Talented middle and high schools students from as far as South Dakota, Texas and Tennessee were on the Evangel University campus for the Fine Arts Development Day, Saturday, Feb. 17.
The event was held in partnership with the National Fine Arts Department of the Assemblies of God, and was designed to help the students fine tune their gifts and prepare for their district festivals.
Workshops and individual coaching sessions with Evangel professors were held in the Barnett Fine Arts Center. Sessions included vocal and instrumental music, art, drama, writing, dance and short sermon.
One of the highlights was a performance by Kasidi Shorey, a freshman from Chickasha, Okla. Kasidi won the National Fine Arts “Female Vocal Solo, Senior” competition in 2016 and 2017, and she is now a worship leadership major at Evangel.
In her Q&A session, Kasidi told the students they will be judged not just on their talent, but also on their attitude and focus.
“I wanted to encourage them to see that the Fine Arts Festival is about ministry,” she said. “Don’t get me wrong, competing and winning is fun, but touching someone’s heart was the only goal for me.”
The students also had the opportunity to hear from Evangel graduate Darin Poe, the SOMO district youth director, and Tom Groot, director of student discipleship with AG National Youth Ministries.
Dr. Bonnie Jenkins, professor of music and conference coordinator, summarized: “The students inspired us, and we felt that we encouraged and inspired them as well. It was a very good day.”
Each year, more than 65,000 students compete in the District and National Fine Arts Festivals. Students may enter as many as 66 categories offered in nine main divisions: Art, Communication, Dance, Drama, Enterprise, Exhibition, Instrumental, Vocal and Writing.
The 2018 National Fine Arts Festival will be held in Houston, Texas, July 30 to Aug. 3.
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CHECK OUT ORIGINAL EVENT PRESS RELEASE & SCHEDULE: http://www.evangel.edu/press_releases/2018/01/24/fine-arts-development-day-feb-17/