By Riley Schleining
Although Jacob is new to the art world, he has been welcomed into the Collingwood arts community and has embraced in full stride the outstanding theater, dance and choral programs offered at school. Jacob, who is currently in Grade 11, started his journey into the artistic community four years ago with Collingwood’s choir. Jacob was proud to be the recipient of the award for outstanding student in Choir during Grade 8. To further expand his breadth as an artist, Jacob has taken courses in drama and acting which has led to his passion for acting, dancing and singing.
Jacob credits Mr. Buchan, Collingwood's beloved choir teacher, for his helpful and insightful mentoring, in encouraging him to delve deeper into the realm of the arts. Jacob's ongoing choir participation includes not only the traditional assembly performances but also competing in the annual Kiwanis Music Festival. At Kiwanis, Collingwood's choir performs against hundreds of schools from all over Vancouver and the Lower Mainland. Last year, Jacob proudly shared that the Collingwood choir received Gold at the competition, which further served as encouragement for him to continue his artistic pursuits.
His theatre debut at Collingwood was last year, in the production Any Number Can Die. The play was a comedy portraying a take-off of a classic mystery play from the twenties, and Jacob felt as if he could fit into the character’s role seamlessly. With a desire to expand his performing skills, he auditioned to be in this year’s play, The Diary of Anne Frank. Jacob also played a greaser in Collingwood’s hit musical Grease last year. He thoroughly enjoyed participating in this musical play, as it presented him with a chance to showcase his artistic potential with his singing, dancing and acting skills.
Jacob enjoys art because it functions as a sanctum where he can de-stress; he can take a weight off his shoulders and for a passing moment forget about the demands of his academics . His favourite takeaway about his involvement in the arts community at Collingwood is the fact that in every new play or musical or any sort of artistic endeavour he is able to meet an entirely new group of students, where “you form a kind of bond” that he would have never been able to without that arts connection.
Jacob is not entirely sure as to whether he will pursue his passion for the arts post-secondary. What he does know right now, is that he going to continue to simply enjoy it, and embrace it as a place where he can find himself.
Although Jacob is new to the art world, he has been welcomed into the Collingwood arts community and has embraced in full stride the outstanding theater, dance and choral programs offered at school. Jacob, who is currently in Grade 11, started his journey into the artistic community four years ago with Collingwood’s choir. Jacob was proud to be the recipient of the award for outstanding student in Choir during Grade 8. To further expand his breadth as an artist, Jacob has taken courses in drama and acting which has led to his passion for acting, dancing and singing.
Jacob credits Mr. Buchan, Collingwood's beloved choir teacher, for his helpful and insightful mentoring, in encouraging him to delve deeper into the realm of the arts. Jacob's ongoing choir participation includes not only the traditional assembly performances but also competing in the annual Kiwanis Music Festival. At Kiwanis, Collingwood's choir performs against hundreds of schools from all over Vancouver and the Lower Mainland. Last year, Jacob proudly shared that the Collingwood choir received Gold at the competition, which further served as encouragement for him to continue his artistic pursuits.
His theatre debut at Collingwood was last year, in the production Any Number Can Die. The play was a comedy portraying a take-off of a classic mystery play from the twenties, and Jacob felt as if he could fit into the character’s role seamlessly. With a desire to expand his performing skills, he auditioned to be in this year’s play, The Diary of Anne Frank. Jacob also played a greaser in Collingwood’s hit musical Grease last year. He thoroughly enjoyed participating in this musical play, as it presented him with a chance to showcase his artistic potential with his singing, dancing and acting skills.
Jacob enjoys art because it functions as a sanctum where he can de-stress; he can take a weight off his shoulders and for a passing moment forget about the demands of his academics . His favourite takeaway about his involvement in the arts community at Collingwood is the fact that in every new play or musical or any sort of artistic endeavour he is able to meet an entirely new group of students, where “you form a kind of bond” that he would have never been able to without that arts connection.
Jacob is not entirely sure as to whether he will pursue his passion for the arts post-secondary. What he does know right now, is that he going to continue to simply enjoy it, and embrace it as a place where he can find himself.