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The local community will have the opportunity to see firsthand what is happening in area schools’ art programs Thursday night.

The Guilford Education Alliance will present the fourth annual On Stage! showcase of student talent at 7 p.m. at War Memorial Auditorium. Led by performing arts teachers and directed by Nathan Street, arts curriculum specialist for Guilford County Schools, this year’s show will include 21 student performances from 16 Guilford County schools. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased in advance or at the door if not sold out.

“Arts education makes a tremendous impact on the developmental growth of every child and has proven to help level the learning field across socioeconomic boundaries,” said Louise Courts, director of development for Guilford Education Alliance. “On Stage! is an excellent opportunity for the students to have the experience of performing with an orchestra in a professional atmosphere to a broad audience.”

The event is a fundraiser to support the missions and initiatives of Guilford Education Alliance and arts education in Guilford County Schools.
 

“The mission of Guilford Education Alliance is to make education a top priority for Guilford County so that all residents can achieve the quality education that will prepare them for the future,” Courts said. “We do this by engaging our community in support of education.”

There will be eight musical genres at Thursday night’s show, including chorus numbers and theatrical productions, dance and the spoken word. In addition, visual art by Guilford County students will be displayed in the lobby, and a Superintendent’s Choice Art Award will be announced during the production.

The Superintendent’s Choice Art Award is an annual show that has historically been housed at one of Guilford County Schools’ administrative offices.

“We are thrilled to be able to display these works of art in a public setting this year,” Courts said.

Originally, On Stage! was modeled after the Wake Education Partnership’s Pieces of Gold production, which has been conducted for 25-plus years.

“Over the past four years we have made changes to suit Guilford County,” Courts said. “More and more people are aware of On Stage!, and teachers are more and more excited about participating.”

All schools in Guilford County were encouraged to bring student acts to audition.

Judges were professional performing artists from across Guilford County, “so we have very high quality performances in On Stage!” Courts said.

Courts said the show is something all ages in the community will enjoy.

“This is one of the only times that elected officials, school administration, community leaders and the general public are together in one place supporting our student performers and thereby supporting our schools,” she said.

Three community leaders who have supported arts and education through their careers as elected officials also will be honored at On Stage! These leaders are Dot Kearns, former member of the Guilford County Board of Education; Yvonne Johnson, former mayor of Greensboro; and Ray Combs, mayor of Oak Ridge.

“We need the arts in our schools, and unfortunately budget cuts limit the programs and availability of the arts for our children,” Courts said. “Guilford Education Alliance wants to continue lifting up the value of arts education to our community, to continue giving this opportunity to our teachers and students to show off to the community and to continue raising funds for arts education and the work of the Guilford Education Alliance.”

Contact Jennifer Atkins Brown at 574-5582 or jennifer. brown@news-record.com