The Shadow
Students from the three area school systems displayed their talents Saturday afternoon during the third annual Celebration of the Arts, held at Covington High School.
The event, which is an opportunity for area school children to showcase their musical and visual arts talents, is a collaborative effort between the Covington City, Alleghany County and Bath County school systems.
Alleghany County hosted the first event in March, 2017, at the Historic Masonic Theatre in Clifton Forge; while Bath County hosted last year’s event at Bath County High School.
“Covington City Schools is proud to host this event,” said Superintendent Melinda Snead-Johnson. “The students have worked hard all weekend. We hope you enjoy the event and come back to visit Covington High School in the very near future.”
“I second everything that has just been said,” added Bath County Superintendent Sue Hirsh. “I’m sure you’re going to have a wonderful afternoon, and thank you for being here.”
“This was the brainchild of all our fine arts, performing arts and visual arts teachers who put this together three years ago,” said Alleghany County Superintendent Eugene Kotulka. “This is an incredible opportunity for our students and staff to show the talents that the kids have in the Alleghany Highlands.”
The event included artwork by students in the three high schools, and culminated with a concert held in Curfman Hall, featuring the Celebration Choir and Celebration Band.
The Celebration Choir, which kicked off the concert, was under the direction of Cody Ratliff, a 2011 graduate of Alleghany High School who is currently teaching choir and theatre at Van Devender Middle School in Parkersburg, W.Va.
Following graduation from AHS, Ratliff obtained his undergraduate degree in music education from Alderson-Broaddus University. In addition to teaching, he serves as a vocalist in the West Virginia Army National Guard, singing in several ensembles of the 249th Army Band based in Morgantown, W.Va.
Ratliff is also working toward completing his master’s degree in educational leadership from Marshall University.
The choir was accompanied on piano by Ben Snedegar of Covington. Snedegar is a graduate of Alleghany High School and Western Carolina University, where he received bachelor of arts degrees in music and political science.
Selections performed by the Celebration Choir included “Agnus Dei” by Audrey Snyder, “Bright Morning Stars,” arranged by Jay Althouse; “We’re the Men,” by Jay Althouse; “Requiem” by Eliza Gilkyson, arranged by Craig Hella Johnson; “How Can I Keep From Singing,” a Quaker song arranged by Jay Althouse; and “From Now On,” by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, arranged by Roger Emerson.
The High School Celebration Band was under the direction of Highlands native Dr. Scott Humphries.
Dr. Humphries served as band director at Alleghany High School from 2001 until 2008 and is currently an assistant professor and director of Instrumental Studies and Music Education at Manchester University in Indiana. At Manchester, he conducts the university bands and symphony orchestra. In 2011 he joined the Fort Wayne Area Community Band as principal conductor, and remains an active clinician and adjudicator throughout the United States.
Dr. Humphries received his bachelor’s of music education from James Madison University, and a master of arts in education from Virginia Tech, where he served as a graduate assistant with the Marching Virginians under David McKee. He earned a doctor of musical arts degree in music education from Boston University.
Selections performed by the Celebration Band included “Heroes Triumphant” by William Owens, “Reflections of Asia” by Todd Phillips, and “Lullaby” by Travis Cross. They concluded their performance with a piece that Humphries composed, titled “Majestic Mountain.”
Acknowledgements were given to the following individuals and organizations:
•Community Support: Trani’s Grill, Cakes Your Way, the Alleghany Journal.
•Covington City Schools: Melinda Snead-Johnson, superintendent; the Covington City School Board; Derek Cantrell and Chris Jones, Covington High School administration; Rob Bennett, Jeter-Watson Intermediate School principal.
•Bath County Schools: Sue Hirsh, superintendent; the Bath County School Board; Dr. Michael Perry, Bath County High School principal.
•Alleghany County Public Schools: Eugene Kotulka, superintendent; the Alleghany County School Board and central office staff; Dwayne Ross, Ty Dobbs, Kelly Huff and Karen Staunton, Alleghany High School administration.
