Showcase creates harmony among SCV art community

From left to right, Melody Duong, 8, and Kaede Tadeo, 7, create sidewalk art during the Youth Arts Showcase at the Santa Clarita Sports Complex on Saturday March 25 2017. Nikolas Samuels/The Signal
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Hundreds of art students united at the Santa Clarita Sports Complex on Saturday to share their work with the SCV community.

The audience got to see almost every art medium imaginable at the city event—including sidewalk art, dance performances, and even poetry. Students from every school district in the Santa Clarita Valley came together to make this event possible.

“We welcome the opportunity…to touch lives through art,” said Dr. Michael Millar, the chair of the Arts Commission of Santa Clarita.

This is the second annual showcase and 54 schools in the Santa Clarita Valley had representative students showing off their art.

The Sulphur Springs School District Choir performs during the Youth Arts Showcase at the Santa Clarita Sports Complex on Saturday. Nikolas Samuels/The Signal

It wasn’t just schools participating in the showcase though. Libraries, community centers and local art studios also came together creating a true sense of harmony among the SCV community.

Harmony could also be found in the student music that was echoing off the attentive eyes of their parents.

One such parent was Alba Westendorff, who saw her 11-year-old daughter, Emily Westendorff, sing in front of a packed audience in The Centre.

“To see her shine with the other students is just a great feeling,” said Alba.

Emily, a student at Mitchell Community Elementary School, was also enthusiastic to have the opportunity to sing to such a large group of people.

“I just love having people listening to our songs and making them happy,” she said.

Adrey Rieckhoff looks at her drawing she is making of a dragon in a bath during the Youth Arts Showcase at the Santa Clarita Sports Complex on Saturday. Nikolas Samuels/The Signal

Up to 4,000 people are expected to look through the Youths Arts Showcase on Saturday, a big improvement from the 2,500 people that attended the showcase last year.

And with the event being such a big hit, the city expects to host the third annual showcase next year.

“The arts have just been proven to better (student’s) education,” said Donna Avila, the director of the Youth Arts Showcase.”

“They might be youth now but they’re going to be adults one day.”

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Roxanne Jeppesen directs the Sulphur Springs School District Honor Band during the Youth Arts Showcase at the Santa Clarita Sports Complex on Saturday. Nikolas Samuels/The Signal

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