Dear Webmaster, I'm writing about something that has been overlooked in our community at least since I've been in school. You see, outside of academics, Armuchee High School seems to be viewed as an athletics-only school. Even our school motto reflects this opinion: "Athletics + Academics = Excellence". What has gone unnoticed is, THE ARTS DEPARTMENT AT ARMUCHEE HIGH SCHOOL HAS DONE AS WELL OR BETTER THAN THE ATHLETICS PROGRAMS. The chorus, under the direction of Ms. Connie Burleson:
That is only a small small small portion of it. The band has won competitions over and over, sent the first person in a number of years to All-State Band last year, performs at the football games to make the crowd lively, and has grown in capacity and talent within the years that Tony Daniel has directed it. The drama department, being shut off for 2 years, came back with full force last January (in the middle of the semester, mind you!), under the direction of Mrs. Bonnie Nipper. They have staged productions such as "Don't Rock The Boat", a reader's theatre play of "Titanic", the Miss AHS Pageant, "Feathers", "Candid" (our lead got Best Actor and our team placed 5th, 4 places above Darlingon), and is planning on doing a three-act called "Criss Crossed Lovers" and the musical "Godspell". These accomplishments seem to go largely unrecognized by the school and the community. Remember, the strength is in the tribe, and the tribe includes everyone.
Signed, |
Armuchee Arts Update
Drama:
We've competed in a scene competition and won first place against a school that is
double our region and has gone to state with their drama department 4 times
and won. We were very happy, because we have not been together but one year.
Besides, we won $500!
We are gathering together scenes and student directors to put together what we're going to call a Night Of Scenes. We have a few musical scenes, one or two written and directed by students.
Jamie Barton and Cole Burden are competing in Dramatic Interpretation at the upcoming Literary Competition. Best of luck!
We are putting on the 2nd (and hopefully) annual Miss AHS Pageant. Last year's pageant was a sensational success, and we already have 15 contestants this year.
Chorus:
On March 3rd, 1999, Chorus will be performing a spring concert, Italy Choir Festival, at Cartersville High School. We will be sight-reading and singing for a set
of judges. Last year we got all 1's (the best you can get), wish us luck this year!
Spring Concert should be a hit. We are going to include performances from the Middle School Choir, the Armuchee Singers (an ensemble of high school students), and a medley of Swing Music by the Tribal Choir.
During the 1999 spring break, 5 AHS students are going to Rome, Italy to sing. These students are Joseph Willingham, Jamie Barton, Cole Burden, Sarah Martinello, and Laurel Dunagan. They've been rehearsing since October, and will be going to Rome, Italy on April 4th-13th. They've also been approved to sing in the Vatican! We are all very proud of them!
All State try-outs are in November, and if they make it through that stage, they sing for 2 judges. So far, 12 of AHS's students have made it past the first stage, which was the hardest, and are going to try out again this coming March 22nd. The All State program dates are April 22-26.
Band:
Michael Smith and Joseph McCauley have made All State band. The band as a whole attended a Febuary 25th, 1999 festival. They did well, scoring a 1 in sight-reading and a 2 on concert.
Art:
The art department had an art show in the Berry Square Mall in March 1999.