Arts-X-press is a summer arts immersion program for 7th and 8th grade students created by the Pacific Symphony in celebration of Cole Carsan St.Clair. 150 students are nominated by teachers throughout Orange County to come together for 5 days of creative exploration each summer. The program has two goals: 1) To expose students to all 5 performing and visual arts; and 2) To foster respect for and interest in each student’s individuality, talents, interests, and background.

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Session 1, Day 2

Day 2 brought lots of fun, including arts workshops and a trip to Musical Theater West to see the musical "1776."

After another yummy dinner, we were joined by guest instructor Wendy Tobiska for a theater workshop where we staged "Where the Wild Things Are."  We're off to bed to get ready for a great day tomorrow as we visit the Festival of Arts and Pageant of the Masters.


Day One: From the Counselors

Hello there lovely parents, families and followers of the arts-X-press BLOG!!


we had a lovely day today.  It started with some tea and crumpets in the morning.  On the bus.  And then on the patio.  The butler, Garret, was very hospitable and courteous.  JUST KIDDING!!  Your LOVELY artists arrived to campus excited and ready for the first activity of the day: NEW GAMES!!  We played the Human Knot, Concentration, the Name Game, Little Sally Walker, Who's the Chief?, the Number Game and MUCH MUCH MORE :)  It was a splendid way for the campers to meet and learn new names.

Then we had lunch in our LOVELY cafeteria with special guest Ian McKinnel.  He spoke with a few students about being a cellist in the Pacific Symphony.  We all got really excited to see him perform in the evening!

Then we got to go to our Arts Workshops and Creative Expression classes.  Everybody was raving about all the fun they had singing their songs and dancing their dances and drumming their drums and painting their paintings and acting their acts.  We can't wait to show you what we've done at the Parent Presentation on Tuesday night!

Finally we got on the bus to go to the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater for Cirque de la Symphonie.  We learned the arts-X-press song and other various LOVELY camp songs.  La la la la!  Upon our arrival on the special "limo road," we were treated to an EXCLUSIVE arts-X-press ONLY backstage tour.  Then we got to meet the LOVELY conductor himself, Maxim Eshkenazy.  He was AWESOME!  Did you know that he is a pilot?  Of airplanes, and helicopters.  And he parachutes too!  But most importantly, he taught us to pursue our passions through thick and thin.  He practices many hours a day and he sure puts on a great show!

We ate dinner and then had a surprise visit from another special guest!  It was Josh Roach, conductor of the Pacific Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble.  He gave us a few inside secrets of the concert and then we were off to our seats in our little family groups.  The concert was FANNNNTASTIC!!  Splendid, awesome, and LOVELY.  The music was inspiring and the acrobatics mind-boggling.  I'm sure you'll hear all about it after the Parent Presentation on Tuesday during your three minutes of LOVELY time together.

The bus ride back was very m ellow and now everybody has showered (3 minutes is up!!!) and gone peacefully to snoring sleepy sleep in the LOVELY dorms.  Everyone loves to be in college (dorms.)  We'll be waking up bright and early, so this is Darlene and Tina SIGNINGGGG OFFF.  Good night, friends.

(written 12:43 am after Day 1.  Posted late due to continuing internet outage on campus!)

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Session 1, Day 1!

We have had a great day so far at arts-X-press. The students all arrived safely this morning to Vanguard University. First was orientation, then "New Games!" New Games (ice breakers) are an arts-X-press tradition lead by our wonderful counselors. Before we knew it, it was lunch time at Vanguard's delicious and nutritious cafeteria- everyone made great food choices!

This (very warm) afternoon brings Creative Expression class as well as finding out which Arts Workshops everyone is in. In the (hopefully cooler) evening we will travel to Verizon Wireless Amphitheater to hear Maxim Eshkenazy conduct Pacific Symphony in a very exciting concert: Cirque de la Symphonie (complete with acrobats)!
 
Here are a few pics of our excursion to Verizon Wireless to see the utterly amazing "Cirque de la Symphonie."






Thursday, July 15, 2010

Get on the bus!

