Creativity in the Time of Covid–May 23, 2021

May 22, 2021 Newsletter

School of Rock: Jam! Packs a Punch

Jam! electrified audiences; Bottom Right: Mr. Z holds the dangling remains of his smashed guitar.

Electricity was in the air as the Booker Rock Bands took the stage on May 20 for Jam!, the first modern band concert, with performances by Category 5, Tempest, and the Booker Middle Modern Band.

With a setlist ranging from Led Zeppelin’s iconic “Stairway to Heaven” to John Mayer’s somber “Gravity,” the bands demonstrated mastery of the modern genre.

This marked the first-ever concert collab with Booker Middle School. The young musicians impressed with songs including Cold Play’s touching song of remembrance, “Fix You.”

The evening culminated with “Johnny B. Goode,” featuring all bands playing together, with Mr. Z finishing the night in classic rock style: by smashing a guitar on the stage.

Farmers Market Concert Brings Cheer

Left: Ms. Nix and Mr. Zickafoose; Middle: Hard rockers from Category 5 and Tempest; Right: The Booker VPA Orchestra.

Shoppers at Sarasota’s downtown Farmers Market got much more than just veggies and local culinary treasures on May 22: they got a concert of superb music ranging genres. As the world begins to feel a bit more normal–with vaccinations on the rise and a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel–the Booker VPA Orchestra and Modern Bands performed a 3-hour concert, delighting market patrons.

Thanks so much to Ms. Amanda Nix for arranging the event, and to the Farmers Market market manager Ciera Coleman as well as the Market Vendors. We appreciate the students for being there and our parents for helping with that. It was a fantastic morning and we hope to work with the Farmers Market again soon!

Top Left: Proud mom Jessica Young looks on as the orchestra plays; Top Middle: The orchestra produces spellbinding music; Top Right: Judah Woomert woos with “Gravity;” Bottom Left: Abbey Holdway channels Ann Wilson with her powerhouse “Barracuda;” Bottom Right: Colin Leonard heats up the breezy day with his sax solo during “Johnny B. Goode.”

Voices Raised for Unity in Sing!

In the midst of it all, Booker choirs held an invitational showcase on May 21 with the SSA+S choirs. Performances by Twisty Cone, Jet Stream, Vocal Vortex and more offered inspiration, and the collaboration was another first for the VPA sharing the stage with a middle school group.

The evening had endearing moments as Mr. Zickafoose recognized the graduates, who started Booker High School when he joined our staff, four years ago.

Left: The sweet harmonies of Twisty Cone reinvent Billy Joel’s “The Longest Time”; Right: Mr. Zickafoose directs the Chamber Choir in Eric Whitacre’s “Sleep.”

Art Explosion in Building 8

Who needs canvas or a frame when creating artwork? VPA artists have been transforming the expanse of drab wall in building 8 that spans the art rooms with a colorful mural. What a thrill to have the vibrant pulse of the artists whose work this year has beautified the Art Ovation hotel, L & L Hawaiian Barbecue and SaraFresh Juice now enliven the hallways of building 8 where our VPA classes convene.

Future editions will show the progress of this fresh installation and makeover of this space. Stay tuned…

Music Student Selected for Prestigious Summer Program

Larah Pereira will be attending the prestigious Sphinx Performance Academy this summer hosted by Cleveland Institute of Music.

The Sphinx Organization is a non-profit organization dedicated to the development of young Black and Latino classical musicians. Based in Detroit, Michigan, it was founded by the American violinist Aaron Dworkin. The Sphinx was chosen to represent this organization because of what it symbolizes: “the power, wisdom and persistence” that the organization hopes to instill in its participants.

Sphinx Performance Academy is transforming lives through the power of diversity in the arts and we are so proud to have Larah representing Booker High school VPA Orchestra.

VPA Students Recognized at Banquet

The Sarasota branch of American Pen Women recognized Colin Leonard for Music, and Sayo Hayashi and Ella Mirman for Art.

Filmmakers Make Films: It’s That Simple

When an art school’s English teacher assigns poem analysis, artists analyze through their mediums. That’s what happened for a group of Film & Animation and Theatre students when Ms. Prozzo assigned an analysis of a poem they’ve studied, through any medium they chose. Some students are approaching the project with a paper, artwork, dance, or poem.

But film students, of course, are creating a movie trailer that discusses the poem. The crew met on May 21 at BHS to spend their Saturday shooting footage. Stay tuned to see the result of this arts integration project! Coming Soon!