Last May, the 1st annual Caravan Spring Arts Festival was held on campus to recognize the arts of Mount Carmel.  Over 75 students participated in the event that was held on May 2 and 3. The inaugural festival brought two days full of events to show the work done by the arts program.

The festival displayed a performing arts program that is on the rise. The festival included performances from the Mount Carmel Bands, the A Capella Group, the Speech Team, and Group Interpretation. In addition, the Mount Carmel art classes displayed some of their best work in the hallway just outside the Commons.

The performing arts program at Mount Carmel has grown over the last few years, and can be largely attributed to the work of Mr. Dennis Brumirski. Mr. Brumirski looks to recruit more students to the performing arts program, and his most successful pitch may just be, “It’s the best way to meet girls.”

While there’s no question his pitch resonates with many boys, the practicality of the performing arts program also should be attractive to students. “Everyday you have to be able to talk to someone and persuade them; that is exactly what speech team is.”

According to Brumirski, the performing arts are used for much more than persuasion. “Studying the arts promotes academic and workplace success; it has been that way since the beginning of time.”

If none of that works Brumirski can brag about not one but two IHSA sanctioned activities he led to the State Finals this year. Both the Speech and Group Interpretation team, which were first year activities at Mount Carmel, reached the finals in a state filled with public schools that, according to Brumirski, “don’t treat the arts as a joke.  Some of these schools bring multiple busses around to tournaments.”

The performing arts program at Mount Carmel will hold four different types of plays this year: a musical, a comedy, one-acts, and a group interpretation. Along with the four plays the speech team will return to Mount Carmel for another run at a state title. The Caravan Spring Arts Festival will also return next year to expand the reputation of Mount Carmel’s art program.

With four plays, the speech team, and the Spring Arts Festival, the performing arts of Mount Carmel is looking at a busy year. However, Brumirski insists that there is plenty of room for growth from the program in years to come, and that the more students we have participating; the better the program can be. “Anybody can be successful if they put their mind to it.”

Auditions for the fall musical, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, will take place on Thursday September 3rd in the Student Center.