We're on our way!  If you have lost your packing list, bus schedule, or medicine form, you can find them here:
Packing list
Bus Schedule
Medicine Labeling Form

If you have a problem on your way to the bus, call the hotline at (714) 876-2336.  Be sure to leave a voice mail including your cell phone number--we will be checking the voice mail frequently throughout the morning and will get back to you in 15 minutes or less.

We can't wait to see you!

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Excursion Spotlight: Target Symphony in the Cities


For many, it's a must-do summer tradition - a visit to the local park for a free outdoor concert by Pacific Symphony, led by Music Director Carl St.Clair!  Week 3 AXPers will travel to Mission Viejo for Target Symphony in the Cities.

For the fifth year in a row, Target returns as the title sponsor for the 2010 Target Symphony in the Cities concert series, a popular event throughout Orange County's many communities which attracts more than 10,000 people each summer.  Ninety minutes before the concert there are many interactive and hands-on activities at a "musical playground" for children, which includes a conducting clinic. Children who participate have the opportunity to assist Maestro St.Clair in conducting during a portion of the concert.

For more information about these free community concerts, check out www.pacificsymphony.org.

Friday, July 9, 2010

Are you ready?

This week, staff and counselors spent the day on the Vanguard campus getting ready for all kinds of summer fun!  We hope everyone is ready to let their creative juices flow for a fantastic summer.



Here are some handy links to must-have documents in case you've misplaced them:
Packing list
Bus Schedule
Medicine Labeling Form

See you soon!

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Excursion Spotlight: Laguna Playhouse

SH-BOOM! Sessions 2 and 3 will travel to Laguna Playhouse for "Life Could Be a Dream."  Meet the Crooning Crabcakes, the boy group banned from the Springfield High School prom which made it possible for The Marvelous Wonderettes to perform. The guys get one more chance at fame and fortune as Denny, Eugene, Skip and Wally form a singing group to enter and win the local radio contest and realize their dreams of making it to the big time! Will these delightfully goofy guys be able to pull it together and win the contest? Featuring such classic songs as “Stay” (Just a Little Bit Longer),” “Runaround Sue,” “Tears On My Pillow,” “Unchained Melody,” “Earth Angel,” “Little Darlin’,” “The Glory of Love,” and of course the title song. Life Could Be A Dream will leave you laughing, singing and cheering – let’s hear it for the boys!

Monday, June 21, 2010

Excursion Spotlight: Cirque de la Symphonie

Kicking off the summer with a bang, participants in week 1 will attend a jaw-dropping fusion of two art forms: aerial fliers, acrobats, contortionists, dancers, jugglers and strongmen will perform their cirque acts  — all accompanied by a live symphony orchestra performing classical masterpieces.

The artists of Cirque del la Symphonie include world-record holders and gold-medal winners of international competitions, and rank among the most exceptional cirque artists in the world. Pacific Symphony's popular and charismatic assistant conductor leads this feast for the eyes and ears!

Not attending AXP session 1?  You can purchase tickets to the Pacific Symphony's summer series at www.pacificsymphony.org

Monday, June 14, 2010

Getting Ready for AXP!

We're almost there! If you've misplaced your documents, you can download them here:

Packing list
Bus Schedule
Medicine Labeling Form

Stay tuned for the latest updates, and we'll see you soon!

Monday, June 7, 2010

Summer Orientation

It was so awesome to see so many of you at Welcome Night this weekend!

We look forward to seeing everybody at the Summer Orientations:
Wendesday, June 9, 7 pm
Saturday, June 12, 10 am
Orange County Dept. of Education, Building D 1002-1003
200 Kalmus Dr., Costa Mesa

View Larger Map

See you soon!

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

2010 Welcome Night at the Symphony

Don't miss Welcome Night just for the incoming class of 2010!  
Come join your fellow 2010 AXPers and their families on June 5th to see Carl St.Clair conduct the Pacific Symphony at Segerstrom Concert Hall. The program features some great music: Ravel's Mother Goose Suite, based on some familiar (and a few not-so-familiar) fairy tales; a suite from Igor Stravinsky's ballet Firebird; and John Adam's Violin Concerto featuring Leila Josefowicz.

Tickets are still available at a discount for 2010 arts-X-press students and their families. Call the box office at (714) 755-5799 and mention arts-X-press.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Paperwork and Fees due today

Today is the deadline for all paperwork and fees for this summer!

