Culture Shapers Art Contests

Awesome Finals!

Ernie — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 04:17:20 +0000

For me, it was the BEST finals that we’ve ever had. The talent was fantastic. The song selections were wonderful. Out of the 10 finalists we only graduate 3, so we get to hear 7 again, and several are Sophmores with one Freshman.

I want to thank all ten for providing Culture Shapers and myself with an enjoyable night of entertainment. So, with that said, who were the top three?

The only MALE in the ten was Drew Brandon (aka Frankie Sinatra Jr.) Jones. We’ve watched him gow over the years and now we say goodbye as he probably heads to New York (or California) for college. We’re sending him off with $500 as he placed third this evening.

A fiesty, out-going, and talented Sophmore with a great smile won 2nd place and $1,000. We look forward to seeing Jessie Brownie (home-schooled) for two more years! Woo Hoo!

And then there’s another departing senior: a gal who rocked the judges the very first time she participated in YVOH. She was a stand-out from the get-go with a natural talent. We’ll miss Kristen DelBosque (Klein graduate)but we send her off with $1,500 and the first place prize!

Brooke Humphrey, we’ll miss you as you graduate from Cy-Woods. To Phoebe Adams we say see you for the next three years. To Raegan Roberts, Libby Jasper, and Kaitlyn Knippers, we’ll see you two, and Jessie, for two more years. To Chidimah Ubah and Lindsay Vrana, you two have to battle it out next year for the last time, but I am sure there will be many new faces to challenge everyone.

Have a great summer y’all!

PS. We just might have a summer surprise. Check in on the web site from time to time while enjoying the Houston summer (if that’s possible).

April 18 Order of Appearance

Ernie — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 19:17:45 +0000

After a year of semi-finals, it comes down to ONE GUY & NINE GALS………..

1-Libby Jasper, Sophomore at HSPVA will sing: “Live Out Loud” from A Little Princess and “Let Me Be Your Star” from Smash.

2-Kristen DelBosque, Senior at Klein will sing: With You and Here I Am

3-Raegan Roberts, a home-schooled Sophmore will sing: Dear Daddy by Bobby Cronin and I’m the Greatest Star from Funny Girl.

4-Lindsay Vrana, Junior at Cy-Creek will sing: Pulled and Jar of Hearts

5-Jessie Brownie, a home-schooled Sophmore will sing: The Alto’s Lament and I’m Not Waiting

6-Drew Brandon Jones, Senior at HSPVA will sing: Your Song and The Lady is a Tramp

7-Brooke Humphrey, Senior at Cy-Woods will sing: Woman (from Pirate Queen) and Don’t Rain on my Parade

8-Chidima Ubah, Junior at Klein will sing: Orange Colored Sky and Greatest Love of All!

9-Kaitlyn Knippers, Sophmore at Cy-Ranch will sing: I Who Have Nothing and Good Girl

10-Phoebe Adams, Freshman at Cy-Woods will sing: The Dark I Know Well from Spring Awakening and Come Home by One Republic

April 18th Judges

Ernie — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 17:01:13 +0000

Jenni Rebecca Stephenson is a graduate of the University of Houston, receiving her bachelors of music from the Moore’s School of Music, majoring in vocal performance, with a minor in theatre. She received her Masters of Fine Arts in Theatre Directing at UH. Ms. Rebecca is co-founder of Nova Arts Project, a nonprofit theatre company inspiring new works in a fearlessly theatrical way.

John Barth began instructing singing in 1991 while a student at The Oberlin Conservatory, where he earned his Bachelor’s in Vocal Performance. He has a thriving private studio with students performing musical theatre, rock, jazz, gospel, etc. all over the country.

Donna Hinds Sawyers, soprano and Vocal Specialist, is co-founder and co-director of Studio Bella Voce. She holds a Bachelor of Music, Music Education emphasis, and a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from The University of Houston. She has served on the music faculty of North Harris College for twenty years, teaching vocal studies, music academics, and music theatre.

