Celebrating a Year of Creativity and Excellence

The visual and performing arts at Severn are more than outlets for creative expression. They provide a lens through which to view our world with both self-awareness and empathy for others. The ability to express oneself in unique and creative ways is a skill our students need perhaps more now than ever. Held this past Friday through Zoom, our annual Fine Arts Assembly was a chance to celebrate the achievements of our student-artists, together.

Looking Back

While waiting for Upper School students and families to join the webinar, our arts faculty played a slideshow of student work and performances. With the images fresh in our minds, Mr. Rob Redei reflected on the school year. Excerpted from his remarks,
“The visual arts have been especially busy this year, creating works that not only challenged the artist but the viewer as well. The work covered a wide range of mediums from photography and ceramics to print making and painting. We were treated to a great outdoor production of The Tempest, the student written, directed and acted play, For Good Unknown by Jake Leroux and a truly exemplary performance of Sunday in the Park with George.

Our choirs and instrumental ensembles performed in our Revels concert in December, for morning meetings, and for the Middle and Lower school. Severn was the only school to place two choirs in the finals of a tri-state competition, those choirs placed 2nd and 3rd. Mackenzie Shivers brought her blend of Irish-influenced folk-rock as our Dillon Moran Musician in Residence, culminating in a concert that featured true collaboration between her and many of our students.

Even now at home, our artists are creating art, our musicians are putting out virtual performances and our yearbook will be coming out soon. So while we celebrate some individual contributions this morning, let us also celebrate the great work that all of our student-artists have done and are continuing to do.”

Tri-M

The Tri-M Music Honor Society is a national organization dedicated to serving communities through music. Led by seniors Matthew Beagan and Susana Hresko, Tri-M started a new series of “First Friday” concerts to showcase the talents of our students each month including an array of styles from musical theater to singer-songwriter and everything in between.
Tri-M Members include:
  • Cole Almy '21
  • Daniel Babalola '21
  • Elizabeth Barroll '21
  • Matthew Beagan '20
  • Elizabeth Biran '22
  • Jordan Bruce '20
  • Emma Campbell '21
  • Lana Cate '22
  • Julia Christie '20
  • Maddie Clarke '22
  • Chéla Cunningham '21
  • Anna D’Amore '22
  • Grace Derderian '21
  • Pilar Ebel '21
  • Luke Fromal '22
  • Maddie Hawkins '20
  • Abby Hayden '21
  • Claire Hill '22
  • Susana Hresko '20
  • Bella Ingrao '21
  • Kendall Jenkins '22
  • Christiana Kambouris '21
  • Will Klepper '20
  • Jessica Lavine '22
  • Caleb Morgan '21
  • Brendan Murphy '20
  • Erin Murphy '21
  • Will Oliver '21
  • Andrew Powell '22
  • Chris Sixbey '22
  • Madison Skinner '21
  • Amy Sobocinski '21
  • Cherop Soi '22
  • Josie Thompson '22
  • Jake Van Gieson '20
  • Khalil Waite '22
  • Ryan Ward '22
  • Danica Williams '20
  • Kendall Willis '22

National Art Honor Society

Mr. Skip Sensbach spoke about the National Art Honor Society, an organization that recognizes students who have demonstrated an extraordinary passion for, and excellence in the visual arts. NAHS members participate annually in the Memory Project creating portraits for orphaned and disadvantaged children all over the world, as well as partnering with Anne Arundel Community College to provide pottery bowls for their Empty Bowl program to raise money for local food banks.
National Art Honor Society members include:
  • Brooke Arnold '20
  • Carter Austin '20
  • Peyton Behling '21
  • Emily Bond '21
  • Sophia Bontempo '20
  • Via Crowley '21
  • Delaney Dabrowka '20
  • Flora Damon '20
  • Charlotte Dickinson '21
  • Ally Dixon '20
  • Sean Donegan '21
  • Alaura Enright '20
  • Yeala Grimes '21
  • Cierra Hargrove '20
  • Jenna Kantowski '22
  • Regan King '21
  • Sherry Li '21
  • Juliet Luers '21
  • Paige Mason '22
  • Emma Miller '20
  • Aislinn Murray '21
  • Hannah Powell '20
  • Molly Seaton '21
  • Ashley Urban '20
  • Julia Youssef '21

Yearbook

Ms. Kristin Johnson shared the exceptional work our yearbook staff has done this year, especially with little prior experience working with layout and design software. Ms. Johnson thanked each member for their contributions from sports photography to cover illustration. The yearbook staff includes:
  • Collyn Ballentine '21
  • Isabelle Benoit '21
  • Sara Dugan '20
  • Alaura Enright '20
  • Paige Mason '22
  • Ty'Jae Jones '20

Arts Achievement and Senior Awards

The recipients of the Arts Achievement and Senior Art Awards set the standard for dedication and passion in a particular artistic discipline, and have demonstrated that passion over time, across various arts classes, and through involvement outside of the classroom. Our faculty shared heartfelt remarks about each student's impact on the arts community at Severn.
Severn School student arts awards recipients.
Honorees pictured in the order listed below.
  • Peyton Behling '21, Arts Achievement Award (3D visual art)
  • Flora Damon ‘20, The Daniel Maurice Rothman Memorial Three‑Dimensional Art Award
  • Charlotte Dickinson '21, Arts Achievement Award (2D visual art)
  • Hannah Powell ‘20, Jane Schwartz Memorial Award
  • Yeala Grimes ‘21 Arts Achievement Award (digital art and photography)
  • Emma Lavis ‘21, Renaissance Award
  • Ava Wisnom ‘22, Arts Achievement Award (drama)
  • Robin Howie ‘20, Performing Arts Award
  • Daniel Babalola ‘21, Arts Achievement Award (instrumental music) 
  • Grace Pilar Ebel ‘21, Arts Achievement Award (vocal music)
  • Matthew Beagan ‘20, V Award for Music (vocal)
  • Jordan Bruce ‘20, V Award for Music (instrumental)

Looking Ahead

Mr. Redei concluded the ceremony with words of encouragement and gratitude,
“To those of you looking toward your next year at Severn, who have been on the sidelines or only marginally involved in the arts community, I encourage you to reach out and find something to get involved in. I promise you there is something here that you will find fulfilling and meaningful.

And finally, a special thank you to our seniors. Over the last four years, whether you have participated as an artist, performer, tech crew or audience member, you have left the Upper School arts community a more rich and vibrant one than you found it. While the quarantine can take away some of the face-to-face rituals and celebrations you deserve as graduating seniors, it can’t take away the lasting contributions that you’ve made to our arts programs in your time here. Whenever you come back, you can look at a sculpture, watch a play, listen to a concert, and say ‘I helped build that.’”

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