May 9, 2008

Tribute to the arts

San Jose Christian School hosts Northern California CSI Schools Fine Arts Festival

By Jeanne C. Carbone
Editor

San Jose Christian School [SJCS] became a mecca of talented students as they held the annual Northern California CSI Fine Arts Festival on May 2.

All the fine arts were celebrated at San Jose Christian School’s Festival on May 2. Photos by Jeanne C. Carbone

Three hundred fifth through eighth graders participated at school’s Campbell campus traveling from Alameda, Central Valley, Contra Costa, Hanford and Ripon Christian Schools. They performed vocal and instrumental solos, duets, trios and ensembles, read poetry, creative writings and original oratories and showcased their work in an art exhibit for fellow students and the over 100 parents who attended the event.

“Memories of today’s festival will be lifelong for the kids and the parents who attended,” said SJCS Superintendent Al Kosters who skilfully barbecued hamburgers for the lunch to celebrate the day. “They are juried by adjudicators but it is a festival, not a contest. Many of the parents participated as children and have very fond memories, and now their children are experiencing the Fine Arts Festival.”

Since 1959, SJCS has dedicated training young people for Christian life and service by offering a balanced program that reflects Biblical standards. The primary purpose of SJCS is to provide a Christ centered education for children of Christian parents. SJCS is part of Christian Schools International [CSI], a growing organization of Reformed Christian schools throughout North America and beyond. CSI serves over 475 schools, with a combined enrollment of over 100,000 students, and has been doing so since 1920.

San Jose Christian School students Elliot Fiske, Zane Moore and Landon Sterk performed a vocal ensemble of “I Will Sing Hallelujah” at the Fine Arts Festival.
SJCS students sang their hearts out with a vocal ensemble of Riebau’s “Honey Babe” at the Northern California CSI Schools Fine Arts Festival. Photos by Jeanne C. Carbone

SJCS students Elliot Fiske, Zane Moore and Landon Sterk were excited about performing at the Fine Arts Festival. The three seasoned performers entertained in the auditorium with their rendition of “I Will Sing Hallelujah.” Afterwards, the trio chorused “that was fun.”

Mom Valerie Sterk agreed, saying, “they were outstanding.”

But all the CSI kids were outstanding with many coming from far away, such as Lorenzo Anzoleaga a clarinetist, Caleb Swaim a trumpeter and Ben Cook, a violinist from Hanford Christian School who all performed solo. Or SJCS eighth graders Jessie Riley, Lauren Pham and Keegan Donley who displayed their original art work in pencil, oil pastel and pen and ink respectively. Many students presented multiple entries. Fiske showcased his essay “Qualities of a Successful President,” while Pham shared her original poetry “They Stand There” and Moore performed Vivaldi’s “Concerto in A Minor” in a solo on his French horn.

Equally important were the adjudicators who critiqued the kids’ music, writings and art. After Emma Johnson played Chopin’s “Ode to Music” as a clarinet solo, panel experts Noel Catura and Dennis Harper commented on her “nice sense of rhythm” and called her “a very good performer.”

Equally impressive was how SJCS orchestrated the event with over 300 children with their parents coming from all over Northern California, contacting the adjudicators, turning their campus into a Fine Arts Festival and serving lunch as well.

“It is a wonderful day for the school,” said SJCS art teacher Meloni Andrada. “The kids and parents really enjoyed the festival. And so did I.”