In the News

SAM EXLINE From ArtsWest School For The Performing & Visual Arts Named To MENC 2011 All-National Honor Ensembles

  • Local Student One Of 330 Selected To Perform In Nation’s Most Prestigious Student Music Ensembles
  • June 26, 2011 At Kennedy Center In Washington DC

For Immediate Release ~
Contact: Elizabeth Lasko at MENC ElizabethL@menc.org (703) 860-4000 or
Kendell Nielsen at ArtsWest School for the Performing and Visual Arts kendell.nielsen@artswestschool.org (208) 938-5410

RESTON, VA June 1, 2011 – MENC: The National Association for Music Education announced the members of the 2011 All-National Honor Ensembles. The students selected will rehearse and perform together in June 2011 in Washington DC. Sam Exline, a junior at ArtsWest School for the Performing & Fine Arts in Eagle, Idaho, was named to the MENC 2011 All-National Orchestra, performing as principal trumpet.

Sam, an instrumentalist, is the son of Eric & Shawna Exline and lives in Meridian, Idaho. He has dreams of playing in a professional orchestra someday. His private trumpet teacher is Marcellus Brown of Boise State University. ”Sam is a teacher’s dream”, said Kendell Nielsen, Sam’s music teacher at ArtsWest. “Sam’s one of the few students who has figured out the secret to efficient and effective practice.”

MENC established its National Honor Ensembles as the ultimate recognition of music student performance, beyond state and divisional levels. “We are very pleased to offer this unique performance opportunity to a very select group of our nation's finest high school musicians,” said David Weatherred, MENC Northwest Division past-president and chair of the All-National Honor Ensembles. “Over the course of four days, these top flight musicians will rehearse with marvelous and inspirational conductors, leading up to an exceptional finale performance on June 26. The 2011 MENC All-National Honor Ensembles will most surely be a once in a lifetime musical experience for these incredible high school musicians!” The complete list of students is available online at www.mencevents.org.
 

ArtsWest Takes Top Awards in Anaheim's "Heritage Festival" - March 11-12, 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT: Jeff Baker Phone: 208.938.5410  Email: Jeff.Baker@artswestschool.org
3300 W. State St./Eagle, ID 83616 Website: www.artswestschool.org

The ArtsWest School for the Performing and Visual Arts continued their unprecedented national success by garnering an astounding 17 Top Awards at the Heritage International Music festival March 11-12 in Anaheim, CA. The ArtsWest Chamber Orchestra, Chamber Choir, Jazz Combo and Vocal Jazz Collective all traveled to California to compete in this prestigious competition, which featured schools from throughout the U.S. including Idaho, Washington, California, Oklahoma, Florida, and Hawaii.

All four groups received the highest ranking given, a ‘Gold Award’ rated on a national scale. The ArtsWest Chamber Orchestra, in just their first year under Artistic Director Kendell Nielsen, received a ‘Gold Award’ and second place overall finish in the Orchestra division. In addition, the ArtsWest Chamber Choir was invited to perform at Carnegie Hall next year as part of the Heritage Festival of Gold. This is the fourth time the group has received this invitation.
The ArtsWest Jazz Combo, ‘Sonny Moon for Four’ and the ‘Vocal Jazz Collective’ received awards for the highest overall scores of the entire festival, as well as awards for the top instrumental and vocal ensembles respectively. Ten individual awards were given for the Festival’s ‘Outstanding Musicians’, and 8 of those awards went to ArtsWest students. This included: Joel Bean-Piano (9th Grade), Thomas Ahlquist-Guitar (10th grade), Micah Stevens-guitar (10th grade), John Priddy-drums (10th grade), Jenniel Miller-Bass (12th grade), Daniel Fox-Trumpet (12th grade), Fara Sumbureru-voice (10th grade), Sekayi Sumbureru-voice (10th grade).

The awards ceremony concluded at Disneyland with ArtsWest School taking home the biggest prize of all, the ‘Festival Sweepstakes Award’ given to the top combined music program at the festival. ‘These students have worked so hard at their craft, and these awards are a testament to that hard work. What an amazing accomplishment!’ beamed Jeff Baker, Executive Director, ArtsWest School.  In just 4 years, ArtsWest has won over 100 Top Awards at Festivals and competitions throughout the United States. Additionally, the school has 20 nationally published student authors, 5 First Ballot GRAMMY Nominations, and the 2010 Downbeat Magazine HS Vocalist of the Year.

ArtsWest Dancers Win Big In Local Nexus Dance Competition - March 5, 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CONTACT: Michelle Kresge Email: Michelle.Kresge@artswestschool.org
ArtsWest School, 3300 W. State St./Eagle 83616  Website: www.artswestschool.org; phone: 208.938.5410

ArtsWest School for the Performing and Visual Arts dancers won 10 awards in the Nexus Dance Competition held March 5, 2011 at Caldwell High School. ArtsWest participants ranged from freshman to seniors and all competed through their outside local dance studios.  Solo Placement awards went to the following dancers:

Chelacie Fife - Platinum 1st Place, Senior Division / Taylor Munson - Platinum 1st Place, Teen Division / Sienna Kresge - Platinum 1st Place, Teen Division / Lyndsi Henretty - Platinum 1st Place, Teen Division / Nichol Baxter - Gold 2nd Place, Teen Division

