In existence since 1976, BJU’s High School Festival provides an outlet for high school students to prepare and perform on campus in one or more individual or group categories, including Art & Design, Music, Speech & Drama, Video, Preaching or Teaching.
Intended Purpose
High School Festival has morphed over the years, but the original goals have remained. “(High School Festival was intended) to give an opportunity for high schoolers to come and compete in a Christian environment and get some feedback on how they were doing on their arts skills,” said Dr. Darren Lawson, dean of the School of Fine Arts and Communication.
In its beginnings, High School Festival included only fine arts categories. The Preaching & Teaching Conference — Bible teaching, for women, and preaching, for men — were added, and more recently ensemble acting and piano have become popular competitions.
Typically, students from private schools and homeschool co-ops, with varying levels of expertise, participate.
“We really do want to have open participation from across the board from students who have a lot of experience to students who have very little experience,” said Jay Bopp, chair of the division of Art + Design. “The judges take that into account when we look at their work because we want this to be a learning experience for all of the contestants.”
Regardless of training or experience, participation proves beneficial. “Just come and do the very best you can, and whatever level you end up (competing at), you get feedback, and that is always helpful,” Lawson said.
Value in Participating
Entering high school competition enables students to hone their God-given talents and skills. Fine arts faculty judge the categories that fall under their umbrella of expertise in both individual and group competitions. Religion and ministry faculty oversee preaching and teaching workshops and presentations.
Lawson appreciates the feedback he received when he participated in High School Festival. “When I first became dean, I told my faculty, ‘I still have my judging forms from when I was in high school.’ … It was interesting to think that we were judging our eventual dean,” he said.
High School Festival may open the door for students to attend EDUcamp as third- through first-place awards cover half to full tuition.
Student Experience
Besides competition, High School Festival provides students the opportunity to get a taste of the BJU experience.
Music students may opt to participate in a faculty-led workshop, private lesson or side-by-side experience, where they have the opportunity to rehearse alongside BJU’s upper level choirs, band or orchestra to perform in concert.
“(Side by side) gives the visitors a better chance of getting to know our students, and (an) opportunity for our students to have an impact on the visitors. There is a whole lot more personal contact that way,” said Paul Jantz, director of Musical Activities.
Added Welcome Center manager David Orr: “There is a huge value in being in a collegiate environment where the level of instruction that our faculty provide to our students is carried over to being able to have input into the performances of these high schoolers. … They’re performing for college professors and getting feedback that is designed to be helpful and instructive.”
