Nick Watford is featured during a performance of the Wallace State Jazz Band at Preview Day 2016 for the Fine and Performing Arts program at Wallace State Community College.
HANCEVILLE – This Friday morning, anyone with an interest in learning more about the Wallace State Fine and Performing Arts programs or who would like to see and hear what the students are currently working on for the year may do so at the annual Preview Day. Preview Day will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Friday in the recital hall of the Burrow Center for the Fine and Performing Arts. Admission is free and to open to the public.
“Each year, we invite current and potential students, parents and the community to get a little preview of the work performed by our Fine and Performing Arts programs,” said Ricky Burks, chair of the Fine Arts program at Wallace State. “This will be our third Preview Day and it’s proved a useful tool to communicate with students, show them around the facilities and give them an idea of what options are open to them at Wallace State.
“I think one misconception people may have is that students have to be majors in music, dance, or drama to participate in the Fine Arts performing programs,” Burks added, “but that’s not the case. Students from across all of Wallace State’s academic, health and technical programs are welcome to try out for the performing programs. We offer scholarships to students who want to participate in the performing arts.”
Part of Preview Day will include providing information about upcoming scholarship auditions. Those auditions will be held from 8 a.m. to noon on Feb. 10 and March 3. Information offered at Preview Day will provide students with tips on how to prepare for the auditions.
Time will also be set aside to learn about the Fine and Performing Arts Academy offered through Wallace State’s Fast Track program. The academy offers high school students in grades 11 and 12 the opportunity to take courses in art, dance, music, theatre and visual communications, along with their academic courses.
Wallace State’s performance groups include the Jazz Band, Concert Band, Pep Band, Wallace State Singers, Concert Choir, Vocal Jazz and Wallace State Theatre. While the groups most often perform separately, there are times when they combine talents for productions, such as the recent holiday production of “In the Mood for Christmas,” where the Jazz and Concert Bands provided the music for the Singers and Theatre students’ performances.
For more information about Wallace State’s Fine and Performing Arts programs, contact Stefany Pate at 256-352-8277 or stefany.pate@wallacestate.edu. Visit www.wallacestate.edu for more information about Wallace State Community College.