Tuesday 28 May 2019

Fine Arts Festival in Harbor Hall


Suzanne Liew

AP exams are finally over, but the students are busier than ever.

Feet scurrying everywhere, the Harbor Deck and Hall are filled with art students from Foundation Art, Advanced Art, Master Studio, and AP Art.

The students rush to prepare and set up the artwork, making sure everything looks aesthetically pleasing. Meanwhile, the art room is messier than ever, full of art students preparing their signs for the exhibition. Alex Stuart (10) and Kalia Brewster (10) are busy sorting out art prints, postcards and decks of cards for the art sale later in the evening. The AP students, Alicia Chin (12), Suzanne Liew (12), Gloria Kim (11), Grace Moon (11) and Philip Yeoh (12), are busy preparing for their speed painting performance, too. The artwork is finally set up after a few days, where students and parents can appreciate the hard work of the students throughout the year. 

It is Friday evening, the last day of the Fine Arts Festival. Food trucks drive onto the Dalat campus; students and parents flock over to enjoy the food. Caricature, calligraphy, and clay activities are set up on the lawn for students to enjoy. The caricature stalls are in popular demand as Gloria Kim (11), Sheryl Ang (11), and Letitia Ong (11) quickly sketch out many beautiful portraits. On the deck, Emily Chew (11) and Megan Septon (11) are busy selling art prints and postcards. Unique and impressive artwork lines the second floor and auditorium. As it gets late, the atmosphere buzzes with excitement as more and more students and parents crowd around, admiring the artwork while waiting for the band and choir performances to start. 

At around 7:00pm, parents and students begin making their way into Harbor Hall, getting ready to enjoy the performances. Five canvases are lined up across the stage. The AP students, dressed formally in black, wait anxiously backstage, rehearsing their movements for the last time before the first performance. The music begins playing, and blue lights flash onstage. The AP students make their way to the stage, switching between canvases. Hurried brushstrokes fly everywhere; white paint fills up the canvases. The audience watches in awe and confusion, trying to figure out what the students are painting. The song comes to an end, and the canvases are put together like a jigsaw puzzle, one by one. The painting of jellyfish comes to life, and the auditorium is filled with applause and excitement.

Choir and band performances follow after, impressive and professional as usual. The last song of choir performance was sad and nostalgic, as the choir members and the audience started tearing up. As the song ended, the choir members gave each other hugs on stage, comforting one another. The seniors were reminded of how soon it was until their graduation. 

The band performances lightened up the mood, with their loud and energetic music. The sounds of different instruments came together perfectly, weaving a perfect harmony into the audience's ears. Familiar songs were played, such as songs from Phantom of the Opera and Les Misérables. Sophia Park (12) performed a few flute solos in the performance, leaving the audience in awe. Many of the songs sounded like songs from Disney movies and other theme parks, which brought a sense of nostalgia.  It was an enjoyable and fantastic performance, and an excellent way to end the last day of the Fine Arts Festival. 

The audience left home satisfied, excited to return next year for even greater performances.

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