Two GS students have put their creative musical talents to work in an enterprising way.

Tatum Murray (Class of 2012) and Trevor Murray (Class of 2013) have just released their first solo albums, comprised only of original songs.  Tatum Murray’s album, Take Me or Leave Me, and Trevor Keat’s album, Sound and Subtle, include songs that each artist wrote, recorded, and produced for public release.  The albums are currently available on CD, iTunes, and other online stores.  (Trevor uses his first and middle names—Trevor Keat—to distinguish himself from another musician named Trevor Murray.)

The process of producing their solo albums began well over a year ago as each artist was busy writing songs to complement cover songs in their local solo performances.   In November 2011, the brother and sister began to record their music in the studio of a Berks County sound engineer.   No outside musicians were used on the recordings; all instruments—guitars, bass, piano, harmonica, mandolin, drums, and percussion—were played by Tatum and Trevor.  On a few of her songs, Tatum enlisted Trevor’s talents on electric guitar, bass, and drums.  By May 2012, the tracks were mixed and prepared for release in their present forms.   Tatum and Trevor created their CD jackets with the help of Mr. Mike Stitzer, a GS high school tech and graphics teacher.

Tatum and Trevor perform as solo acts and occasionally as a duo.   Over the past two years, they have shared their music in coffee shops, clubs, pubs, benefit shows, street fairs, “Friday” events, and other forums in Lancaster and contiguous counties.   Recently, they performed as a duo at GS’s Relay for Life on May 31, and their next duo performance will be at the Terre Hill Days Craft Show on July 21.

Additionally, each has composed music for a film.   Tatum’s song “Frozen” was written for Frozen Lies, by Philadelphia filmmaker Robert V. Sesay.   Trevor composed a guitar score for Rick Hansberry’s latest short film, Smile, which has been screened in Penn Cinema film festivals.   Lastly, one of Tatum’s songs, “Deserve,” has been adopted by Aevidum, a student group initiated at Cocalio High School to educate people about teenage suicide and depression issues.

Tatum Murray’s music is available for preview and purchase on iTunes

Trevor Keat’s music is available for preview and purchase on iTunes

Each artist has a musician Facebook page for more information about their work and local performances.   CDs can also be ordered by messaging them there.

Tatum Murray’s Facebook Page

Trevor Keat’s Facebook Page

At GS, Tatum and Trevor have taken opportunities to develop and refine their talents in GS music programs under the direction and support of Mrs. Deb Olson, Mr. Richard Fitz, and Mrs. Ena Banks.   They are grateful for the guidance and opportunities afforded them at GS, and they strongly encourage other students to pursue their musical interests.

Angela Rogozin was chosen as one of three runners up in the Congressional Art Competition.  Her winning artwork will hang in Congressman Joseph Pitts’ Washington D.C. office for one full year.

All student entries will be on display at the Lancaster Museum of Art through May 31, 2012.  The museum is located on 135 North Lime Street in Lancaster.

Congratulations to Angela and all of our Garden Spot high school students who were chosen to participate in the competition!

 Congratulations!

… to our students selected to participate in the 2012 Congressional Art Competition.

The Lancaster Competition is hosted

by Congressman Joseph R. Pitts.

(Photo:  Emily Glick)

Garden Spot students selected to exhibit in this year’s Congressional Art Competition are:

Photography:  Emily Glick, Anna Keens, Micoleen Schonour and Nancy Wanner;

Two Dimensional Art:  Tom Eby, Hannah Farber, Katie Fitz, Shannon O’Malley, Nathan Phillips, Angela Rogozin and Micoleen Schonour.

(Drawing:  Shannon O’Malley)

The students were selected by their teachers, Todd Reitnouer, Digital Photography and Sandy Cooper and Toni Myers, Two Dimensional Art.   Individual student work was chosen on the basis of quality, skill and creativity.

One winning student’s artwork will be chosen from Lancaster County and will hang in the Cannon Tunnel to the United States Capitol Building for one full year.  Students chosen as runners up will have their work displayed in Congressman Joseph R. Pitts’ local offices.

All student work from Lancaster County will be on display at the Lancaster Museum of Art from May 12 – May 31, 2012.

Thank you to Congressman Joseph R. Pitts for hosting the Congressional Art Competition, 2012!

(Photo – right:  Nancy Wanner)

(Collage – below:  Angela Rogozin)

GSHS Clay Studio students for the  2012 second semester have made ceramic soup bowls to donate the local Empty Bowls fundraising project, to be held at Kevin Lehman Pottery studio on Sunday, April 22.  Kevin is a graduate of GSHS and is involved in numerous projects benefiting the Lancaster community. Attendees of the Empty Bowls dinner will receive a handmade ceramic bowl and dinner donated by local eateries. This Empty Bowls fundraiser benefits the Community Action Program of Lancaster.  To learn more about the Community Action Program, visit their website.

Competition is the key to this year’s Lancaster County Young Artists Exhibit!

Garden Spot students selected by their teachers, Sandy Cooper, Toni Myers and Todd Reitnouer, to enter the competition are:  Angel Adams, Kianna Anderson, Alex Diem, Hannah Faber, Jenna Fisher, Katie Fitz, Emily Glick, Anna Keens, Kristine Koch, Lauren Martin, Koua Moua, Shannon O’Malley, Carlos J. Rivera, Caitlin Rizzo, Renee Roggie, Micoleen Schonour, Andrew Schrantz, Erin Shirk, Shawna Stauffer, Abbi Stoltzfus, Nancy Wanner, and Austin Wise.

However, just being selected by their high school teachers does not guarantee a student will be selected to exhibit in the upcoming show.  The entries will be reviewed by a selected panel.  The individuals on the panel will accept student work for the show based on  quality, skill, creativity and other designated  standards.  There are thousands of entries.

This year marks the 49^th year for the show.  The show is open to Lancaster County students from all districts and offers a great opportunity for young artists to enter a juried show and display their work.

The show will be on display in two locations, Mulberry Art Studios and the Ware Center of Millersville University at 42 N. Prince Street, Lancaster.

The Ware Center will see its first full year of scheduled events.  The Ware Center plans to be a community arts center and there are many scheduled art events for this year, some of which include dance programs, concerts, films and opera!

This year’s show will open on First Friday, March 2 and end on Sunday, April 1, 2012.

Congratulations to our selected Garden Spot students to compete in such a great show!

The drawing at the top of the article is by Abbi Stoltzfus

Trevor Murray

Alex Diem