Participating school programs and teachers included AHS art, Courtney Horner; AHS band, Sarah Blevins; AHS choir, Amanda Sprouse; BCHS art, Emily Beard; BCHS band, Melinda Hooker; CHS art, Heather Baker; CHS band/choir and JWIS band/choir, Kaitlyn Peters.
Celebration Art Show participants included:
•Alleghany High School: Arielle Dunaway, Nathan Davis, Cassy Evans, Alyssa Herstine, Lydia Armentrout, Alexis Panther and Alexis Ostling, 9th grade; Heidi Rogers, London Critzer and Angela Schilling, 10th grade; Claudia Caruthers and Adrin Marshall, 11th grade; and Bailey Taylor, Braden Adcock and Kalen Richmond, 12th grade.
•Bath County High School: Lige Connolly, Shyenne Ailstock, Alyssa Bailey, Makenna Ailstock, Jessica Ingram, Sara Souadi, Noah Phillips, Vyvyen Bradley, Nena Renaud and Isabelle Farris, 8th grade; Demi Legg and Cadence Miller, 9th grade; Karrigan Black and Natasha Curtis, 10th grade; Claudia Buchewicz and Destiny Coates, 11th grade; Bella Dufour, Kylee Hall and Judith Hiner, 12th grade.
•Covington High School: Grace Bennett, Dakota Shanklin and Maya Young, 10th grade; Ethan Forbes, Abbie McDaniel, Brandon Overton and Jasmine Graham, 11th grade; Rayne Barnett, Bralynn Cigic, Dakota May, Abby Pritt, Alexis Thompson, Haley Jerman, Midajah Heighter, Grace Nicely Whitney Webb and Brooke Crowder, 12th grade.
Members of the Celebration Choir included:
•Soprano: Savanna Bayles, Marley Booth, Ashlyn Frazier, Jesse Gadd, Olivia Madsen, Sara Moses and Heidi Rogers, AHS; Trinity Hall, CHS.
•Alto: Savanna Angle, Dalaynie Elmore, Hannah Leitch and Erin Smith, AHS: Nadia Bergholz, Orianna Hall, Amiah Hunter and Amber Persinger, CHS.
•Tenor: Dylan Gibson, Noah O’Conner and Karly Tingler, AHS; Dean Anderson, CHS.
•Bass: Ethanael Elmore, Justin Leitch and Dakota Narum, AHS.
Members of the Celebration Band included:
•Flute: Jakob Knick, Kelsey Moses, Rebekah Redmon, Macyn Carter, Tyler Dawson, AHS; Emma Marshall, BCHS; Gabriella Taylor, JWIS; Natalie White, Millboro Elementary School.
•Clarinet: Trent Perry and Paula Putnam, AHS; Gabbi Reed and Sarah Eaton, BCHS; Amara Shelton, Megan Rickett, Omarija Rice and Kirsten Weinger, CHS; Kimberly Wells, JWIS; Nevaeh Knick, MES.
•Bass Clarinet: Katie Burgess, AHS.
•Oboe: Kelly Dudley, AHS.
•Alto Saxophone: Logan Robertson and Macie Miller, AHS; Dillan Phenegar and Jaryd Friel, BCHS; Sadie Alphin, MES.
•Tenor Saxophone: Abby Hicks, AHS; Allan Kimmel and Kalyn Harmon, BCHS.
•Baritone Saxophone: David Donnan, AHS.
•Trumpet: Justin Clarke and Keely Lowman, AHS; Lettie Alphin, Colby Lowry, Ali Frame and Alison Morton, BCHS; Isaac Ruano, CHS; Dillon Miller, MES.
•Horn: Tye Hooker, BCHS.
•Trombone: Travis Hall and Faith Nichols, BCHS; Desmond Taylor, CHS; Nick Bryant and Samantha Woodson, MES;
•Baritone: Nathan Phenegar, BCHS.
•Tuba: Jordan Davis, AHS; Chris Coates, BCHS; Robbie Harmon, CHS.
•Snare drum: Courtney Hubbard, AHS; Jillian Brown and Franklin Colon, BCHS.
•Tympani: Daniel Curtis, AHS.
(Gavin Dressler Photo)
