proud!

Make plans to stop by our open house from 1-3 p.m. on Sunday, November 5, 2023.

Graduates take note !! the MFA program at Juilliard becomes tuition free in 2024.

Today we announce that the Drama Division’s MFA in Acting will join Juilliard’s growing list of tuition-free programs! Beginning with our next incoming class, in the fall of 2024, all four years of the MFA in Acting program will be tuition-free in perpetuity. Applications are currently open for the 2024-25 academic year, and those interested in applying for Juilliard’s MFA in Acting program can visit juilliard.edu/admissions for more information.

This milestone is thanks in large part to a matching challenge grant from Juilliard trustee Stephanie P. McClelland and her husband, Carter McClelland; and a major gift from producer and owner of Broadway.com John Gore as well as gifts from the Jacques and Margot W. Kohn Foundation and others. For full details, visit https://www.juilliard.edu/news/165181/mfa-acting-be-tuition-free-starting-2024-25.

📸 Photo by T Charles Erickson

This is the kind of story you want to see. Everyone working together to make magic happen.

https://playbill.com/article/understudy-mikayla-renfrow-got-the-call-to-go-on-at-aladdin-while-she-was-on-a-plane

Understudy Mikayla Renfrow Got the Call to Go On At Aladdin. While She Was on a Plane How Delta Air Lines went above and beyond to help the Broadway actor make the curtain on time.

Some of our students at PlayhouseSquare to support Kyle as he competes in Shining Star CLE.

Take this chance to thank a great arts teacher in your past or in your present.

This month, join the Kennedy Center, AMC Theatres, and Academy Award-winning actor, singer, and dancer Ariana DeBose in recognizing the incredible impact of arts teachers nationwide.

https://www.kennedy-center.org/education/thank-an-arts-teacher/overview/

Support the Marching Band and get a clean car. This Saturday 10 - 2.

Check out this important message about the new school year from Firestone's principal Ms. Loughry!
https://firestoneclc.akronschools.com/about-firestone/principals-message

It's back to school time. Won't be like until our falcons come home to roost for another year of learning and creativity.

Check out this important message about the new school year from Firestone's principal Ms. Loughry!
https://firestoneclc.akronschools.com/about-firestone/principals-message

Congratulations to junior theatre student Kyle McFalls for landing in the Top Ten of the Shining Star CLE competition.

Congratulations to alumnae Cierra Byrd, Mezzo for this tremendous honor. We are very proud of her accomplishments and her opera career.

Congratulations to juniors Emi Neri and Kyle McFalls for being named top 25 in the Singing Star CLE 2023 competition.

Check out the latest work of our dance graduate, Dominic Moore-Dunson.

Akron choreographer explores healing Black community with 'InCOPnegro: Aftermath' World premiere of "inCOPnegro: Aftermath" by Akron dance maker Dominic Moore-Dunson explores community healing from police violence.

This happens on Friday, June 9, 2023, right here in Downtown Akron.

Last week we held a signing ceremony that included visual art student Evers Brooks who is off to the Cleveland Institute of Art in the fall where she will study graphic design. She is pictured here with art teacher Dan Coffield.

The following students were included in the Arts Signing Day:

Jackson Bird (ASA Theatre) will attend Ohio Northern University as a musical theatre major.

Evers Brooks (ASA Visual Art) will attend the Cleveland Institute of Art as a graphic design major.

Fiona Coughlin (ASA Vocal) will attend Baldwin Wallace University as a vocal performance major.

Johnathan DeGroff (ASA Vocal) will attend the University of Akron for music education.

Kaniyah Edwards (ASA visual arts) will attend Kent State University as a fashion merchandising and design major.

Talia Greene (ASA vocal) will attend the University of Cincinnati as a music major.

Caroline Martin (International Baccalaureate) will attend Miami University as a theatre major.

Robyn Moore (ASA Visual Art) will attend Kent State University as a Fashion Design major.

Austin Prince (ASA Vocal) will attend Baldwin Wallace University as a vocal performance major.

Elliot Travise (ASA visual art) will attend Kent State University as a fine arts major.

Jessie Wamsley (ASA visual art) will attend Kent State University isa graphic design student.