HSPVA Friends

Fall All-School Musical tickets are now on sale! *hspvaboxoffice.com*

Kinder HSPVA presents "9 to 5" The Musical, October 16-20, 2024. Featuring the talent of more than 100 students on stage, in the orchestra, and behind-the-scenes. Tickets now on sale at www.hspvaboxoffice.com. HSPVA Friends Kinder HSPVA PTO HSPVA Dance Department HSPVA Theatre Guild Kinder HSPVA Vocal Music Department Kinder HSPVA Instrumental Music Department Kinder HSPVA Creative Writing Department Kinder HSPVA Jazz Ensembles Kinder HSPVA Band Houston Independent School District

MusicFest 2024 is Sunday, September 15! Bring the family downtown to Kinder HSPVA to hear 350 student musicians performing on six simultaneous stages! This is your only chance each year to sample everything HSPVA Music has to offer - from classical to contemporary, full-scale mariachi to close-up piano solos, swinging jazz to harmonious choirs, and more. Expect non-stop music variety, food trucks, and a music scavenger hunt for kids. Preview the schedule and buy your tix: https://hspvafriends.org/events/musicfest/

Great feature on Wayne Wilson (Theatre ‘01), who ran off to join the circus after high school! Wayne is touring through Houston with his newest Cirque du Soleil production as associate show director, comedic content designer, and one of the lead performers.

Houstonian and HSPVA grade helped Cirque du Soleil go country with 'Songblazers' Houston native and HSPVA grad Wayne Wilson helped Cirque du Soleil go country with 'Songblazers'. It features songs by Willie Nelson, Garth Brooks and others.

As you kick off Memorial Day weekend, enjoy Kinder HSPVA's recent cross-disciplinary performance of Aaron Copland's 20th-century American masterpiece, Appalachian Spring, featuring the work of Band, Strings, Piano, and Visual Arts students. This performance took place in the Dance Studios on April 12th as part of our "And Now For Something Completely Different" series.

Appalachian Spring, Aaron Copland HSPVA 2024 04 12 Appalachian Spring (1944) Aaron Copland (1900-1990) Connor Fetting, conductorBradley Smith & Rodolfo Morales, producersDavid Waddell, visual art coordinatorJ...

As Kinder HSPVA gets ready to graduate the Class of 2024, Jordan Muscal (Creative Writing '26) interviews four seniors about their unforgettable high-school years: Amelia DiClaudio (Dance), Israel Fox (Vocal), Meredith Shoemaker (Theatre), and Sofia Fontenot (Creative Writing).

HSPVA Seniors Reflect on High School Memories “Speaking about their journeys as artists while attending HSPVA, the seniors offered insight into the growth that occurs during these four years. ‘How would I describe my journey as an artist? Buckets, oceans, full of tears,’ Israel jokes. ‘But good tears, a lot of good tears.’” Kinder H...

Still so grateful for everyone involved in Encore on April 4th! It's wonderful to spend a day surrounded by supporters who love Kinder HSPVA students and teachers as much as we do!

Day Out with JVN Headlines HSPVA’s Record-Breaking Lunch and Auction HSPVA CELEBRATED FIVE years at its Downtown campus with a 1920s-jazz-club-inspired luncheon for 300 supporters. Guests were transported to the days of swing dancing as a student-conducted band played music by Duke Ellington, while performers, donning showgirl and flapper costumes from the high scho....

Many thanks to Encore Chairs Tissy and Rusty Hardin, 2024 Distinguished Alumna Helen Sung ‘89, and all of our generous supporters who celebrated Kinder HSPVA on April 4, 2024, on the Denney Theatre stage. Together, we raised more than $306,000 for Kinder HSPVA programs – a new record!

Photography by Katy Anderson. Please tag yourself!

The HSPVA Dance Department has a beautiful Spring Dance Concert in store for you this week! *Two chances to see it: Thursday 3/7 and Friday 3/8 at 7pm.* Friday is almost sold out! This repertory performance features contemporary ballet, jazz, and modern dance choreography by Kinder HSPVA Dance faculty Janie Carothers ('84) and Courtney D. Jones ('99), plus guest choreographers including Charles O. Anderson (Ohio State University), Antonio Brown (Artistic Director, AntonioBrownDance), and Michael Foley (University of South Florida). The concert also features choreography by HSPVA Dance alumnae Dawn Dippel ('97) and Allysen Hooks ('06) as well as work by Larry Keigwin (Artistic Director, Keigwin + Company) set by Kacie Boblitt ('07).

