Posts Tagged "Fine Arts"
FCS Jazz Band's UK Tour: A Journey of Music & Discovery
September 07, 2024
We are thrilled to share the highlights from our FCS Jazz Band’s summer ten-day tour of the United Kingdom, an adventure that has left us all buzzing with excitement and pride! From captivating performances to cultural explorations, this tour was an unforgettable experience for our talented musicians.
Tour Highlights
- Exceptional Performances. Our jazz band delivered six remarkable performances across a variety of venues. From the serene ambiance of historic churches and grand libraries to the vibrant atmosphere of the Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival, each performance showcased our students’ exceptional talent and versatility. The enthusiastic reception from audiences and the opportunity to perform at such esteemed locations made every concert a unique and memorable experience.
- Masterclass at Hot House Jazz School. A standout moment of the tour was the special masterclass on traditional jazz held at the Hot House Jazz School in Derby. Led by renowned musicians, this session provided our young musicians with invaluable insights and hands-on learning experiences, deepening their understanding of jazz traditions and techniques.
- Cultural Exploration. The tour was also a journey through the rich history and culture of the UK. Our students had the chance to explore the iconic landmarks of London, delve into the musical heritage of Liverpool, and marvel at the historical splendor of Edinburgh. These cultural experiences not only enriched their appreciation of the world but also provided a deeper context for their musical expressions.
- Special Alumni Reunion. A heartwarming highlight of the trip was a surprise meetup with an FCS alum. We were delighted to reconnect with Dr. Rebekah Handran, who recently completed her doctorate in veterinary sciences at Edinburgh University. Seeing familiar faces and sharing stories from home added a personal touch to the tour and strengthened the bonds within our FCS community.
Throughout this journey, our musicians not only demonstrated their exceptional skills but also forged lasting friendships and created cherished memories. The camaraderie and teamwork displayed during the tour were truly inspiring, and we are immensely proud of how they represented FCS on an international stage. We are grateful for the support of everyone who made this tour possible and excited to see the continued impact of this extraordinary adventure on our jazz band’s future.
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Fine Arts
FCS Hits a High Note at State Choral Competition
May 09, 2023
On April 25, the FCS Chamber Singers traveled to Pacific Union College in Napa Valley to participate in the Golden State Choral Competition — our first time ever competing in this prestigious event. FCS is honored to announce that our very own FCS Chamber Singers placed second at the invitation-only competition and received the award for outstanding choral diction (text pronunciation). This year’s overall winners were Monte Vista High School in San Ramon. A hearty congrats to them!
In addition to two songs of their own choosing, every one of the seven invited choirs performs one common piece, to provide a better comparison between festival participants. This year, all of the choirs joined together to perform the selected piece, “Vita de la Mia Vita” by William Hawley, during the closing award ceremony. For their two chosen songs, FCS students performed “The Word Was God” by Rosephanye Powell and “Nox” by Elaine Hagenberg.
For more than 25 years, the Golden State Choral Competition has been a leading contest for high schoolers. To be accepted, choirs must submit audio recordings demonstrating a high level of technical musical abilities, often in other languages, while demonstrating artistry in performance practice. The competition’s previous winners and this year’s hosts were Castro Valley High. This year’s event was the first since 2019, due to the pandemic.
Well done, Warriors! All of your hard work and dedication to excellence was well received! Let's keep up the momentum, do our best for the Lord, and in all of our ways acknowledge Him.
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News & Announcements
Finale! Farewell Concert
April 08, 2019
TICKETS ON SALE APRIL 29!
Director Darryl Guzman's Farewell Concert
Date & Time: Saturday, May 18, 2019 at 6:00 PM
Location: Concert will be held in the Harbor Light Church Sanctuary
Retirement reception immediately following the concert at the Sherry Miller Employee Plaza. All are welcome to join us for refreshments in honor of Mr. Guzman's time with FCS.
