Satellite High Fine Arts Students Tuning Up For Holidays
By Robert Hughes // December 5, 2012
Jazz & Poetry Reading Thursday
BREVARD COUNTY • SATELLITE BEACH, FLORIDA – There’s a number of live entertainment events in Brevard County during the holiday season, but also many musical offerings on tap that might be overlooked, although the talent displayed is great and the music is free.
Satellite High’s fine arts department is putting on musical performances in the school’s auditorium on three consecutive days from Dec. 11 to 13.
Its performers also will be reading poetry in a coffeehouse-style environment from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Dec. 6 in the school courtyard followed by a winter jazz concert.
The public is invited to come and there is no charge, although donations to support the program will be requested.
The school’s associate director of instrumental music, Ian McCormick, said that it is a shame that more people haven’t heard about Satellite’s public performances.
“Here at Satellite, we strive to put on a great show,” he said recently. “We put on music that’s great to listen to. People need to come out to hear what youth is still capable of, to hear what these kids can do after working so hard on their music.”
Satellite is one of three high schools in Brevard County – Eau Gallie and Merritt Island being the others – that have Fine Arts Academies.
“All high schools have bands and music instruction, but the Fine Arts Academy offers a program where all the classes tie into art,” McCormick explained. “Students can decide between instruments, vocal, drama, visual art and fashion design.
“Kids come from across the county to be in the academy, and yeah, the kids just love it here.”
Satellite boasts three jazz bands and three orchestras. McCormick said that the jazz and classical music they perform may not be the most modern music, but he explained that “pop music is made up the same way as Mozart and Beethoven. It follows the same structures.”
“When students are in the program the first two years, they don’t seem to get the connection. But by the time they’re juniors and seniors, they see the connection and appreciate that what they learn here” will help them create any modern style of music in the future.”
HIGH SCHOOL FINE ARTS PERFORMANCES
Eau Gallie High: 7 p.m. Dec. 7, 8, 9, “Prism” band concert. Admission is $12.
Merritt Island High: 7 p.m. Dec. 11 and 13, Christmas concert. Free admission.
Satellite High: 5:30 p.m. Dec. 6, coffeehouse-style jazz and poetry readings. Followed at 7 p.m. by holiday jazz concert. Chorus winter concert at 7 p.m. Dec. 11. Orchestra winter concert at 7 p.m. Dec. 12. Band holiday concert at 7 p.m. Dec. 13 . All performances at Satellite High open and free to the public.
