Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, July 4, 1995 TAG: 9507050027
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV2 EDITION: HOLIDAY
SOURCE: HALE SHEIKERZ
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
A group of cellists from the academy also performed for the Kiwanis Club, Montgomery County Public Library, St. Mary's Little Angels Pre-School, Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church and at Virginia Tech's Squires Recital Salon. The group also performed at Kipps Elementary School as part of an arts festival.
In addition to their standard weekly private music lessons, students perfect their playing by joining other students who play the same instrument. Together, the students use a variety of approaches to the mastery of music by spending time on ear training, rhythmic theory and music appreciation.
The Renaissance Music Academy is a nonprofit music school that opened in September 1993 with three faculty members and 65 students. Today, there are five faculty members and more than 125 students. The academy offers piano, violin and cello training. For more information, call 552-1383.
\ Jennifer Hatfield is one of five high school students from Virginia traveling through England for several weeks this summer with the Bradford exchange program, sponsored by the Episcopal Diocese of Southwestern Virginia. Hatfield is a rising senior at Radford High School. Students in the program were selected on the basis of scholarship, citizenship and service. She is the daughter of Chuck and Jan Hatfield.
\ Several students from Blacksburg High School studying French placed among the top in their levels in the state, region and nation on the National French Exam. The exam, which tests reading, writing and listening comprehension, is administered to students all over the country each spring. Blacksburg students who placed high on the exam are:
Level I-A Division:
Paul Caldwell placed ninth in Virginia, 10th in Region IV and 11th in the nation. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Caldwell.
Jennifer Smith placed 10th in Virginia, 11th in the region and 12th in the nation. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Smith.
Yara Beex placed 16th in Virginia, 17th in the region and 18th in the nation. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Myl Beex.
Rafael Gray placed 19th in Virginia, 20th in the region and 21st in the nation. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. James Gray.
Level II-A Division:
Robert Emmett placed second in Virginia and sixth in the region and the nation. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Emmett.
German Portillo placed 18th in Virginia and 23rd in the region and the nation. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Portillo.
Level III Division:
Rasheq Rahman placed 15th in Virginia and 17th in the region and the nation. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Saifur Rahman.
Level IV Division:
Michelle Eden placed ninth in Virginia. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Eden.
Charles Liu placed 26th in Virginia. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. James Liu.
Kevin Corbett placed 29th in Virginia. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Corbett.
Emmett and Portillo also were inducted into the school's Chapter of the National French Honor Society.
In addition, Michael Shumsky was selected to attend the Governor's French Academy this summer. Shumsky, a rising senior, will spend one month at the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind in Staunton. Sponsored by the Virginia Department of Education, the program focuses on French linguistics, culture, sports, dance, music and theater.
Shumsky is a member of the French Club and the French Honor Society.
Shumsky is also active with other school organizations, including forensics. He recently placed first in the Virginia High School League forensics competition and took second in the nation at the Catholic Forensics League competition in Chicago. He also is recipient of a $1,000 scholarship from the Lee-Jackson Foundation for its 1994-95 essay contest.
Joan Campbell is the French teacher at Blacksburg High and sponsor of the French National Honor Society.
\ Belview Elementary School in Radford was awarded the Litton Industries Educational Support Grant for 1995. The school received a $1,500 check, which will be used to purchase sets of books that will be sent home with kindergarten and first-grade students.
by CNB