Portfolio of Senior Artists - Woodbridge Senior High School

The Center for Fine and Performing Arts
Woodbridge Senior High School
Portfolio of
Senior Artists
2014
CFPA
Seniors
2014
Mikayla Adams, Creative Writing
Victoria Alexander, Visual Arts
rt is whatever the artist wants it to
be. It does not matter what other
people think. Anything could inspire me
to sculpt. Because of my huge interest
in sculpture I decided to enter into the
CFPA. My four years here have been the
greatest––doing the thing I love most.
Caitlyn Bishop, Theatre
Emma Bledsoe, Visual Arts
s a student at Woodbridge, I have really grown as an artist. Art has always
been to me, an expression of myself, my
emotions or just something that I really
love. I am excited to continue on the artistic path into college and into my career.
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Photographs
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Artist Statements
ords on a page seem to fill a void left
there by the hardships of life. Many
people find their salvation by reading or writing about a world separate from their own.
These words allow us to escape our own emotions and don new ones that we can handle and
better understand. We are transformed into observers of a life we don’t have to worry about
because, in the end, we actually find out what
happens and what the outcome of all of the actions will be. It is not uncertain, it is stable––and
everyone needs to find stability somewhere.
Lindsey Barszcz, Creative Writing
riting is like a meadow; you willl
spend most of your time wandering, feet trudging through thickets and
weeds. You will sift through the sweet
soil only to watch it slip right through
your fingers. You’ll get sweaty and dirty
and exhausted. Then you will realize this
is just one meadow of thousands to explore, and the satisfaction in finding at
least one flower is worth it every time.
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s I develop my craft, I realize that my purpose as an artist is not putting on fluffy
performances, but rather to spread a message
and evoke the audience to question their own
thinking. I want viewers to consider the ways
these pieces apply to their lives. I am a social
activist and I want to appeal to my viewers in a
way that enlightens them and fosters their own
opinions. Theatre is a collage of every other form
of art. I want to use my creative outlook to create a whole piece that both engages and arouses
the interests and contemplation of any critic.
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Aja Cenon, Visual Arts
ince my four years of being here in
high school I have grown a lot. Being
in the CFPA made me a better artist than
I ever was before. It helped me understand
what to look forward to in the future and
what I would expect in upcoming challenges. The teachers were excellent in aiding my needs in struggles I had in the past
and pulled me through towards the right
direction. I am glad to be a part of this
program, to be a part of this “art family.”
Rachel Christie, Vocal Music
o me, music is much more than
an extracurricular activity. Music is an integral part of who I am.
I have been able to read music longer than I have been able to fluently
read English. Music fills a void that
I have been unable to fill with anything else. Music gives me a voice.
Zoey Ciemny, Creative Writing
Hunter Conatser, Dance
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O
scar Wilde once said: “No great artist
ever sees things as they really are. If he
did, he would cease to be an artist.” I have
always been a creative thinker, and have
relied heavily on my dreams as a source of
inspiration and reason to persist in times
of hardship. My writing sometimes reflects
my life and who I am. But it is also a skill
which proves to be valuable in professional, academic, and unceremonious facets
of life. Writing is both a useful exploration of language and a meaningless escape.
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I
am very interested in implementing the use
of different forms of athletics to tell a story.
Gymnastics, especially the styles of aerobic,
rhythmic and artistic, all exemplify the ability to tell a story. Dancing should be enjoyable to both the performer and the audience,
and implementing different aesthetics from
outside sources will benefit the dancer. I often
find myself creating pieces that heavily involve
floor based and grounded aspects. That way it
is easy to incorporate various athletic devices
into the dances. I strongly believe that the entire stage should be used in a performance.
Phebe Ciemny, Creative Writing
ored or brave people make art by descending from their primary modes
of consciousness and recording the associations made in their free fall. Sound liberating? Art is a valuable process of being
true to oneself, to one’s Creator, which is
not encouraged in this world. Let me be a
wonderful type of rebel—to know my own
nature and be confident in my individuality.
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CFPA
Seniors
2014
Photographs
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Artist Statements
Brittany Crow, Creative Writing
Rosanna Curiel ,Visual Arts
rt to me is everything around. I am
an inspiring artist willing to do anything to help anyone who needs it. I believe we can all overcome anything, and
as an artist, everything is possible. The
CFPA was a great experience in my career
of art. I am so glad to have Mrs. Kagle,
Mr. Rozelle, and Mrs. Petropulos as my
teachers; they have taught me so much.