If you are dropping your packet off, we are at 3631 S. Harbor Blvd., Suite 100.  Our offices are located in the Harbor Corporate Park just north of Ikea. But feel free to save yourself a trip and drop it in today's mail.

If your pink form will be late because of a doctor's appointment, don't worry!  Please submit the rest of your paperwork on time and let us know when we can expect the pink form.

Please give us at least 5 business days for us to input our mountain of paperwork into the database before calling with inquiries about whether we got your forms, payments, etc.  You will be the first to know if we're missing anything!

See you soon!

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Monday, April 26, 2010

Backstage Tour SOLD OUT!

The backstage tour for the 2010 Welcome Night is SOLD OUT!  But there's still plenty of room at the Welcome Night concert for incoming 2010 arts-X-pressers and their families--be sure to purchase your tickets in advance by calling the box office, and we'll see you there.

Friday, April 23, 2010

Counselor Interviews

Just a few slots left!  If you were invited for an interview, be sure you call the hotline to schedule your time by the end of today.
Updated 4/23 11:02am

Wednesday, 4/28
4:10
4:20
4:30
4:40

Thursday, 4/29
3:20
3:50
4:00
4:10

Wednesday, May 5
3:30
3:40

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

AXP Class of 2010

Before you know it, we'll be all together for AXP 2010!  It's starting to come together--most of the staff is hired, registration meetings are almost done, and we begin interviewing counselors at the end of the month.

If you applied to be a counselor, you should have received an e-mail notifying you if you've been invited for an interview.  If you have been invited for an interview, you can choose from the following open times:
Updated 4/22 2:56pm

Wednesday, 4/28
4:10
4:20
4:30
4:40

Thursday, 4/29
3:20
3:40
3:50
4:00
4:10

Wednesday, May 5
3:30
3:40
3:50

Friday, March 12, 2010

Application Deadline

Don't forget!  Counselor applications for AXP 2010 are due on April 1, no exceptions.  This includes your letter of recommendation.

Week 2, 2008

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Calling all Counselors

Do you want to be an arts-X-press counselor?  Will you be between the ages of 16 and 20 as of July 1, 2010?  We are now accepting applications for this summer!  E-mail us at arts-x-press@pacificsymphony.org with "Counselor Application Request" in the subject line to request application materials.  The deadline is April 1st, and applications will only be accepted via e-mail.
 Join the ranks of fabulous counselors like these, from 2009, Week 3

We also need some help from our Veteran Counselors to welcome our new AXPers.  Please let us know if you are available to help at any of these spring registration meetings:
Monday, March 29, 7-8:30 pm
Newport Mesa District Office
Tuesday, March 30, 7-8:30 pm
Irvine District Office
Wednesday, March 31 7-8:30 pm
Placentia-Yorba Linda District Offic
e
Thursday, April 1, 7-8:30 pm
Garden Grove District Office
Monday, April 12, 7-8:30 pm
Santa Ana District Office
Thursday, April 15, 7-8:30 pm
Capistrano District Office

Monday, February 1, 2010

AXP Alumni News - Ben Paltin

You may remember him from AXP 2008 as Ben-jammin'.  AXP alumn Ben Paltin was voted the Grand Prize Winner by the audience at the recent Queen Mary's First Annual Salsa Expo.  Check out his amazing Matrix move (Ben is the one in the fedora.):

Ben also "auctioned" his performance of two songs during his recent bar mitzvah reception and is donating the auction proceeds to AXP!

Got news you'd like to share?  Let us know!

Friday, January 8, 2010

AXP 2010 - Now Accepting Applications!

We are now accepting applications for AXP 2010!
Anyone who is currently in 6th or 7th grade and lives or attends school in Orange County is eligible to apply.  Get more information and an application form at the Pacific Symphony website: www.pacificsymphony.org/arts-x-press .  Applications must be received in the Symphony office by February 12.
 
Aspiring counselors, you're next!  If you will be between the ages of 16 and 21 as of July 1, 2010, keep your eyes open for counselor applications at the beginning of March.  Make sure we have your current contact info--if you've moved or changed your e-mail address, make sure you let us know.