An idea eight years in the making, Frisco ISD’s Visual and Performing Arts Center (VPAC) is set to open Tuesday with a week of performances from students throughout the district.
“This center reflects a community investment in Frisco ISD students and their creative futures, Frisco ISD Managing Director of Fine Arts Pete Hazzard said in a district news release. “It will provide a stage where their hard work and artistry can truly shine, while also bringing our community together to celebrate the importance of a quality fine arts education. We can’t wait for everyone to see it.”
Schools will be performing throughout the week with tickets free, but seats are limited. Among those invited to play is the Redhawks top orchestra which takes the stage Wednesday at 7 p.m.
“It is definitely a privilege,” orchestra director Julie Blackstock said. “On the ‘orchestra day’ only three schools are playing: Fowler MS String Orchestra, Lawler MS Full Orchestra, and Liberty Full Orchestra. This was decided because all of our programs have been state or international winners at some point.”
“It is an honor for Liberty Camera Orchestra to be selected and invited from the many great groups in Frisco ISD,” senior Saanvi Patel said. “It’s an exciting opportunity for us to welcome friends and family to the new performing arts center. It’s my last performance as a senior and I think it’s a great way to end with a bang.”
The specialized facility will also be the future site of all fine arts competitive events such as UIL, minimizing impacts on instructional time that some students felt recently, hosting both middle school and high school UIL multiple times this school year.
“UIL has been hosted at other schools which have had to accommodate for other schools visiting and performing at their school,” senior Andrew Gow said. “VPAC is meant to reduce the disruption to day-to-day activities that come with hosting UIL.”
The Redhawks full orchestra is the only high school orchestra in the district to play for the center’s opening.
“I think it’s an honor for myself and Camerata that we can participate in the grand opening of this center because not all high schools were given this opportunity,” freshman Elizabeth Mullican said. “I also believe that it shows a strong level of recognition for our school as well, as it is a high school orchestra that is going to be the first to perform in this center, not a professional adult orchestra.”