Abigail Evans, Orchestra
Zachary Ezekiel, Music Technology
s a musician, I have learned a lot
about music, and my appreciation
for it has grown tremendously. Without music in my life, some of the struggles I have been through would be much
more difficult. I can only hope that others can experience music the way I have
while learning about it in the CFPA.
could say poetry comes naturally to me, but
in truth it comes naturally to everyone and
everything. Beauty is poetry. It can be piercing or elating, quiet or loud, but it works
through every medium. Poetry is translated
into words, rather than harnessed by them.
As I have grown as a poet, I’ve been able to see
more things, listen to more things, and love
more things. I am constantly inspired to seek
the beauty in the world God has created for us.
As I embrace the future, I strive to make poetry
(whether in words or action) every step of the way.
Bernadine Deperio, Visual Arts
have always loved art and being in the
CFPA program has strengthened that.
My four years have been one of the best because I met great people in my art classes that
share the same interests as me or are like me.
Although I will be majoring in the medical
field, art will always be a part of me. I will
never stop making art to share to the world.
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Genesis Flores-Aguilar, Visual Arts
rt has always been a part of my life due to
my dad being such an amazing and gifted
artist. Thanks to him, I was introduced to this
creative world and thanks to my family’s support
I was able to practice and enhance my skill which
helped me decide to pursue it on an academic
level. Mr. Rozelle and Mrs. Kagle (the CFPA
visual arts teachers) challenged me so much. I
am happy to say that I loved each and every year
of this program and that I was accepted into the
VCU Arts program for more! I will be attending VCU this coming fall to become a professional in the arts and to find a career that allows
me to successfully keep art in my life every day.
Melanie Floresca, Band
Evan Frolov, Music Technology
Aleeyah Frye, Band
use instrumental music to tell people
who I am without the use of words.
Over the years it has allowed me to transfer my emotions and experiences into
black and white dots on a page to create
sounds that hold meaning. The hours of
daily practice I have put into my craft have
molded me into a better musician and will
continue to do so. I will continue my musical journey in the hopes that I inspire at
least one person to express who they are
in the most fulfilling way possible: music.
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ecause of the CFPA music tech program, I
have grown as a musician both mentally and
physically. I have practiced and improved my
knowledge of theory and musical culture. I have
studied the physics of sound and the art of recording. Mentally, I have changed what aesthetics of sound are important in music. Physically,
I have improved as a musician by expanding
my musical boundaries through genre hopping
on drums and learning new techniques. I have
picked up piano, which eased my transition into
other instruments. After learning guitar, I have
improved as a singer and played many live shows.
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Jordan Frederick, Theatre
eople always assume that acting is not as
difficult as it looks; but as soon as they are
put into the spotlight, they freeze on cue. It is
a craft that takes experience and patience. It
is difficult to recreate something, to put it on
stage with perfection, and to have people enjoy it. The criticism we get for our bodies, our
voices, and our face is constant. It is mesmerizing to watch people act, especially those who
love it so much because they are the ones who
never break character and the ones who are the
happiest working, perfecting, and creating. We
are the athletes of the heart. We are Actors.
CFPA
Seniors
2014
Kelsey Gagnon, Dance
ance is a way of being free; when I
dance, I am able to let everything
go and act as if it is my therapy. It is my
safe place where I can create movement
that is unique and powerful. Listening to
the melody stimulates my drive to dance.
Being able to affect others by my movement brings me pure happiness and reminds me that dance is my passion.
Photographs
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Artist Statements
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Jade Giddens, Visual Arts
have always been drawn to art, and in the past
four years not only have I improved my skills,
but I have grown to appreciate and view art in
a way I never would have imagined. My art, as
well as myself, has evolved in such a way because
of CFPA and the wonderful teachers here. I
have come to realize the media of my preference,
which include pencil and colored pencil, but I am
always willing to try different things to take my
art to the next level. I enjoy making art because
I can make my thoughts tangible and produce
something someone else will hopefully enjoy.
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Ashley Gray, Creative Writing
efore the CFPA program, I was more concerned about pleasing others with my writing than pleasing myself. What the program
has taught me is that as an artist you must dare
yourself to be yourself. In discovering my voice,
I have found that my art reflects serene contemplation of everyday situations with odd, humorous elements. Through an innocent and whimsical perspective, I want the audience to become
part of the art as a kind of added exponent. My
future plans include attending NOVA for an Associate’s degree in hopes of transferring to UVA.
Tyler Garza, Band
usic, for me, is order in my life. Each
note and rest has its own time and
place, and when they all work together
they make this thing. It is not enough to
call it a piece, or a song; it is more than
that. It is emotion that transcends language and resonates in the world forever.