Spring Dance Concert Tickets | HSPVA Friends A repertory dance concert featuring contemporary ballet, modern dance, and jazz dance choreography by Kinder HSPVA Dance faculty and guest choreographers.

Feb 22-25: Bring the whole family to AFTER MIDNIGHT, celebrating Duke Ellington and the golden age of Harlem! Kinder HSPVA is the first high school in the nation to produce this 2013 Broadway musical. The set is sparkling and the band is swinging! You don’t want to miss this 2024 All-School Black History Production - designed, built, and led by students from all six art areas. Tickets: hspvaboxoffice.com. Trailer by Adrian Gomez (Theatre '24).

After Midnight at Kinder HSPVA Trailer filmed and edited by Adrian Gomez (Theatre '24). Kinder HSPVA's production of AFTER MIDNIGHT runs February 22-25, 2024. Tickets: hspvaboxoffice.com

Need a holiday present for that special HSPVA someone in your life? Purchase a copy of HSPVA 50, the commemorative coffee table book celebrating Kinder HSPVA's first fifty years! Order online at the link below. To receive yours before Christmas, pick yours up at school before 3:00pm this Thursday, December 21st!

HSPVA at 50 - HSPVA Friends PO Box 52910, Houston, Texas 77052 For more information about the Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, visit www.hspva.org.

Get your tickets to Kinder HSPVA's final performance of 2023, Dvořák in December: Tuesday night at 6:30. An abundance of beautiful melody, heartfelt emotions and bold climaxes come to life in this performance of two famous works by the Czech composer, Antonin Dvořák. His Cello Concerto and Symphony No. 8 remain firmly established as part of the repertoire of every professional orchestra. Cellist James Liu ('25) is the featured soloist on the program conducted by Dr. Brad Smith.

Orchestra Winter Concert - Dvořák in December Tickets | HSPVA Friends The Kinder HSPVA Symphony Orchestra performs a full program of classical works.

Ring in December with the Kinder HSPVA Vocal Music Department! Join us in the Denney Theatre this Friday, December 1, at 6:30pm to enjoy the joyful sounds of Mixed Chorale, Treble Chorale, Treble Singers, Tenor/Bass Singers, Madrigals, and Young Performers.

Vocal Winter Concert Tickets | HSPVA Friends Vocal Winter Concert - Vocal Music students perform a wide range of choral music.

It's Middle School Workshop season! Coming up next: BAND & JAZZ, PIANO, CREATIVE WRITING, VOCAL, STRINGS, DANCE, VISUAL ARTS, and MARIACHI! These popular Saturday workshops hosted by HSPVA Friends provide opportunities for students in grades 6-8 to learn from current Kinder HSPVA students. While participation has no effect on a middle-schooler's application to Kinder HSPVA, each workshop is an excellent educational opportunity and a fun introduction to the art areas. Check them out and spread the word! https://hspvafriends.org/workshops/

On October 1st, more than 1,500 guests enjoyed 35+ performances by more than 400 young musicians on 6 simultaneous stages at HSPVA MusicFest 2023! Together, we set a new record by raising over $63,000 for Kinder HSPVA's Band, Jazz, Mariachi, Strings, Piano and Vocal Music programs. THANK YOU to our supporters near and far - and to our dozens of student and parent volunteers (from every art area!) who chipped in to create this beautiful day of music for our community.

Jeremy Dutton (Inst '12): “The Houston community in general has fostered that growth so much.” Dutton rattles off a series of names of local players and educators who helped nurture him: Craig Green; Warren Sneed, who took over HSPVA Jazz Ensembles from Robert Morgan, who remained an active mentor to young performers here; Sebastian Whittaker, who passed through HSPVA’s program and made his life and career in Houston. "All these people, different generations, they’ve encouraged me in different ways. They encouraged curiosity,” he says.

Congrats to Jeremy on his new album. Be sure to read the whole profile here:

Already a top jazz drummer, Houston native Jeremy Dutton steps out as a composer Debut album “Anyone Is Better Than Here” finds Houston native Jeremy Dutton making a...

It was a beautiful day in the Kinder HSPVA neighborhood! Happy 187th birthday, Houston!

“The Garage is the creation of Rafael Pina, Ollie Grishaber and Damon Diaz, who decided to formulate their own venue for theater and community after graduating from Kinder HSPVA in 2022. The first iteration of The Garage theater last summer featured original plays written and directed by Pina and Grishaber, cast with their HSPVA classmates. … This time, HSPVA alumni Lily Afghani and Will Newman each wrote and directed an original show.”

