Last week, Euclid Middle School hosted an evening dedicated to student creativity, as families and community members gathered for a Harlem Renaissance-themed Fine Arts Festival and concert.
The event began in the Euclid High School auditorium lobby and cafeteria, where student artwork from across the school year was on display. The exhibit featured a wide range of mediums, including pencil drawings, paintings and pastel pieces, highlighting the broad spectrum of work produced by EMS Students while working with Art Teacher Mariann Anderson.
Guests also had the opportunity to explore several interactive and community-based offerings. The Euclid Schools cafeteria team provided food in the Culinary Bistro, while Neilah Glover, a student in the EHS Studio Art and Design CTE program, created henna tattoos for attendees. Live saxophone music was provided by EMS parent Josephine Arthur, adding to the evening’s atmosphere. Local vendor Skin District Store offered handmade soaps and haircare products, and Euclid High School art teacher Meg Garbincus hosted a hands-on craft station.
The space itself was decorated in the theme of the evening, transforming the lobby into a setting inspired by 1920s Harlem. That work was led by EMS Secretary Stephanie Walker and Administration Receptionist Tracey Walker. The EMS PTA played a key role in organizing the event, including funding the dinner and coordinating raffles.
Following the art showcase, the program moved into the auditorium for an evening of performances.
The Euclid Middle School String Orchestra opened the concert under the direction of Tamara Reik. The ensemble performed selections including Spring by Antonio Vivaldi and Terra Nova by Richard Meyer, along with additional contemporary pieces. The audience was impressed with the quality of performance and the number of students that are passionate about classical music.
While the stage was reset after the Orchestra, the EMS Drama Club presented a revue titled A Harlem Renaissance. The performance featured a series of student-led scenes and monologues centered on influential figures and themes from the era. The first act, “Harlem Voices,” featured Gabrielle Baston-Davis, Duane Golding and Kaylee Hamptom playing Zora Neale Hurston, Langston Hughes and a modern student who had been transported back to the 20s. Kaydon Crockett provided a moving soliloquy as Louis Armstrong, while Londyn Duncan sang Summertime by Ella Fitzgerald, Arleena Polachek performed a tap dance number to Kansas City Kitty, and Dalaya Adamson performed “The Ballad of Jane Doe,” an original poem that lead into a modern dance.
The evening concluded with a performance by the Euclid Middle School Band, directed by Jean Keehn. The group performed a six piece program that ranged from traditional concert selections to recognizable themes, including music from Star Wars and Black Panther. One of the highlight pieces was Man in the Mirror, made famous by Michael Jackson that featured Aric McMillon on trumpet and Sophie Hall on tenor sax. The final song of the evening was Concerto for Crash Symbols which featured a lighthearted and funny joke between Keehn and 7th-grade percussionist Isaiah Helmey.
The turnout showed the strong support for the arts in Euclid. With more than 00 students involved in the performing arts at EMS, student creativity is blooming. EMS Principal Sherri Daniels closed the evening by thanking families, staff and community partners, including the Euclid Schools Foundation, for their continued support.