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Kyle Hall, Creative Writing
ver since I have been in the CFPA for creative writing, my writing skills have advanced tremendously. I have never really stuck
to one specific genre of writing in my four years
as a creative writing student. My mind is wild
and likes to escape from reality all the time to
help me write. I don’t want to sound the same
as every other author out there. I want to be different and write something so funny that people
who don’t like to read would actually enjoy sitting down with a book or Kindle in their hands.
Amanda Hanley, Creative Writing
W
ords have power. Communication would
be impossible without language, without
means of defining ourselves. I define my life
through words. Both in what I say and what
I write, my words define me as an individual
and identify my place in this world. I express
myself through my unique take on language:
through the laughter in love poems, the promises both broken and kept in a well written
ending, the desperation in slam poetry, and the
kindness in a character’s voice. Like the legend
of Taliesin, I carry my love of words close to
my heart. That love changes the way I see the
world and lights the way when I’m feeling lost.
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Laticia Izaguirre, Dance
hen I perform I am free. The music
and the movement take over; I am
no longer in control. My body does what it
feels while my spirit embraces the moment.
It is like watching someone run in the wind
peacefully and right in that moment it starts
pouring down rain. For a moment it shocks
you but then realize it may not be soft and
pretty but it’s a different kind of beauty. It
is exotic, but it is beautiful…It is dancing.
Sierra Hernandez, Visual Arts
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y four years here in the CFPA Program at
Woodbridge have been a great learning
experience for me. I have learned so many things
about the arts I didn’t know before. I learned
how to paint better and used tools I had never
even heard of before. I have grown so much
here, and looking back on my freshman year, I
can see how far I have come. I have improved so
much and I am so grateful to the amazing teachers I have had. I will never forget everything
this school and my teachers have done for me.
Brianna Jackson, Visual Arts
rying to write a paragraph about
art contradicts the whole concept
of art. There’s a reason why we’re “artists”
and not “writers”—what we want to convey, we convey visually. It’s not enough to
simply write about how we feel about art,
and a picture is definitely not “a thousand
words;” it’s a picture. Therefore, how I feel
about art can’t be expressed through pretentious, essay-long papers or metaphorical, one-liners. My art speaks for itself.
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Minda Hunter, Dance
ance, for me, is truly an outward
expression of someone’s inner feelings. When I dance, it is not about being the best in the group. It is about being the best dancer for myself. Dancing
has allowed me to find my true passion
and get lost in the heat of the movement.
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CFPA
Seniors
2014
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Artist Statements
Justin Janke, Theatre
Khadeejah Jeffrey, Dance
n the art of dance, it is very easy to get
lost in the technicality of it. As Martha Graham said, “Great dancers are not
great because of their technique; they are
great because of their passion. Realizing
this has taught me to dance how I feel,
what I have experienced, and what I want
my audience to receive from my dance.
Jordyn Jones, Theatre
Hwa-Young Joo, Visual Arts
walked into the CFPA program freshman
year knowing exactly what I wanted out of
it. Four years later, those dreams have changed
drastically. I have learned to appreciate every aspect of theatre. It is no longer solely about an actor performing on stage. From the artistic vision
created by the directors and designers, to those
spending hours of labor in order to make their
visions come true: actors, set and costume designers, technicians and musicians. As an artist, it
is my duty to help fellow artists accomplish their
dreams. I feel a sense of accomplishment knowing
that I have helped create a fellow artist’s vision.
Amanda Johnson, Creative Writing
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riting is like a reflex to me. I think it is
the fascination with story-telling that
drives me to put words on paper, but the creative process occurs naturally. Observing the
small differences between people is my favorite type of inspiration. I love creating characters with distinct quirks and exploring how
they face obstacles. Through this program I
have realized the impact writing has on my
day-to-day life and that it’s something I could
never leave behind in high school. CFPA has
helped shape me into who I am today, and
the process is something I will never forget.
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hrough CFPA, I have developed an appreciation for the fine arts. I have learned
to be more expressive and think outside the
box. This program has sparked my creativity
and inspired me to find and make art everywhere. Now, I wish to have the audience walk
away enjoying that same art and the simple
pleasures of life. Whether I am acting or directing, I want to reveal the art and beauty of
everyday things and moments and offer the
audience the deeper appreciation I have gained
through this program. I hope my craft can
help us better see the art that surrounds us all.
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Monica Jory, Visual Arts
efore high school, I would have never
guessed I would make anything worthy of being in a show or even be considered artwork. Throughout my high school
career I have developed an artistic eye for
things. CFPA has made a massive impact
in my life, and I know that I will always
keep art and music close to my heart.
