Artists Showcase Talents

On Friday, April 8, more than 100 Upper School Marksmen showcased their artistic talents at the 2022 Dallas/Ft. Worth ISAS (Independent Schools Association of the Southwest) Fine Arts Festival. The boys joined hundreds of young artists from across the metroplex for concerts and exhibits hosted on the campuses of Greenhill School and Parish Episcopal School. Given the uncertainty over the pandemic, this year’s region-wide festival was canceled, but schools were encouraged to organize festivals on a local level.

 

“This is a one-of-a-kind experience for high school students across the southwest, and the only festival of its kind in the country,” said Marion Glorioso-Kirby, Anthony Vintcent Fine Arts Department Chair and Drama teacher. “The Festival allows students to open a dialogue with fellow artists, musicians, and performers, and we celebrate the power and impact of the Fine Arts.”

 

Originating in 1967, the ISAS Fine Arts Festival promotes and develops Upper School arts activities and curricula, intending to foster high standards and stimulate creativity in the performing and fine arts programs of the schools and in the individual endeavors of students and teachers. Rather than a competition for prizes or rankings, the Festival is designed as a celebration of sharing and learning with critiques by professional artists and performers. Marksmen exhibited their Drawings and Paintings, Ceramics, Film, Photos, and Wood and Metal pieces, along with performances by the Band, Choir, Orchestra, and Improv Troupe.

 

“It was so inspiring to perform alongside artists from other schools,” said Pranay Sinkre ’22 who attended as a member of the Orchestra. “I cannot begin to tell you how many times I have been impressed and learned from the performances of other fine arts programs.”

 

Eleven schools participated in the DFW ISAS Fine Arts Festival: St. Mark’s School of Texas , Hockaday, Greenhill, Parish Episcopal School, Episcopal School of Dallas, Shelton School, Winston School, Ursuline Academy, Alcuin School of Dallas, All Saints’ Episcopal Ft. Worth, and Ft. Worth Country Day School. In the spring of 2025, St. Mark’s will once again host the Festival, welcoming students and teachers from all of the 97 ISAS member schools.