Variety Show Highlights Drama and Music at Hillcrest
For the past two years, Hillcrest students have banded together to raise funds to offset expenses related to the annual choir tour. The tour is a 100-year tradition at Hillcrest. It is a staple of the music program, giving students a place to not only perform music but also to visit regions of the United States where Lutheran Brethren churches minister in important communities.
The Variety Show was a collage of performances, with each act contributing to the overarching narrative of growth and creativity that defines Hillcrest's classical education program. Students performed music from TV shows and movies, with skits that drew from comedy traditions on the big screen. It vividly demonstrated what students gain from immersion in a curriculum emphasizing the classical triad of grammar, logic, and rhetoric.
Highlights from the night were Singing in the Rain, where Hannah Martens displayed her tap dance talents. Jonathan Wutka and Max Anderson brought a jovial presence as they portrayed the piece with precision. Leah Collins showed her vocal range as she and Owan Nilsen performed a piece from Phantom of the Opera. Breiden Stender and Max Anderson combined for a dynamic comedy sketch in the spirit of Monty Python and delighted the audience with comedic timing. In the spirit of comedy, Sean DeKok and Owan Nilsen performed a magic sketch that was anything but magic and carried incredible comedy that made the audience roar in laughter. It was hard to pick a standout performance as each student carried their piece. To close, the choir performed a song from The Greatest Showman, a perfect ending to the student-led evening that raised funds through donations and a silent auction.
As each student took the stage, they displayed foundational skills in music, organizing this knowledge to create a meaningful expression. This progression, from understanding the basics to creating complex pieces, highlights the rhetorical phase of their education. Here, students are not merely learners but creators, capable of expressing themselves through music.
The Variety Show did more than entertain and raise funds; it propelled Hillcrest students towards an exciting opportunity: a West Coast tour, a tradition that has been a cornerstone of the school's music program since the 1920s. This yearly pilgrimage is not just a tour but a journey of discovery, where students can showcase their talents, engage with diverse audiences, and grow both personally and musically.
The event was a resounding success as a fundraiser and showcasing the extraordinary talent nurtured within Hillcrest's walls. It reaffirmed the importance of arts education in shaping well-rounded, expressive individuals ready to engage the world for Christ with the universal language of music and theatrical performances.