Giny Mendez, soprano and Studio Bella Voce Associate, holds a Bachelor of Music from Sam Houston State University and is a certified Music Therapist. As a singer, Ms. Mendez performs in a variety of genres, including recitals, opera, and choral music. She is also a frequent performer in the music theatre community.

Southeast Houston Power!

Ernie — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 14:15:17 +0000

When you look at the top 5 in Sculpture and the top 5 in Drawing, students in the Southeast had 50% of the winners.

>Clear Creek took 1st and 3rd in Sculpture
>Friendswood took 5th in Sculpture
>Pasadena took 4th in Sculpture and 5th in Drawing

That’s a grand total of $8,500 in winnings. Congratulations!

Thank You Lisa and Kerr High School!

Jordan — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 19:23:00 +0000

$2,500 Winners

Ernie — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 15:01:29 +0000

Second place in Sculpture & Drawing and therefore $2,500 to each student went to the following two Sophmores who have two more years left to compete:

Sculpture: Ryan Renne is a Sophmore at Klein Oak high school. His piece was entitled ‘Flying Predator”. Rurias is his teacher

Drawing: Molly Garrison is a Sophmore at John Cooper School in the Woodlands. Her piece was entitled “For Dad”. Jayla Davis is her teacher.

Pictures of all the top ten winners will be posted within the next 5-7 days.

First Place Winners

Ernie — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 21:54:18 +0000

Eduardo Medina won $5,000 for his first place Drawing piece by the title of Dinner Time. He is a Junior at Hastings so we will probably see him again next year. His teacher is Terry Kenefic.

Zac Spears won $5,000 for his first place Sculpture by the title of Assistant Manager. He is a senior at Clear Creek high school where Terry Foltz is his teacher.

Congrats!

YVOH – April 18 Finals

Ernie — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 15:29:47 +0000

We will have ten students sing two songs each for a prize purse of $3,350. The order of Performance will not be set until April 11th. Here are the performers who have selected their songs thus far-
1st place = $1,500 2nd place = $1,000 3rd place = $500 4th-10th place $50 per person

Brooke Humphrey
1-Woman (from Pirate Queen)
2. Don’t Rain on my Parade

Kaitlyn Knippers
1-I Who Have Nothing
2-Good Girl

Lindsay Vrana
1-Pulled
2-Jar of Hearts

Raegan Roberts
1-Dear Daddy by Bobby Cronin
2-I’m the Greatest Star from Funny Girl.

Libby Jasper
1-Live Out Loud
2-Let Me Be Your Star

Drew Jones
1-Your Song
2-The Lady is a Tramp

Phoebe Adams
1-The Dark I Know Well
2-Come Home

Chidima Ubah
1-Orange Colored Sky
2-Greatest Love of All!

Kristen DelBosque
1-With You
2-Here I Am

Jessie Brownie
1-The Alto’s Lament
2-I’m Not Waiting

Award Ceremony

Ernie — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 19:02:57 +0000

It is onle two hours away as I post this information.

Of the top ten in Sculpture & Drawing receive their checks this afternoon for just under $25,000 we get to see at TWELVE of the participants again next year as:

0- Freshmen made the top ten (it takes training!)
4- Sophmores get to come back for two more years
8- Juniors get one more shot at $5,000+
8- Seniors move on to college or wherever with MONEY in their pockets.

We will post the 3rd Heart In Art Award Winner tomorrow and then the pictures of the top ten in order of standing sometime next week. Information will be posted every day next week as we cover the full details.

Thank you teachers and administrators for the encouragement and help you have been throughout the year(s): both to the students, parents, and Culture Shapers.

We only have one event left for 2011-12 and that is the Performing Art Young Voices of Houston FINALS on April 18th. Come out and cheer on the top ten finalists!

Uncertified Final Data

Ernie — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 02:41:17 +0000

We will do some tweaking and checking of data next week; however, our current data shows-

>449 Entries
>265 Drawing and 184 Sculpture (a new record for Sculpture)
>23 ISD’s participated
>64 High Schools involved (John Cooper #1 with 36 entries)
>95 Teachers (Debra Kersman tops with 21 entries)
>30 students entered both categories

More information next week