Overall awards went to the following dancers: Sienna Kresge - 2nd and 3rd Overall Teen Solo; Overall Outstanding Performer - Teen Division / Taylor Munson - 1st Overall Teen Solo
Chelacie Fife & Lyndsi Henretty - 1st Overall Senior Duo/Trio

Michelle Kresge is the ArtsWest School Dance Department Director. Kresge explains, "We are extremely proud of these students and their solo achievements for which they competed through their respective studios. These awards are indicative of the strong foundation these girls obtain through participation in the dance program at ArtsWest." All ArtsWest dance students study technique during school classes and after school compete on dance teams at local studios. ArtsWest dance classes offer a wide range of dance technique genres from ballet to hip- hop and last December the dancers traveled to NYC to participate in classes at the Broadway dance center. "We feel it is additional opportunities to practice their talent that make our dancers so strong," adds Kresge.

ArtsWest is Idaho's only private arts school and is located in Eagle, Idaho. Artistic focuses include theater, visual arts, contemporary and classical instrumental, songwriting, dance, photography, jazz, voice and more. ArtsWest is a member of the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools and April 9 is offering Spring Scholarship auditions for new students. 95% of overall graduates are awarded artistic or academic college scholarships and winter enrollment for grades 6-12 is happening now.

 ArtsWest Junior State-Wide Winner At American Legion Oratorical Contest - February 26, 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CONTACT: Brendan Earle Phone: 208.938.5410
ArtsWest School Email: Brendan.Earle@artswestschool.org
3300 W. State St./Eagle, ID 83616 Website: www.artswestschool.org

Chas Baines, a junior at Eagle's ArtsWest School for the Performing and Visual Arts, recently won State at the American Legion Oratorical Contest held February 26, 2011 at Gowen Field. Baines competed by giving 2 speeches focused on the U.S. Constitution at four levels of local competition to take State. Baines is now invited to compete in the Nationals that will be held this April at Purdue University in Indianapolis.

“This contest is a fantastic way for students to learn about the founding of our great nation in a very unique way.” explains Brendan Earle, ArtsWest History Teacher. Baines goes on to explain further, “I entered for the last three years to earn money for college. I have already earned $2,000 and hope to get the $18,000 top prize. I think my favorite part is going around locally and giving my speech. People like to hear from my generation about how we stand on political issues.” To win, Chas had to give one speech on the duties of a citizen as outlined in the Constitution and another one as an impromptu speech on one amendment.

The 70 year old contest exists to develop deeper knowledge and appreciation for the U.S. Constitution among high school students. Students are presented with an academic speaking challenge that teaches important leadership qualities, the history of our nation's laws, the ability to think and speak clearly, and an understanding of American citizenship. The program has featured numerous politicians and prominent contestants over the years, including former presidential candidate Alan Keyes and CNN anchor Lou Dobbs.

ArtsWest is Idaho's only private arts school and is located in Eagle, Idaho. Artistic focuses include theater, visual arts, contemporary and classical instrumental, songwriting, dance, photography, jazz, voice and more. ArtsWest is a member of the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools and 95% of overall graduates are awarded artistic or academic college scholarships. Winter enrollment for grades 6-12 is happening now.  

ArtsWest Students Win Top Honors At Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival - February 23-28, 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CONTACT: Jeff Baker Phone: 208.938.5410
ArtsWest School Email: Jeff.Baker@artswestschool.org
3300 W. State St./Eagle, ID 83616 Website: www.artswestschool.org

The ArtsWest School for the Performing and Visual Arts' “Vocal Jazz Collective” won “Outstanding Vocal Jazz Ensemble” and first place honors at the 44th annual Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival held Feb. 23-28 in Moscow, Idaho. The students first performed for 3 adjudicators, who provided feedback and critical evaluation of the performances. Based on their musical execution, expression and presentation, the ArtsWest vocal ensemble was then invited to perform at the winner's 'Young Artists Concert'.

Seventeen ArtsWest students participated at this year's festival and will perform in 5 other competitions later in the year. The Lionel Hampton Festival is the largest student jazz festival and competition in the world, hosting 10,000 Jr. High, High School and College students annually. ArtsWest Jazz students received 13 top awards in last year's festival, more than any other participating school. One week after the competition, the ArtsWest students received an exclusive invitation to perform in the world's most prestigious Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland this July.

"The ArtsWest 'Vocal Jazz Collective' continues to be recognized as one of the finest vocal ensembles in the United States,” explains Jeff Baker, ArtsWest's Executive Director and Jazz Department Instructor, “Much more significant however, is the way that these students go about the business of being young artists. They are humble, talented, and non competitive. They work tirelessly, and they strive to honor their own personal voice, as well as this incredible art form."

ArtsWest is Idaho's only private arts school and is located in Eagle, Idaho. Artistic focuses include theater, visual arts, contemporary and classical instrumental, songwriting, dance, photography, jazz, voice and more. Fall enrollment is happening now and Scholarship Auditions are April 9. ArtsWest is a member of the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools and 95% of overall graduates are awarded artistic or academic college scholarships, with over $3 million awarded in the last 3 years.