Featuring: FCS Concert Choir, FCS Living Water Vocal Ensemble, Centerian Sanctuary Choir, Centerian Vocal Ensemble from Centerville Presbyterian Church, Centerville Community Chorale, & Festival Orchestra.
Tickets: Tickets are available at $10 each and can be purchased from Centerville Presbyterian Church Office, Fremont Christian School - Secondary Office (Call for availability at 510.744.2280), or at the door.
Gift: A few people have asked about gift ideas for Mr. Guzman. If you feel so inclined to provide a parting gift, he has politely requested gift cards to Lowe's Home Improvement. The next project for him and his wife will be working on their house and Lowe's is the closest store to their new home.
We are so appreciative of Mr. Guzman's 36 years dedicated to FCS and we all wish him well into this next stage of life. Please come support his final concert and say farewell.
New Dixie Dominus CD
February 19, 2019
We are very happy to announce our 2019 Dixie Dominus CD! This group has been working very hard on producing it.
Pick up a copy of your own for $10 at the Secondary Office. (Price increases next week.)
Contact 510.744.2280 for more information on how to purchase.
Dixie Dominus Jazz Performance
May 22, 2018
From Band Director, Mr. Banuelos:
The Dixie Dominus Traditional Jazz Band will perform their final concert featuring an eclectic repertoire, ranging from traditional jazz standards and show tunes, such as “The Room Where It Happens” from Hamilton, to worship songs, like “All My Hope” by David Crowder.
There will also be some surprise special guest alumni performing - come see to find out who! The concert will be held Saturday, May 26 at 7:00 PM at Mission Coffee Roasting Company.
Concert admission is $15 and proceeds will go to help the band in their future projects.
FCS Fine Arts: Memorial Day 2018
May 08, 2018
Salute to Memorial Day: Vocal Ensemble Performance
Our Vocal Ensemble will be performing on May 25! Purchase tickets for $15 for the one-time only performance at 7:30 PM.
FCS Fine Arts: Choirs & Musicale 2018
March 19, 2018
Last week, the high school choirs traveled to Pasadena for the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) Senior High Musicale in Southern California. Joining with other high school choirs from California, the students participated in a two-day festival which finishes in a concert featuring all of the 600+ students singing together.
From the official ACSI website:
"ACSI Musicale is a two-day choir festival that culminates in a public Command Performance and Sacred Concert in which all choirs are combined. Each choir, regardless of size, must memorize the six (6) combined songs chosen by the guest conductor. Each choir will also be adjudicated by the guest conductor on two (2) of their own selections. Musicale also features adjudications for chamber choirs, large ensembles, small ensembles, sacred classical solos, and gospel solos.
This is not a competition. Choirs, ensembles, and soloists are adjudicated by the guest conductor or guest adjudicators, and received oral and written evaluative comments."
This year, both our Concert Choir and Living Water Ensemble each earned a Command Performance. A couple of our students also earned solo Command Performance — congratulations to Keren G. and Madison G.! One student noted that judges were brought to tears due to an excellent performance from FCS.
A big congratulations to Mr. Guzman, Ms. Sondra, and every student. We've seen the hard work that each person puts in to make this run smoothly.
Early Birds Make Music
May 23, 2017
FCS has multiple bands for our students. One of the most advanced bands is the contemporary jazz band, Dixie Dominus. The members of Dixie come to practice early each morning – 7:00 AM! They’re on campus for practice Monday through Friday during the whole school year.
We’re nearing the end of the school year, and Dixie is still going strong. They’ve had performances throughout the school year, even during weekends; located on-campus and off, traveling out to San Francisco and beyond. They will have their final school year performance on Thursday, May 25.
Most of these students are involved in other school activities as well, such as athletics, clubs, and other fine art options. Each member of Dixie shows their great dedication with their commitment to practice and the quality of their music.
Let's not forget our wonderful band director, Mr. B. If the kids come at 7:00 AM, one can only wonder what time he comes in to prepare.
Catch Dixie Dominus' last school year performance at Mission Coffee on 5/25 at 7:30 PM! Admission is free.