A Sound Approach: Wood County Christian students perform as part of Artsbridge concert series
The Wood County Christian School middle school choir opened Saturday’s concert at Grand Central Mall. The concert is part of the “Winter Music Series” put on by Artsbridge. Saturday’s Concert was sponsored by Intuitive Data and Technology (IDAPT) and went from 1:30 to 3 p.m. (Photo by Clara Noelle)
Selah Chin sang in the middle school choir as well as performed a violin solo at Saturday’s concert at the Grand Central Mall. Chin is a student at Wood County Christian Schools and performed with her classmates as a part of Artsbridge’s “Winter Music Series.” (Photo by Clara Noelle)
Levi Wells, 17, a junior at Wood County Christian Schools, sang “Finally Home” as his solo during the concert on Saturday in Grand Central Mall. The concert is part of Artbridge’s “Winter Music Series” with this being the second to last in the series. The last concert will be Sunday Feb. 25 at 1:30 p.m. at the Grand Central Mall and will feature the Van Devender School Band. (Photo by Clara Noelle)
The Wood County Christian School middle school choir opened Saturday’s concert at Grand Central Mall. The concert is part of the “Winter Music Series” put on by Artsbridge. Saturday’s Concert was sponsored by Intuitive Data and Technology (IDAPT) and went from 1:30 to 3 p.m. (Photo by Clara Noelle)
Selah Chin sang in the middle school choir as well as performed a violin solo at Saturday’s concert at the Grand Central Mall. Chin is a student at Wood County Christian Schools and performed with her classmates as a part of Artsbridge’s “Winter Music Series.” (Photo by Clara Noelle)
Levi Wells, 17, a junior at Wood County Christian Schools, sang “Finally Home” as his solo during the concert on Saturday in Grand Central Mall. The concert is part of Artbridge’s “Winter Music Series” with this being the second to last in the series. The last concert will be Sunday Feb. 25 at 1:30 p.m. at the Grand Central Mall and will feature the Van Devender School Band. (Photo by Clara Noelle)
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VIENNA -- The Wood County Christian School (WCCS) band and choir performed at the Grand Central Mall Saturday afternoon. The performance was part of a series put on by Artsbridge called the "Winter Music Series."
According to Artsbridge Executive Director Lyndsay Dennis, the "Winter Music Series" is an annual event Artsbridge does every Sunday from December to February with two days being taken off in December and January for Christmas Eve and New Years Eve.
"We've geared towards school groups to give (the students) a chance to perform in a public space," said Dennis.
Dennis said that attendance for the concerts has grown since they have started to include the schools.
"Our main mission is to make art accessible to all," said Dennis. "And this is a great way of showcasing the talent of the students in our community."
WCCS brought together 13 middle school choir students, five high school choir students and five high school band students.
Overall, there were 14 solo performances. Some students sang, some performed with different instruments, some did both. WCCS junior Levi Wells, 17, did both. Wells performed with a French horn in the first group of solos, and in the second group of solos, Wells sang "Finally Home." Wells said he can play handbells, piano, mellophone and trumpet in addition to French horn and singing. He noted that out of all the instruments he can play, his favorite is the French horn.
Wells said he also sings at his church where they only sing acapella.
He said his love for music started after a friend of his convinced him to join the band when he went to Warren High School, and after that he "just got into music."
During high school, Wells moved from Warren to Wood County Christian Schools, saying that he wanted to go to a school that aligned more with his faith.
The WCCS music department was led by Young Chin, who is in her first year of teaching at WCCS. Chin recently moved to the area from Michigan, saying that she has been in the area for less than two years.
"At first I was kind of nervous, but then I got the flow of it," said Chin. "I'm grateful to be with the next generation (of students)."
Chin has taught piano for over 20 years and was a stay-at-home mom before taking the job as music director at WCCS.
"It's a big leap," said Chin. "I realized that God has been training me to get along with people at church to have the social skills for teaching."
Chin noted that she has gotten the opportunity to experience new things in her position as a teacher.
"It's like a new chapter of my life," said Chin.
Clara Noelle can be reached at intern@newsandsentinel.com.