Gabrielino High School showcased student talent and award-winning visual and performing arts (VAPA) courses during the VAPA Expo, held during the school’s open house on March 28.
Coral reefs and ocean animals – created by Intro to Art students with papier-mâché and recycled materials – provided the backdrop to the performing arts showcase in the Gabrielino quad.
Gabrielino’s choirs delighted parents, staff and community members with songs from the musical “Chicago,” while the string orchestra performed hits like “Can’t Help Falling in Love” and concert band jammed to “Isn’t She Lovely.”
“Our choir is like a family, and I’ve been grateful to be part of it every year,” said junior and Chamber Choir member Kayla Villalobos. “The arts programs here are phenomenal. We’re always surrounded by all this visual art, and the performing arts have helped me grow and realize this is something I could pursue further as a passion and as a career.”
Inside the Goodson Theatre, attendees pored over visual art projects, including ceramic masks, self portraits drawn in pencil, handwoven baskets, ceramic pots filled with cacti and paintings resembling stained-glass windows.
Gabrielino’s VAPA program – which offers 20 courses including graphic design, stop-motion animation, ceramics and marching band – was awarded a 2017 Exemplary Program Award from the state.
San Gabriel Unified also provides a TK-12 pipeline of music instruction, beginning with foundational music lessons in elementary school, choral, orchestra and band electives in middle school and a dozen music, vocal and theater electives in high school. A video of the performance from the VAPA expo can be watched here.