[ot-caption title=”2016’s Founder’s Council Student Cultural Arts Series Award recipients. (via, Christine Dardet)”]

From our talented ballet dancers to skilled actors, Pine Crest has many students involved in the fine arts. Select students who shine in their particular field of art are honored with a Student Cultural Arts Series award presented by the Founder’s Council.[spacer height=”20px”]

Founder’s Council is a parent organization that was originally started by Dr. Mae McMillan in 1968. The purpose of the Founder’s Council since its founding has been to support the fine arts at Pine Crest. There are six categories in which the awards are given, including excellence in art, vocal music, and musical theatre.  From the orchestra and band concerts to the art exhibits and plays, members of the Founder’s Council attend many of the fine arts performances put on at Pine Crest. [spacer height=”20px”]

“It’s always great to see the happy faces taking bows at the end of the performances,” current Founder’s Council member and former chair Janet Roy says. “The students are both exhausted and exhilarated.”[spacer height=”20px”]

In addition to attending all of Pine Crest’s fine arts events, the members of the Founder’s Council host multiple lunches to honor the students each year. These allow the members to get a more in-depth look at the performances and art of the potential recipients. At these lunches, the students who create art present their work, and the main characters of the ballet, play, and musical talk about the process of making the show and sometimes perform short sections for the council. [spacer height=”20px”]

“I’ve always enjoyed going to the luncheons because not only do we get to perform for the members, but we also get to speak to them about the experience we have had producing the show,” senior Marisol Beaufrand said. “The members also ask us questions and we are invited to eat some amazing food, which is an added bonus.” [spacer height=”20px”]

“There are a lot of talented students across all the disciplines,” Roy said.  “We are currently going through the voting process and we take it very seriously.” [spacer height=”20px”]

Art teacher Stephanie Theoharis noted that “the Founder’s Council is a wonderful group of dedicated parents who highlight and support the arts at Pine Crest. They support the arts by attending all of the fine arts events throughout the year. The Student Cultural Arts series culminates with an assembly in the spring. Awards are presented to students who demonstrate excellence in their art discipline. The awards given each year are in Art, Dance, Drama, Instrumental Music, Musical Theater, and Vocal Music. The award winning students showcase their talent by performing for the Upper School students, faculty, and guests. A luncheon follows the assembly to honor the winning students, families, and teachers.” [spacer height=”20px”]

The anticipated reveal of the Founder’s Council recipients will be in an assembly on April 6th. During the assembly, each recipient will showcase their talent by performing or, in the case of the art recipient, showing a slideshow of their work.[spacer height=”20px”]

Image Source: Pinecrest.edu