Just like the stockings hanging over the fireplace, the month of December is soon to be stuffed full of things to enjoy this holiday season. California School of the Arts — San Gabriel Valley (CSArts-SGV) has several arts and entertainment events to share, including virtual presentations featuring dance, vocal music, visual arts, creative writing, acting and much more! Grab a cup of hot cocoa and snuggle up while watching CSArts-SGV’s creative and talented students. They are sure to lift your spirits!
For more information and to reserve your tickets for the virtual performances, visit www.sgv.csarts.net/BoxOffice.
Vocal Arts: The MTV Radio Hour
Friday, December 4 | 6 p.m.
Featuring Vocal Arts Conservatory students from all grade levels, The MTV Radio Hour is a dream setlist of 1980s music videos, taking us back to the glory days of pop, hip hop, new wave, hair metal and power ballads.
Instrumental Music: Fall Large Ensemble Showcase
Friday, December 4 | 6 p.m.
This seasonal showcase features the CSArts-SGV Wind Ensemble, conducted by Dr. Walt Simonsen, Jazz Ensemble directed by Tyler McGeough, and Philharmonic Strings conducted by Dr. Matthew Ward in a concert of works both new and old performed by the talented musicians of the Instrumental Music Conservatory.
Acting: Performance with a Purpose (Part 8)
Friday, December 4 | 6 p.m.
The final installment of Acting’s eight-part series, Performance with a Purpose, takes place on the first Friday of December. Ovation Award nominee Jonathan Muñoz-Proulx returns to CSArts-SGV after directing “In the Heights” this past February to guide students through an ensemble storytelling experience with the goal to bring understanding and catharsis to current social and cultural events.
Integrated Arts: Film & Poetry Night
Friday, December 4 | 7 p.m.
The disciplines of film and poetry come together in this online display of work from the Integrated Arts Conservatory. Visitors can explore the original website at their own pace and discover the creativity of our talented students in grades 9-12.
All School: Virtual Holiday Showcase
Saturday, December 5 | 7 p.m.
CSArts-SGV’s very first Virtual Holiday Showcase is a festive and fun event featuring seasonal performances from all 10 CSArts-SGV arts conservatories. Celebrate the holidays and the upcoming conclusion of the fall semester with the talented students of CSArts-SGV as they dazzle you with their incredible artwork, storytelling, performances and much more!
Creative Writing: Middle School Storytelling Theatre
Tuesday, December 8 | 7 p.m.
Creative Writing middle school families come together to celebrate the voices of our middle school writers as professional actors read original stories written by the students.
Visual Arts: Winter Showcase Website Launch
Friday, December 11 | 9 a.m.
The Visual Arts Conservatory invites the community to view its annual winter showcase online. The impressive collection features student work from fall semester classes including 2D design, 3D design, drawing fundamentals, watercolor, public art, sequential art, figure drawing, mixed media, digital photography and more.
Integrated Arts: “Causing a Scene” Acting Showcase
Friday, December 11 | 7 p.m.
Students in the Integrated Arts Conservatory acting classes perform monologues and scenes they’ve been rehearsing over the fall semester. Get ready to both laugh and cry as students evoke a range of emotions during these dramatic scenes.
School of Dance: “Onding”
Saturday, December 12 | 7 p.m.
"Onding" is the world premiere of a 20-minute dance film, performed by School of Dance students in grades 7-12, featuring ballet, modern and hip hop styles. Choreographed by School of Dance faculty, the piece shows the dancers as they embody the cycle of a snowstorm, from light snow flurries to a whirling blizzard. After learning the choreography at their respective homes via Zoom, the performers were filmed individually on campus at the Duarte Performing Arts Center following strict COVID-19 preventative health guidelines. The footage was then professionally edited to appear as if the students are dancing together among a mass of other flurries!