When a Hot Houston Garage Becomes a Theater Stage — HSPVA Grads Create an Unlikely Showcase With $7 Tickets Even the relentless Houston heat can’t stop young people from creating art. During two humid 90 degree nights, The Garage opened for its second season in

Huge congratulations to Kinder HSPVA Creative Writing Department students Samiyah Green (‘26) and Myaan Sonenshein (‘25)! "In an impressive display of poetic dexterity and artistic expression, Houston’s youth poetry team Meta-Four Houston won the prestigious Brave New Voices Slam, solidifying their position as top youth poets in the country."

Houston’s Youth Poetry Team Meta-Four Wins National Championship at Brave New Voices (BNV) Slam in San Francisco - Forward Times ABOVE: Meta-Four Houston 2023: (L-R) Adriana Winkelmayer, Samiyah Green, Myaan Sonenshein, Isabella Mira-Diaz, Ariana Lee,…

Head to the movie theater to see Disney’s Haunted Mansion, directed by 2021 Distinguished Alumnus Justin Simien (Theatre ’01)! -- "It changed my life, because there was no connection to the arts, to cinema when I was growing up," he says of HSPVA. "It introduced me to a world that has been so vital to me that I just never would have encountered in any other way. It's absolutely where I was formed as a director."

Houston-born director Justin Simien makes his biggest film yet, Disney's 'Haunted Mansion' Known for such indie movies as 'Dear White People' and 'Bad Hair,' Justin Simien says...

The family of Adam Elkhadem (Visual Arts ’14) invites you to LIFE LINES, a celebration of Adam’s life and legacy this Saturday, July 29, from 5:30-8:30pm at Art League Houston. There will be an exhibition and sale of Adam’s prints, paintings, and original drawings. We hope the HSPVA community will turn out for this special show!

As an artist, Adam is best known for his pen drawings, prints, and meticulous use of lines. He was influenced by a wide range of styles, from classical Renaissance paintings to comic book art. His themes varied just as widely, including biblical and mythological stories, historical people and events, and abstract concepts. His weekly comic, Octave the Artist, appeared in Caesura Magazine and garnered praise for its story and detailed illustrations. A complete annotated paperback compilation of Octave was published in 2022. Adam was a National Merit Scholar and YoungArts winner. After graduating from HSPVA, he studied art history at Columbia University.

Enjoy this profile of alumna Lizbeth Ortiz (Visual '94): artist, creative designer, and founder of Houston's Frida Festival, which celebrated its 18th year in April. (When you watch, keep an eye out for a glimpse of the classic HSPVA senior panoramic photo!)

Cadillac Shaping: Houston – Lizbeth Ortiz For Lizbeth Ortiz art is a language, and she speaks it fluently.

Kinder HSPVA is representing at the Tony Awards tonight! Kevin Cahoon (Theatre ’89) is nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical for Shucked. Sterling Overshown (Instrumental ’12) wrote the original music for Ain’t No Mo’, which received 6 nominations, including Best Play.
Fernell Hogan (Theatre ’15) is featured in Kimberly Akimbo, which received 8 nominations, including Best Musical.
Jarvis B. Manning, Jr. (Vocal ’05) appears in Some Like It Hot, which received 13 nominations, including Best Musical. Brandon Lee (Instrumental ’01) plays trumpet in the orchestra. We’re rooting for y’all!!

Standout Houston-born Broadway star shines as Best Actor nominee in upcoming Tony Awards and the tony goes to...

The Awesome 80s have taken over the Denney! You have two chances to see the Kinder HSPVA Vocal Music Department’s annual Pop Show this weekend: Friday at 6:30 or Saturday at 1:00. Click for tickets!

Awesome 80s – a P5 Production Tickets | HSPVA Friends The Vocal Department presents it’s annual P5 Pop Show featuring 19 show-stopping singers with live music from the instrumental department and all your favorite hits from the 1980s!

Head to The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, on Thursday, May 11, at 7pm to support Kinder HSPVA Creative Writing faculty member Lupe Mendez as he gives his final reading as the 2022-2023 Texas Poet Laureate. ❤️

Texas Poet Laureate | A Celebration (Thursday, May 11, 2023 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m.) Lupe Mendez gives his final reading as the 2022–2023 Texas Poet Laureate in a celebration that also features performances by other Texas poets.