Hundreds of Detroit middle and high school students are ready to showcase their talents at the Fox Theatre.
The Detroit Public Schools Community District’s 57th annual An Evening of Fine Arts will feature around 760 students in 27 performances, ranging from jazz and marching bands and orchestras to choirs, dance groups, and a preview from the musical “Once on This Island.” In addition, original artwork from six students will be displayed in the Fox’s lobby. The fine arts event begins at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
The show is free but people can register on the 313 Presents website.
Some of the DPSCD schools represented include Detroit School of Arts, Cass Technical High School, Renaissance High School, Western International High School, John R. King Academic and Performing Arts Academy and Duke Ellington Conservatory of Music and Art.
Andrew McGuire, deputy executive director of DPSCD’s office of fine and performing arts, said An Evening of Fine Arts is all about spotlighting students’ voices.
“This year, students have really raised their voice, and the creativity and deep work that is being presented at EFA is unlike anything we’ve seen before,” he said. “This show is phenomenal.”
McGuire said the application process opens a few months before the show, when it’s sent to DPSCD art and music teachers. Teachers can then enter a video submission of their dance, music, or theater ensemble, as well as artwork for the exhibition in the theater lobby. The entries are scored by judges and the show is assembled.
The show is supported by Comerica Bank, 313 Presents, Olympia Development, Ilitch Sports + Entertainment, and Detroit’s Office of Arts, Culture and Entrepreneurship (Detroit ACE).
The Detroit School of Arts (DSA) Jazz Band is among the groups performing, and for senior Donnivin Walker, it will be bittersweet. Walker has been part of the event since his freshman year, performing with the jazz band or DSA’s wind ensemble. Walker’s main instrument is the trombone, but he plays other brass instruments, as well as some woodwinds and drums.
This year, the jazz band will play the song “La Fiesta,” a composition by late jazz musician Chick Corea. Walker will be playing with the band and has a solo performance in the middle of the song. He said the band is like family, even though some members just joined at the beginning of the school year.
“We’re not just friends in a band,” Walker said. “It feels like we’ve known each other for a long time and we’re just able to click and groove together. If you have an empty void, the jazz band would fill it. They make you feel like everyone in the band matters.”
Leading the 22-member band is director Victoria Fernholz. The jazz band features some of the top musicians at DSA, she said. Fernholz chose La Fiesta for the performance because it’s an “energetic, fun Latin piece that the audience can move to.”
“It really demonstrates my students’ strengths as well,” she said. “My students love the big, fast paced types of pieces. Not only am I thinking from the audience’s standpoint, but also what can I prepare to demonstrate my students abilities and strengths.”
Fernholz estimates that the band has spent 10 to 15 hours a week practicing La Fiesta since December. That’s in addition to learning pieces for other concerts, Fernholz said.
“This is my sixth year at DSA and I feel like since starting, I’ve been able to trust my students more and know what their abilities are, and they’re also stepping up to the plate more,” she said. “I can give them a piece of music in a shorter period of time and know that they’re going to learn it and give a good performance.”
Walker plans to continue his music journey when he goes off to Wayne State University in the fall to study under Vincent Chandler, a jazz studies professor, professional trombonist and composer.
“I’m trying to make it a lifelong, lasting career, whether it’s going gig to gig, whether it’s becoming a band director and teaching kids, whether it’s becoming a composer,” Walker said. “I want to make sure music stays in my life for as long as possible.”
McGuire said he’s excited for people outside of the DPSCD community to see the show.
“Seeing students share their voices on such a beautiful stage in such a grand theater is breathtaking,” he said.