ArtFest in the West a Resounding Success

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By Clover Carroll

Gabe Zak (center) sings “Dentist” with choristers (from left to right) Georgia Castleman, Virginia Garey, Ellie Weikle, Emma Kessler, Corinne Kelleher, Abby Wheat, Anna Webster, and Genna Brockett.

Judging by the turnout at the first annual ArtFest in the West on Saturday, March 2 at the Lodge at Old Trail, there’s a whole lot of support for the arts in the Western feeder pattern schools!

Parents, teachers, students, and community members crowded into the standing-room only event to get a healthy dose of music, dancing, friends, and food. WAHS and Henley jazz bands performed swing favorites as couples enjoyed a free swing dance lesson and a chance to cut the rug on the dance floor. Singers Ian Grimshaw and Anna Webster entertained the crowd with smoky favorites such as “Summertime” and “Feelin’ Good.” Families enjoyed hors d’oeuvres, a dessert bar, and lemonade as the enthusiastic cast of the WAHS spring musical Little Shop of Horrors sang and danced two preview numbers (don’t miss the show March 8, 9, and 10, with a Habitat for Humanity benefit performance March 7). All waited to hear the raffle winners of such prizes as dinner at Duner’s or a yoga class at A Place to Breathe.

ArtFest is a community campaign for the arts in the Western feeder pattern of ACPS schools. All proceeds raised will help support the arts at Brownsville, Crozet, Murray, Meriwether Lewis, Henley, and WAHS, including new uniforms for the WAHS band, drama department productions, musical instruments, visual arts supplies, and other arts program support. Good old-fashioned community fun at its finest!