Pauline Kidder, Visual Arts
Benjamin Lazo, Music Technology
usic is a continuous wave of thoughts
versed off of my non-conforming frontal lobe. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Lauren Libiran, Visual Arts
have always loved to draw, paint, and just
do art in general. Visual art is a way for
me to escape reality and put onto paper anything that I want to. CFPA is a very rigorous
course. However, I am happy that I joined
because through it, I have made some of my
closest friends. My art teachers, Rozelle and
Kagle. were also pretty awesome. I still hope
Mr. Rozelle cries when I graduate. Thanks.
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Kayla Langley, Vocal Music
usic allows me to create an audible
representation of events that have
shaped my disposition. It lets me convey
my vulnerability, like a chord: different
scale degrees stacked to produce something aesthetically pleasing. To the average person, it is just a pretty sound, but
each scale degree has a story. With music,
I am in control of my musical testimony.
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CFPA
Seniors
2014
Antonio Ligi, Visual Arts
y four years at Woodbridge have
taught me a lot about myself. I already knew that I wanted to go into something with Computer Arts, but Mr. Rozelle
and my parents cemented that dream. I
want to thank them for everything they
have done for me. Without a doubt, I’ll
keep on creating sparks of insanity for the
world to awe or be disturbed over (insert
evil laugh here). Thank you and good night.
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Artist Statements
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Richard Lovett, Orchestra
ithout music the world is dead. I have
played cello for eight years and started
learning guitar and piano last year. Last year is
also when I found that my true passion in music
was to not only play or compose music but to run
live sound. I cannot imagine a better profession
than to listen to music all of the time, making
slight improvements in the quality of the sound
however I can to make the show, concert, or gig,
sound better. My experience here in CFPA has
helped shape my life as the artist I am today.
Amber Lowery, Creative Writing
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riting has provided me a release for as
long as I can remember. My passion has
grown over the years and has truly shaped me.
From writing poorly illustrated novellas as a
child to producing sophisticated segmented essays as a young adult, my work has grown and
matured as I have. Writing makes me happy.
I lose myself in my work. I believe life experience is the best prompt I will ever have. Using
the world around me is very imperative to my
process. Although my CFPA journey is soon
coming to an end, I could ever stop writing. T
Victoria Lockamy, Theatre
hrough my four years in theatre, I have had
ample opportunity to explore the many
facets of my craft. I have played the lead and
the extra, the stage manager and the stagehand,
and everything in between. Through all my different experiences, I have learned the ins and
outs of what it takes to produce a show, and
have come to a conclusion of what theatre is
all about: the audience. It is about giving the
audience a performance that lets them see life
differently than they did before. It is something
that forgoes all customs and in turn, reveals
our humanity, and that is what art is to me.
Deanna Mace, Visual Arts
hese four years in the CFPA program
have taught me a lot. My parents have
helped me through the past four years by
encouraging me to stick with painting and
drawing. I would like to thank them for
being so supportive. In the future I hope
to continue painting and drawing because it
is a good way to express myself. Peace out.
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Summer MacGill, Visual Arts
Saleha Malik, Creative Writing
see the world through a different lens.
Because the voices in my head, that lopsided smile, the forest green eyes, those
charismatic lips—they do not belong to
me. And yet they can live nowhere else
but within the recesses of my mind alone.
Their constant, restless murmuring has become something great, something enticing,
something immortal. My strength is not
just my own, but a million other heartbeats
in sync with mine. And in a finite universe,
that is a power worth taking advantage of.
Erin McCall, Creative Writing
Kimberly McDonnell, Dance
ance captures the inner beauty, turmoil,
and being of a person. You express
your feelings, thoughts, fears, and hopes
simply through movement, which I find
remarkable. When you engage everything
you have, including your face, heart, and
soul, you can connect to people in a manner
that cannot be done with words. Dance is
where I’m able to set myself free and “speak”
my mind without rules and regulations.
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riting is the essence of my emotion, distilled and concentrated into a semblance
of intellect. In a sense, I tell as much about myself
as humanly possible in each sentence without
ever actually revealing anything truly personal.
In flashes of intense inspiration my ideas come
as bits and pieces of pure unrefined dream to be
sorted by the logical mind that takes over, often
too soon. For most people these are isolated moments of imagination, but for me and writers everywhere they are the beginning of an adventure.
