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Spring Arts Festival

2023 TASIS Spring Arts Festival

Under the direction of TASIS Founder M. Crist Fleming, who was an ardent supporter of the arts, former faculty members Horst Dürrschmidt and Fernando Gonzales established the TASIS Spring Arts Festival in 1974. Held near the end of each school year, the festival is, in addition to a community-wide celebration of the arts, a final assessment for students in visual arts, theater, and music. It aims to celebrate and support the unique contributions that the arts and humanities make to TASIS life while offering an opportunity to showcase, through both performance and exhibition, the arts across the Elementary, Middle, and High Schools.

Performing Arts Department Chair Erika Cramp, Visual Arts Department Chair Martyn Dukes, and the many talented students and teachers who comprise their departments enjoyed sharing their outstanding work with the TASIS community over the course of May 11–25. Thank you to everyone who supported this year's festival!

Festival Content

Once Upon a Mattress Cast

Middle School Musical: Once Upon a Mattress: Youth Edition

MAY 11–13, PALMER CULTURAL CENTER

Many moons ago in a far-off place, Queen Aggravain decreed no couples could marry until her son, Prince Dauntless, found a bride. Princesses came from far and wide to win the hand of the prince, but none could pass the impossible tests given to them by the Queen. That is, until the “shy” swamp princess, Winnifred the Woebegone, showed up. Would she be able to pass the Sensitivity Test, marry her prince, and help Lady Larkin and Sir Harry to the altar?

Guided by Director Matthew Frazier-Smith, a fantastic cast and crew of Middle School students did a terrific job performing this rollicking spin on the classic tale The Princess and the Pea in the Palmer Cultural Center on May 11–13. We were prohibited from filming the musical due to licensing rights, but please find a link to a photo gallery below.

SEE PHOTOS


 

Piano Recital

May 17, Palestra

selection of High School students from the studio of Angela Perini showcased their impressive talents in front of a live audience in the Palestra—with the Visual Arts Exhibition serving as a pleasant backdrop—on the evening of May 17. See a recording of the full performance and a link to a photo gallery below.

 

SEE PHOTOS


 

Visual Art Exhibition

MAY 17–21, Palestra

This year’s exhibition included a wide variety of artworks produced by Elementary School students (guided by Ms. Caroline Rossi); Middle School students (Ms. Simona Bellini and Ms. Brigit Hurst); High School students in the disciplines of drawing and painting (Mr. Martyn Dukes), photography (Mr. Frank Long), architecture and design (Mr. Mark Aeschliman), and ceramics (Ms. Hurst); and faculty artists. Click on the button below to see a 3D scan of the full exhibition. 

EXPLORE THE EXHIBITION


 

Performing Arts Showcase: “Shine”

MAY 21, Palazzo dei Congressi

This spectacular show featured more than 150 singers, players, actors, and dancers from the TASIS community and marked the first time TASIS students had the opportunity to perform at Lugano’s iconic Palazzo dei Congressi since 2018.

Guided by Performing Arts Department Chair Erika Cramp and a dedicated team of performing arts teachers, students from the TASIS Elementary School, Middle School, High School, Faculty, and parent community performed beautifully in the showcase, which included more than 20 songs designed to tell a cohesive story about our beautiful but endangered planet. See a recording of the full performance and links to a highlight video and photo gallery below.

 

WATCH A HIGHLIGHT VIDEO

SEE PHOTOS 


 

Elementary School Musical: Seussical KIDS

MAY 24–26, Palmer Cultural Center

Horton the Elephant, the Cat in the Hat, and all of your favorite Dr. Seuss characters spring to life onstage in Seussical KIDS, a fantastical musical extravaganza from Tony-winners Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty.

Led by Director Matthew Frazier-Smith, an energetic cast and crew of Elementary School closed down the 2023 Spring Arts Festival by delivering four outstanding performances of this lively musical in the Palmer Cultural Center on May 24–26. We do not have permission to share a recording of this show, but click on the link below to see a gallery of photos.

SEE PHOTOS
 


 

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