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The Beauty of Truth
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September 15, 2016Fine Arts program continues to grow with the addition of new courses and new Fine Arts Wing
It is 7:00 a.m. on the Frassati Catholic campus and the sun is just beginning to rise. Cars are trickling into the parking lot one by one as students arrive on campus. It’s early, and most students are preparing for the day ahead as they await the start of classes at 7:50 a.m. Students in Mr. Knox's Instrumental Ensemble class, however, have a different start to the day, as they are already hard at work in the Performing Arts Room in the Student Life Building.
The addition of an instrumental ensemble is just one element of a Fine Arts program that has seen tremendous growth over the past two years. From Frassati Catholic’s inception in 2013, the fine arts have always been a particular area of focus because of their emphasis on the beauty of truth. As Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI said, “Wherever there is truth, beauty must be born, wherever human beings are fulfilled in a correct and good way, they express themselves in beauty. The relationship between truth and beauty is inseparable and therefore we need beauty.”
With this in mind, the Fine Arts program at Frassati Catholic has been designed to complement its unique Ethics & Culture Department, as well as the History Department and the Digital Communications and Media Department.“Wherever there is truth, beauty must be born, wherever human beings are fulfilled in a correct and good way, they express themselves in beauty. The relationship between truth and beauty is inseparable and therefore we need beauty.”
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI
“The Fine Arts program at Frassati Catholic High School is not solely about creating excellent art, drama, dance, and music,” said Medina. “Art education challenges students – and often audiences – to step outside their comfort zone and try something new. It requires empathy to understand how they and their work are being perceived. It requires working as a team to create something tailored for a particular community. Most importantly, the fine arts have the ability to magnify beauty. Many of us have had the opportunity of being moved to tears by a particular work of art. As a spectator, it gives us a glimpse into the greatness of God. If we are overwhelmed by the sublime beauty of a piece of music, imagine our reaction to the beauty of heaven! When we see a beautiful dance, we cannot help but stand back in wonder at the abilities of the human body. The arts can teach, they can entertain, and they can incite us to action. In a school dedicated to changing the culture around us, the Fine Arts provide a tangible outlet in which to do so.”
"The arts can teach, they can entertain, and they can incite us to action. In a school dedicated to changing the culture around us, the Fine Arts provide a tangible outlet in which to do so."
Dr. Lindsay Medina, Director of Fine Arts
This year, the program has added classroom spaces devoted to the performing and visual arts in the Fine Arts Wing of its new Student Life Building. It also has been able to expand its curriculum and offers classes in AP Art History, Calligraphy, Chorus, Drawing, Graphic Design, Instrumental Ensemble, Social Dance, Speech, and Theater.
“Ensemble is a particularly exciting offering because it enables students to receive a fine arts credit before the start of the school day,” said Medina. “Students arrive for class at 7:00 a.m. instead of 7:45 a.m. This frees up time in the students' schedules for other courses. The instrumentation of the ensemble is diverse – we have strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion, piano, and guitar – and still play a variety of musicals styles. The instrumentation forces the ensemble to think about the purpose of each part and to adjust when necessary. It requires teamwork and communication skills beyond those you might find in a typical school band.”
Instrumental Ensemble isn’t the only new addition to the curriculum; Graphic Design and AP Art History are new visual arts course offerings.
“The AP Art History course attempts to focus on the breadth and depth of the visual art tradition by studying 250 works selected by the College Board,” said Medina. “At the end of the semester, students will take the AP test and, based on their score, are eligible to receive college credit. Graphic Design is computer based course where students learn the basics of layout and design using the Adobe Suite.”
As the Fine Arts program has grown, it has also received a number of accolades. Last year, several students in the fine arts program were recognized by the Texas Private School Music Educators’ Association (TPSMEA) for their work.
Megan Angelo '17, Kayla Auza '17, and Diana Davis '17 received "Superior" ratings at the Texas Private School Music Educators Association's (TPSMEA) Solo and Ensemble Contest; in addition, Joshua Elegado '18 was selected to perform as part of the All-State and Region Choirs, while Catherine Markus '17 was selected to perform as part of the All-Region Treble Choir.
And this fall, for the first time, the school will put on a musical production, the popular Broadway musical, Bye Bye Birdie.
“Bye Bye Birdie is a great musical that pokes fun at Elvis Presley and his 1957 draft notice,” said Medina. “We chose this musical comedy because of its copious teenage roles, family friendly fun, and relatable subject matter. Students are involved in every aspect of the show--they will be center stage and back stage.”
The show will take place on Nov. 17 and 18 at 7:00 p.m. in the school’s Student Life Building. Students in other fine arts classes will present their work at the Fine Arts Presentation on Friday, Dec. 2 at 7:00 in Assembly Hall.
"Each of the artistic disciplines has a rich history, and we are constantly challenging our students to encounter these traditions on a deeper and more personal level."
Dr. Lindsay Medina, Director of Fine Arts
The program has made tremendous strides in its first three years, and there is even more potential for growth, believes Medina: “Because of the opening of the Student Life Building, we have been able to expand the number of classes we offer and will be performing our first full length theater production. Each of the artistic disciplines has a rich history, and we are constantly challenging our students to encounter these traditions on a deeper and more personal level.”
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About Frassati Catholic High School: Founded in 2013, Frassati Catholic High School serves the families and parishes in the north Houston area of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. Administered by the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia Congregation from Nashville, TN, Frassati Catholic High School prepares students to walk on the path of true happiness through a robust college-preparatory curriculum rooted in the Catholic faith. The school currently serves students in grades 9-12. For more information about Frassati Catholic High School, contact Kyle Smith, director of communications, at 832-616-3227.