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Emily Martinez-Mendez, Visual Arts
I
have always been drawn to art and in the past
four years not only have I improved my skills,
but I have grown to appreciate and view art in
a way I never would have imagined. My art, as
well as myself, has evolved in such a way because
of CFPA and the wonderful teachers here. I
have come to realize the media of my preference,
which include pencil and colored pencil, but I am
always willing to try different things to take my
art to the next level. I enjoy making art because
I can make my thoughts tangible and produce
something someone else will hopefully enjoy
CFPA
Seniors
2014
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Photographs
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Artist Statements
Clifton McGann, Theatre
oing into the CFPA program, I had no
idea what to expect. Unlike many people
involved in the program, I had almost no experience except for a couple of parts in elementary
school plays. That was it. I mean, I was already in
the program, so I decided I might as well be an
active member of the theatre department. As it
turns out, I enjoy theatre more than I thought I
would. I realize that I am better at performing
comedic and classical characters. I like to play
quirky or funny people and bring laughter to
the audience. Out of all types of humor, I enjoy performing satires the best. Audiences laugh
and think at the same time. I am a comedian.
Jack McLain, Creative Writing
o pursue your anxieties and come closer
to an understanding of who you are and
who you want to be—that is the ultimate
art, and it’s beautifully selfish and selfishly
beautiful. I would not want it any other way.
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Alexander McLean, Band
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Justin McIntyre, Theatre
ife can be much too stressful and I believe
that it is crucial to be entertained and to
smile and laugh, which acting can provide to
the cast, the crew, and the audience. However,
dramas hold just as much significance as comedies. As humans, we sometimes need to be reminded what is important in this short life, and
I believe that all art can do that as well as spark
new thoughts on what our own life should look
like. It has also given me the opportunity to step
outside my comfort zone, to “see” what it is like
being a different person, to meet great friends,
and to give me a stockpile of great memories.
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Katherine Mendes, Visual Arts
have been involved in visual arts ever since
I was six, when my mom first gave me the
idea of starting art classes. I was so excited to
start, and even though that excitement comes
and goes, I can say that all the years I have
spent refining my art have been worth it. To
be able to have so many pieces of artwork, the
process painstakingly pushed along by teachers,
is something to be proud of. I am fortunate to
have been in CFPA and been taught by teachers
who truly care about me, and to be surrounded
by the most creative individuals I have ever met.
Gabriel Mendoza, Creative Writing
here in this world I found no light,
creative writing made my future
bright. I express myself through poetry and
nonfiction.
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Rebecca Murane, Visual Arts
f there was one thing I could say changed
my life, it would be the CFPA Art Program.
Never have I been surrounded by such unique,
creative, and talented artists. CFPA has pushed
me to extend my mind and imagination to its
furthest limits. I have learned that my art can
tell a story or prove a point. My concentration shows, “Bigger is not always better;” it is
the little things that count. In a similar way, I
believe that although CFPA is just a small program within Woodbridge, it has changed my
life forever and will always be a big part of me.
Jasmin Mills, Visual Arts
n all of my four years, people of the
CFPA have always pondered the question, “What is art?” To me, art is whatever
you are feeling at that moment when words
are just not enough. When you absolutely
must convey those feelings through your art.
These four years of CFPA have been a blessing and a wonderful experience, and I want
to take the time to thank my teachers who
have pushed me to do better, so thank you!
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Jasmine Murray, Creative Writing
have never considered myself a rational poet
who speaks to the beauty of life. I prefer to
speak on the good, the bad, the ugly, and the
indifferent. My writing could be shredded into
a thousand little pieces and glued together, and
you would get a picture of me wearing my heart
on my sleeve, a tear in my eye and a smile on my
face. Words are beautiful and with them I aim
to create a heartfelt reflection of myself, hoping
to leave my footprint on the world. The power of words work like my sixth sense. Writing
has taught me balance and humility and most
importantly how to put my soul into words.
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Juana Moreno, Visual Arts
rt to me means a way of expressing ourselves through an artistic way that can be
understood by everyone without communication. It can express emotions of the artist. Art
can be anything; our world is our canvas. Art
is part of our daily lives; we wear it, see it, and
make it. Art lives within us. Art is in the clothes
we wear, in the music we listen to, on the canvas of an artist, on our food, on decorations, in
the environment, and in any possible place or
thing. Without art, the world wouldn’t make
sense. Art is a beautiful way to express ourselves.
Joe Musselman, Visual Arts
he most important thing I have
learned about art has come from simply doing it and not understanding it. Art,
to me, does not exist. It is a word assigned
to things that we do not quite get because
it does not make sense. Nothing about art
makes any sense, yet it is made me the happiest and the saddest and the angriest I have
ever been and it continues to have a massive
influence on our culture and history while
being a universal language that nobody
understands. And that is why I love “art.”
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CFPA
Seniors
2014
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Artist Statements
Karla Gabriella Pacheco, Visual Arts
FPA has always been my home, and
it will remain that way for the rest
of my life. There are not enough words in
the world to describe my experience here;
it has changed my life for the better. It’s
been my oasis in a world of an endless desert, full of misery and regret. It’s shown me
that talent matters and that it should never
be taken for granted. I hope I continue to
grow as a person and an artist. That I’ll
never give up my passion for a paycheck.
