The freshman Fine Arts Academy class gathered on Monday, January 12th, to present their artistic works to the public. Each student gave a five minute presentation depending on the “strand” they are enrolled in (i.e. visual art, instrumental or choral music, drama, dance, or creative writing). The sophomore FAA members have held showcases in the past; however, it was an entirely new experience for the freshmen.

All presentations had roots in a central theme: conflict.

“We did… okay,” freshman Nick Burzumato said. He is currently in the drama and instrumental music strands. “I played a percussion piece on multiple instruments: snare drum, triangle, suspended cymbal, brake drum, tom[-tom], and hi-hat. I [portrayed] conflict by playing different dynamics on each instrument.”

Freshman Brad Kirkdorffer, likewise, performed an instrumental piece. He played a duet with a pre recorded video of himself. Both the real and digital Kirkdorffers played electric guitar.

“I composed my own song,” Kirkdorffer said. “It was supposed to be showing how somebody can respond to a circumstance [with] a different state of mind… There were some people [in our class] that did very well and there were those that needed a little bit more work, but they’ll get it eventually.”

Natalie Pittington is enrolled in the creative writing strand of the Fine Arts Academy; she read a free verse poem she wrote to the audience.

“[My project] went along the lines of [the theme] by showing internal and external conflict… with fire and ice,” Pittington said. She explained that idea of incorporating two opposing forces into her writing was not epiphanic. “I was sitting there and I didn’t know how to start… Then, once I got started, I showed [Mr.] Morrell and we both decided that nobody but me could understand my writing. So, I scratched the whole idea and redid it with a few of the same aspects.”

Monday’s performance was only a first taste for FAA 9th graders. The FAA freshmen and sophomores have a joint showcase at the Forbes Center on May 21st of this year.