Starting Arts has produced many excellent shows at local schools over the years. The non-profit arts education group kicked off the spring 2016 season with Spring Jam, a variety show. But in typical Starting Arts fashion, it was more than a typical variety show.
The hour-long program at Santa Clara High School last Saturday featured six separate acts ranging from singing to drumming to a brass ensemble – altogether performing 20 musical numbers. The performers included students of every age, kindergarten through high school.
The Santa Clara Vanguard Brass Ensemble under the direction of Charles Frost led off the program, followed by music and spoken word artists Janetta Coleman and the Monsoon’s Rhythm Poetry. The next act was the 12-member a cappella group, Cantabile Youth Singers, directed by Laney Armstrong. Cantabile was followed by the youngest singers, Sutter Elementary Kindergarten through Second grade Choir, directed by Heidi Arnott, and the Sutter Elementary Third through Fifth Grade Choir, Directed by Diana Torres-Koss.
The Sutter Elementary School K-2 choir was easily the cutest, but all the groups were talented and a treat to see and hear. Janet Coleman and the Monsoon only performed one number, Rhythm Poetry and it would have been a joy to hear them on stage for a more extended performance.
The Cantabile Youth Singers performed several well known numbers, and their rendition of Chil Con Carne by Anders Edenroth was excellent. Both Sutter Elementary Choirs sang their numbers with gusto and enthusiasm, and the finale by all three choirs left the audience wishing for more of everything we’d just seen and heard.
Starting Arts provides arts education and performance opportunities to over 28,000 K-12 students in 104 schools. For more information visit www.startingarts.com.