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Lauryn Nemeth, Visual Arts
Selena Pagan, Dance
Renee Ordoobadi, Creative Writing
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s a creative writing transfer student, I secretly thought that Woodbridge would
be like the T.V. show Victorious, where every
student dances instead of walking and sings
instead of talking; I was wrong. It turned out
to be something much more valuable. I learned
to embrace my quirky qualities and celebrate
having a unique writing style. I also discovered
the wonders of spell check, which ultimately
helps me morph words into poetry and nonfiction essays. My goal is to teach children and
teens that writing is the perfect mechanism to
help them cope from afflictions so that it can
positively affect their lives––like it did in mine.
Jahnessa Palmer, Creative Writing
ords seem to escape my mouth and
transfix onto paper sometimes without my mind telling me what to say, but
my heart. Depths of my soul reaching out
with inspiration flashing before my eyes so
beautifully I cannot contain my emotions.
My words are the voice I cannot speak, it
is the air that caresses my lungs, and it is
the sun to my cloudy days; a love I live for.
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Miranda Pfister, Visual Arts
Erika Pineda, Visual Arts
rt has been very important throughout my high school career. I am happy
to say that my skills have improved in the
four years I have been here. Music has
also played a big role in my life, and I am
glad that I was able to relate it to fine arts.
Katelyn Portorreal, Creative Writing
eing an artist, to me,is having something
to say and a medium in which to express
that. For me, my art is expressed through
writing. I use writing to better understand
myself and the world around me. My works
tend to be of realistic fiction and are often
influenced by themes frequent in my everyday life such as love, loss, and acceptance.
Anthony Powell,Theatre
here are two worlds in which everyone resides: Reality and Fantasy, and
to each their own. My goal as an artist is
to open a door through which the audience can view the world of my imagination
and blur it with the lines of their reality. I
want them to experience a place, a time, a
story that they otherwise would not have
experienced with such vivid detail and believability that they leave behind all their
thoughts and problems of the day and dive
head-first into the storyline’s adventures.
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Alexandra Pogue, Vocal Music
ith vocal music, your instrument
is you. Through the years, I have
become my instrument. Music has created and defined me as a person more
than any other aspect of my life. Singing
has been in my life as long as I can remember, and it will forever be a part of me.
W
CFPA
Seniors
2014
Brenton Prosser, Visual Arts
igh School was an intimidating time
for me, but it helped me prepare for
the future. I am glad I attended Woodbridge because I made a lot of good friends
and had many wonderful teachers. The most
important part of my experience is how my
art developed through my three years here.
H
Photographs
&
Artist Statements
Paige Rivers, Visual Arts
Erika Roberts, Creative Writing
have enjoyed writing since elementary
school, and I hope to continue with it in
the future. I have learned a lot in the CFPA
creative writing program and I am excited
for this next chapter in my life. I will be
majoring in English with a concentration
in creative writing at Auburn University. I
Brittany Ramirez, Dance
move because it is how I identify myself.
Sometime between the ages of five and
six years old, dance became a part of me,
but now I realize it will never leave my side.
Dance comforts me when I am sad, angry,
confused, happy, and excited; it has yet to
let me down. What attracts me so much
to this specific art form is that it is never
ending. There is always new movement to
create; there is always something I can be
practicing. I am thankful I found such a lifechanging outlet and a way to express myself.
I
I
Kristin Roth, Theatre
am an interpreter. Taking theatre was always a
dream of mine. However, my dream of being
an actress changed into becoming an American
Sign Language interpreter. ASL is extremely
expressive; I found it easy to make natural facial
expressions because of theatre. I wish to open a
bakery where I can make cakes and sweets, while
employing deaf, hard of hearing, child of deaf
adults, and hearing people with a desire to learn
or have a working knowledge of ASL. I am more
than an actress now; I am an interpreter, baker,
creator, director, and entrepreneur. Thank you to
everyone who got me to this place in my life.
A
Regina Rueb, Orchestra
Maria Schleh, Creative Writing
create worlds. I take a little scrap of
some matter (a color, a popular song
on the radio, someone’s weekend anecdotes) and turn it into something new. Out
of a color, I might devise a population of
three million in a mountainous land overrun by dragons. Out of the song, I bring
a midnight apartment to life and place
an arguing couple inside. Each of these
worlds is like a snow globe, which I shake
up whenever life gets a little too boring.
