Fine Arts in Review

VISUAL ARTS

1 Throughout the year, members of the Art Club shared their talents by painting murals on the windows along main hall. From a fall harvest, to a Christmas nativity, to a celebration of influential Black Americans, to a spring bouquet, their work has brought life to the halls!

Three Marian Catholic Fine Art/Visual Art students won 2022 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, the nation’s longest-running and most prestigious recognition program for creative teens! Jurors look for works that exemplify the Awards’ core values: originality, technical skill, and the emergence of a personal voice or vision. Congratulations to Aaliyah Merrick '22 who received the Gold Key Award (the highest award) in Mixed Media for The Last Supper, a multi-media work depicting a modernized version of Jesus’s Last Supper, and Honorable Mention in the Comic Art category for her portfolio of Goalsetting! For Little Hands, selected from a book she is writing and designing; Jordan Perdue '22, who received two Gold Key Awards in Photography for Deceitful and My Multiple Faces, a self-portrait full color digital photograph; and Hana Kionisala, who received Honorable Mention in Art Portfolio for Fishmonger’s Perfection, a series of drawings, digital illustrations, and paintings. 2 The Last Supper, Aaliyah Merrick Mixed Media Category, Gold Key 3 My Multiple Faces, Jordan Perdue Photography Category, Silver Key 4 Fishmonger’s Perfection, Hana Kyla Kionsiala Art Portfolio Category, Honorable Mention

SPEECH

5 The Speech Team welcomed a return to in-person competition with a stellar season! In addition to capturing third place at both the Richards Saturday Morning “Smackdown” and Lemont Regional, they hosted the Marian Catholic Speech Classic with over 300 students from 13 schools in the south suburbs in attendance. Final Round Results included first place finishes in Humorous Duet Acting (J Van Beest '23 and Aaron Yock '23), Extemporaneous Speaking (Charlie Nichols '23) and Dramatic Interpretation (Mia Lockett '22). Mia’s performance of Keyboard Chronicles earned her a third place finish in Original Comedy at the IHSA State Finals.

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BAND P.R.I.D.E.

6 The Marian Catholic Marching Band debuted new uniforms as well as a new show for the 2021 season that included the band capturing its 41st consecutive Class 3A Championship at the Illinois State Marching Band Championships.

Of the 100 bands in competition at this year’s Bands of America Grand Nationals Championship in November, Marian finished second in the Class 2A Championship and won the award for Best Overall General Effect. Marian was one of only two bands from a school with less than 1,400 students to make it into the top 30!

7 Along with over 300 students from across the country, Kiernan McSwiggan '22, Maggie Keith '22, Caleb Crockett '21, and Zach Carson '21 were selected to march with the Bands of America Honors Band in the 133rd Tournament of Roses Parade.

The parade route continued to Chicago’s south suburbs when the band marched in the 2022 Tinley Park Irish Parade. How did the band top that? They went to Disney World! The band traveled to Orlando, Florida over spring break to march in a parade through the Magic Kingdom, even passing by Cinderella’s Castle!

8 The band continued to earn accolades this spring when Marian Catholic’s Concert Band won the Class 3A championship and received the best woodwinds award at the Chicago Area Catholic High School State of the Art Band Contest.

Representing some of the top musicians in the State of Illinois, five band members were selected to participate in the Illinois Music Education Associations All-State Honors Band/Orchestra:

Etienne Atangana '22 (tenor sax), All-State Honors Band

Louis Grey '22 (trombone), All-State Honors Band

Maggie Keith '22 (French horn), All-State Honors Orchestra

Sarena Nguyen '23 (trombone), All-State Honors Band

Roisin Walsh '22 (French horn), All-State Honors Band

THEATER

9 Once again, the theater doors opened wide for the fall production of Peter and the Starcatcher! Coming this summer to the Monsignor Croarkin Auditorium – “The Wiz!” June 23, 24, and 25. For cast notes and tickets, visit bit.ly/marianchs_thewiz.

CHOIR

10 In addition to their traditional Christmas concert, the Marian Catholic Choir performed at the Chicago Heights-Park Forest Rotary Club Christmas gathering, something that is becoming a tradition in itself. Members of the choir also brought a little love to the campus on Valentine’s Day by performing “singing-grams” for faculty and students!

The holidays found the Marian Catholic Gospel Choir taking part in the magic of window performances for the Windows on Sterling project in Flossmoor. Their live performance entertained all those who walked by the American Dance Center in Homewood during the Holiday Lights festival!