North High School’s annual Artfest, a celebration of the school’s fine and performing arts, will be held throughout four days and three evenings, between May 15 and 24 at 35 Polo Rd. The community is welcome at these free events.
The Artfest Exhibit Opening Night Reception will be at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 18, just prior to the Artfest Concert. The exhibit will also be open during school hours, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. from May 19 to 24. The exhibit is the culminating display of student work from all fine art classes, including Advanced Placement and Advanced Art, Architecture, Digital Design, Digital Photography, Fashion, Sculpture and Ceramics, and Studio Art. The artwork on display reflects the students’ talent and commitment, as well as their joy in expressing themselves. Art teachers are Joseph Giacalone (lead teacher), Christine Hakanjin, Linda Haase Kane and Emily Man.
The Concerto Concert begins at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, May 15. The Chamber Symphony will perform works by Bach, Chopin, Debussy, de Sarasate, Hoffmeister, Grieg, Lalo, Mozart, Sibelius and Telemann.
Featured student soloists will be Sherzod Bakhtiyorov (violin), Rachel Berkower (piano), Lauren Goldsamt (violin), Man Shan Hon (flute), Michelle Lalehzar (viola), Zachary Lee (flute and piano), Ronald Li (violin), Maya Mualem (oboe), Sofia Notar-Francesco (viola), Scott Rothbaum (clarinet), Ethan Shaktman (clarinet) and Matthew Weinstein (violin). Students will be under the direction of Joseph Rutkowski, instrumental music teacher.
The Artfest Concert on Thursday, May 18, begins at 7:15 p.m., with music by the Chamber and Jazz Ensembles. The Concert theme is Music from the New World, featuring Chorus, Symphonic Band and Symphony Orchestra.
Chorus will perform “Bridge Over Troubled Water” with Sofia Notar-Francesco, student conductor; selections from West Side Story with Zachary Lee, student conductor; “City of Stars” from La La Land; and a medley from Guys and Dolls.
Symphonic Band will perform “Night of the Tropics,” “A Touch of Cohan,” “A Tribute to Duke Ellington” and “Satchmo!”
Symphony Orchestra will perform pieces by Barber, Berlin, Bernstein, Copland, Gershwin, Hovhaness and an original work by student Zachary Lee.
The evening will conclude with a rousing rendition of Sousa’s Stars and Stripes Forever performed jointly by the Chorus and Symphony Orchestra.
Vocal students will be under the direction of Dr. Janine Robinson and instrumental students will be under the direction of Mr. Rutkowski.
New to Artfest this year, Improv replaces the previous Artfest Repertory Theater performance on Monday, May 22, at 7:30 p.m.
For more information, contact Neil Saggerson, North High fine and performing arts department head, at nsaggerson@greatneck.k12.ny.us.