Zoe Sellers, Theatre
Shirley Shields, Creative Writing
cting, in the simplest terms, is reading
lines on stage. At its purest, most inartistic
form, it is no more than that. Acting as an art
form is performed through specific vocalization
and movement to create an original character.
My goal is to create original characters, regardless of how many people have played them.
I
W
riting has always been a huge part of
my life. I never considered it as a carreer until sixth grade, but once I decided that
was what I wanted to do, I never looked back.
I am constantly thinking of new stories and
new characters, sometimes to the detriment
of my other duties. My biggest inspirations
are Edgar Allan Poe, the Virginia Renaissance
Fair, Steam Powered Giraffe, and of course,
my family and friends. Writing is the cornerstone of my life. It helps me explore my love of
language—and exploit my fondness of puns.
Juliana Schmitt,Visual Arts
am a photo-realistic pencil artist. I
love drawing portraits that have a
lot of detail and look like photographs.
I
CFPA
Seniors
2014
Samuel Sibert, Band
usic is my home. Transcending
every possible emotion, it is a way
to express myself in whatever situation I
find myself in. When I play, the notes pass
through my ears, the motions through
my fingers, creating thoughts I could
never manifest into words. I would be
completely lost in the dark if I had never
discovered the passion of playing music.
Alessandra Skarulis, Visual Arts
M
Photographs
&
Artist Statements
G
Hannah Taylor, Theatre
oing into high school I did not have
anything I was really passionate about.
Then I found theatre. At first, it made me
uncomfortable and I felt vulnerable. However, over the years I came to realize that
to me, acting is about physically, mentally,
and emotionally forcing yourself out of
your comfort zone. Acting is about trying
something new and failing until you find
a way that works best for you. It is about
questioning everything and daring people
to think in unexpected ways. After accepting all of that, it was then that I realized
that when I found theatre, I found myself.
Mikayla Thompson, Creatve Writing
I
have never not written. From ridiculous
second grade haikus to high school free
verse, I have always achieved that unparalleled release I intensely crave. Words constantly twirl inside my brain, arranging
themselves into colorful lines of poetry. The
people I meet, all so curiously unique, inspire
the characters that find themselves laughing,
fighting, and striving for perfection on my
torn and crumpled notebook paper. I cope
with the world around me by creating my own,
and to go a day without writing is to deny
myself something so central to my identity.
I
Ravyn Tynes, Dance
started dance when I was younger because I had to learn how to sit still and
follow directions. In the beginning, it was
hanging on bars and running around the
class room until the teacher managed to
trap and catch me. Once I stopped running
and grew tired of being kicked out of class,
I started to truly appreciate what dance really is. Dance for me is a freedom of expression. You do not need to watch what you
say, the tone you’re saying it in, or who is
around to hear it. It is a way to speak your
mind without backlash. It is true expression
of mind of body with no rules or boundaries.
Victoria Unterberger, Dance
s I think of dance I don’t think
about step to step movement but a
piece of art that is made to tell a story
and work through, or celebrate, issues
of both personal matters and large societal concepts. In movement quality, I
find myself consistently working on the
floor. I love how you can manipulate the
floor as an extension of yourself; I look
at it as an aid and extra character rather
than the surface underneath my feet.
A
Brooke Whitlock, Creative Writing
I
n a world full of realistic pessimism and
ludicrous optimism, where can one turn
for Nothing?––for inexistence; for a world
without light and dark, us and them? Nowhere, sort of. Everywhere, mostly. Books
are certainly not without sides––front and
back, good and bad––but they are sides that
only matter in my head between a certain
number of pages. They’re a place where it
is safe to exist, third party and shy, because
no one acknowledges the fact that we’re living vicariously. There’s a power in the naming of things, equal to that of keeping quiet.
O
Casey Wallace, Theatre
ne thing I have always worked hard at is
performing: acting and singing. I began
performing for my grandmother, who started
me as a storyteller. From there, I was able to
act with other people and companies. For me,
acting takes tremendous time and effort, but
it is always worth it. Without the effort, there
can be no art. As an actor, I develop character, learn lines, put in time and effort, but I
am rewarded with a round of applause. Performing is about transforming an audience
to a different world. As we actors perform,
we escape in our characters. Why shouldn’t
the audience get the same experience?
Kahill Williams, Music Technology
usic is my way of expressing myself without people having to
hear me speak. As a shy person, I do
not like being in the spotlight; I would
rather express myself through instrumental music. Becoming a music producer has allowed me to express myself
and help other artists express themselves
over my tracks. Music has given me the
opportunity to gain exposure, inspire
people, and help others to do the same.
