The Arts Café is a special night for all sorts of artists to showcase their talents and pieces they have been working on so far. It is an opportunity for performers to demonstrate their skills and for attendees to see and hear the more artistic facets of the Dexter Southfield community, which is often centered around athletics. The 2024 Arts Café took place on October 24 from 6:00 to 7:15 in the Clay Center Lecture Hall and included a collection of musical and literary works, as well as visual art that was projected in the background. The event was organized by Mr. Drew Maletz and Mrs. Deirdre Burke with help from Mr. Timothy Watrous and Ms. Asia Meirovich. The soundboard throughout the night was managed by Amy Feng ’25 and Helen Yang ‘25, who supported and enhanced the performers’ presentations, allowing them to sound their very best.
The night started off with a brief opening speech by Mr. Maletz, and then the performances began, alternating between instrumentalists, vocalists, and speakers, adding variety and flavor. There were vocal covers of popular songs accompanied by piano, chamber ensemble, and guitar, two movements by the chamber ensemble, solos on the piano and violin, readings of poetry and a short story, and a choral performance of “Hallelujah” to conclude the evening. Each student shone when they demonstrated their piece, and it was clear that all the performers had talents, some hidden during their academic lives, that were revealed on the night of the Arts Café. It was a delight to witness the many fields of artistic capability be brought to light and appreciated.
The audience was small but energetic, and much of it was made up by the parents of the performers. Among the audience were Mr. Todd Vincent, Head of School, who greeted and congratulated everyone who had participated when the event was over, and Mr. John Booth, Head of Upper School. Additionally, a point to note is the support Nora Kelley ‘27, received from her friends. She who sang “Wildflower” by Bilie Eilish and was part of the “Hallelujah” chorus and received enthusiastic clapping and cheering at the end of her first song. Although it is somewhat of a shame that there were not many people to enjoy all the spectacular performances, the small attendance and dark lighting of the amphitheater contributed to the quiet and cozy mood often found in cafes. Madeline Maletz ’28, who read her poem titled “Sense of Place,” remarked, “On one hand, I kind of wish there had been more people to appreciate the event since everyone did really well, but on the other hand, I kind of like the fact that there weren’t a lot of people watching me as I did my reading. The Arts Café being a sort of niche event gave off vibes that were casual yet attentive to each performer.”
Although the Arts Café has passed, there are still several opportunities for artists fostering their skills to share their works. This past week on December 10, Performing Arts Night was another chance like the Arts Café for any instrumentalists, vocalists, and dramatists midway through the year. This is followed by a J-Term concert on the Friday of the week after winter break. Additionally, any aspiring writers and visual artists can submit original works to Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. This happens outside of school, but the competition can be entered through the school. Interested students should contact Mr. Matthew Dimock and Ms. Beth Koehler for more information on the respective art and writing competitions.