M
Valerie Wallace, Visual Arts
rt has always been an important
part of my life. It has given me the
opportunity to have new experiences and
learn more about myself. Through art, I
have gained incredible friendships and
relationships that I will carry throughout my life. These past four years have
shown me what I truly can accomplish
with hard work and dedication. I would
not be the artist I am today without Mr.
Rozelle and Mrs. Kagle. Thank you!
A
Yasmin Williams, Music Technology
M
E
Frank Wohlrab, Band
usic follows me everywhere and manifests my thoughts into an array of
notes, rhythms, symbols, and patterns. At
some point in my life, I became a musician,
but I have always been a fan of music. Studying and immersing myself in different genres
has taught me that music needs a voice and
a method of being presented that showcases
its depth and range; I have been fortunate
enough to be a voice for music. Music is everywhere––all I have to do is listen, play it
to the best of my ability, and, most importantly, appreciate the joys of making music.
verything about music––the melodies,
harmonies, rhythms and beats––seamlessly flow together to create a vivid, detailed
but natural process for me: an art. It is as if it
were a part of my body as much as my own
limbs; whether through performing or listening, I know what I want from music and I
know what it wants from me. My inspiration
and motivation for being involved with music stems from the constant exposure in my
life; everything I do incorporates music in it
somehow, and I intend to keep it that way.
Silas Young, Music Technology
usic has always been a huge part
of my life, whether listening to it
or making beats, it’s just something that
can always put a smile on my face. It has
been a staple in my family for as long as I
can remember. My Grandfather and parents got me started listening to all types
of old school music at a very early age.
Right before high school I started making
beats for people and it has stuck with me.
Pamela Zamudio Arroyo, Visual Arts
M
F
or me, art means everything that I know.
I cannot recall when I started having
a passion for it but I know that, now, art
means the world to me. Art is my future.
Even though I do not know where my future will take me, I hope that art always be
part of my life. I really enjoyed being part of
the CFPA program. Despite the stress, I feel
like after the program my art became way
better. Also my teachers were the best and
so much fun, so it was really worth all the
stress because they made it so much easier.
I will miss all this so much after I graduate.
A
Ashli Yerby, Theatre
rtists think outside the box. I want to express my art in a way that the audience
can feel my emotion too. By joining CFPA,
my art became stronger. In my theatre class,
we performed monologues and critiqued each
other’s interpretations. I learned that theatre
takes time and dedication. My intentions are
to let people know I have a talent and I can
use it well. I want to bring them into a new
light of uniqueness. I act because I love to
create my own interpretations. Though challenging, I am willing to push myself. I hope
to inspire others to follow in my footsteps.
CFPA Mission and Vision
T
he vision of the Center for Fine and Performing Arts is to encourage and develop creativity, self expression, academic achievement, and critical thinking in the young artist. Upon graduation, students
will have mastered a common core of learning that supports the broader education of the artist and promotes a respect for cultural diversity. As a result of this training, the student will have the skills necessary
to be successful in a college or university arts program and to become an active consumer, strong advocate,
and valued participant in the larger arts community. The staff and faculty of CFPA seek to maintain a
nurturing environment that allows for intellectual and artistic creativity. To this end, we encourage both
individual and group activities that sustain and support the contributions of the arts to the human spirit.
WSHS Administration
David Huckestein, Principal
Shelia Coleman, Assistant Principal
Ryan Ferrera, Assistant Principal
Debbie Floris, Administrative Assistant
Ginny Kubiak, Assistant Principal for Fine Arts
Michele Sullivan, Assistant Principal
CFPA Staff
Debbie Floris, Coordinator for CFPA
Ginny Kubiak, Administrator for CFPA
Mark Carder, Instrumental Music, Band
Terri Caretti, Theatre
Laura Fegley, Dance
Daril Godinez, Vocal Music
Shannon Gunn, Music Technology
Cathy Hailey, Creative Writing
Lorie Kagle, Visual Arts
Clinton Rozelle, Visual Arts
Taryn Wood, Instrumental Music, Orchestra
Dr. Steven L. Walts, Superintendent of Schools
Superintendent’s Staff
Ms. Rae Darlington, Deputy Superintendent
Mr. Keith A. Imon, Associate Superintendent for Communications and Technology Services
Mr. Keith J. Johnson, Associate Superintendent for Human Resources
Mr. Timothy L. Healey, Associate Superintendent for Student Learning and Accountability
Mr. Dave Cline, Associate Superintendent for Finance and Support Services
Mr. Michael Mulgrew, Associate Superintendent for High Schools
Woodbridge Senior High School
3001 Old Bridge Road
Woodbridge, VA 22192
School Phone: 703.497.8000
Fax: 703.497.8172
CFPA Web site: http://cfpa.woodbridge.hs.groupfusion.net