Today, there isn’t any limit to who can perform art and how. As society has progressed, art has remained a constant staple of culture and life through cities, towns, and communities. Art can be painting, poetry, sculpture, metal works, or performance arts like music, theater, and forensics. 

Arts like these are often able to go beyond language and reach people in ways that might not be possible otherwise. The arts provide a space for creativity, expression, and connection throughout communities. 

Every day at Brookfield East High School, students are given opportunities to perform or create art in mediums of their choice. Today we’ll be highlighting five amazing students and their work in the arts as well as their expression through forms of visual and performing arts. And, we’ll be featuring teachers of the arts here at Brookfield East, and all of their contributions to the growing arts in today’s society. 

Student Highlights

Iris Ornek (9)

Iris Ornek, a freshman at Brookfield East who works in many different mediums including ink, pencil, metal, ceramics, charcoal,  and more! Ornek’s piece “An Untouched Place on Earth” was recently displayed at the annual district art show in the Brookfield Public Library. For Iris, art is an outlet for emotion and a way to better her skills of emotional expression in the arts. Not only does she enjoy the process of making the art, but she also likes surprising herself with the outcome and how she improves from piece to piece. Iris finds that art is a way to, “decompress after a long day”. Iris is also active in honors classes academics and extracurriculars like Track, Cross Country, Volleyball, and Greenhouse club, but she says that she still maintains art classes in her schedule regardless. Like many, Iris finds art a way to express herself, connect with others, and grow further in the arts. Iris says, “I have had so many opportunities just by being in art classes, which is a great environment to be in.”

Hannah Koepsell (9)

Hannah Koepsell, a freshman, is a multimedia artist who works with clay, metal, ink, pencil, paints, and film. Hannah has taken several art classes, paints for the Community Art Club, and does art outside of school for both commissions and personal enjoyment. The ceramic piece titled, “shtom || moths”, was displayed earlier this month at the district art show. 

Art is more than just a hobby for Hannah Koepsell. For them, art is a form of self-expression that is both calming and overall a gratifying process. Hannah finds that there is a certain amount of “mindfulness” that is achieved through fine art which is a huge benefit of art-making. But the biggest benefit, in Hannah’s opinion, is, “art’s way of bringing people together. As a creator, my favorite phase of any fine arts process is the last one: sharing what I’ve made.” It strikes conversation and makes connections between people. Hannah also finds that art is something that “always pushes me towards more”. It encourages them to learn new skills, solve problems in creative ways, step out of their comfort zone, continuously improve, and “always strive for excellence”. For Hannah, art is an essential part of their life. “ Art comforts me, pushes me to be the best version of myself, allows me to express myself, and connects me with a community of people who make me feel like I belong.”

Adelyn Hoffman (10)

Adelyn Hoffman is a sophomore at BEHS and a strong representative of the performing arts. Adelyn plays the trumpet for the Brookfield East Band and Jazz Band. She also sings for the choir. Choir and band can often be overlooked forms of music, but for Adelyn, they’re much more than that. She says that when she is playing her trumpet or singing, “the happiness is real”. Band and choir are the things she looks forward to in the day. Her love and appreciation of the arts extend past choir and band, she says, “ It is so worth it to do music and it’s never too late to get started, I definitely encourage everyone to do at least one art class in their life whether it’s music or painting, I promise you won’t regret it.” Not only that, but she encourages the arts because, in places like band and choir, she feels that you become a member of a team, and you build connections to your peers that will last, “such a long time”. 

Ty Velthouse (12)

Ty Velthouse, a senior here at East, is a part of the Brookfield East Orchestra and Choir. However, his passions for music extend beyond the classroom, as he is also involved with Unaccompanied Minors (acapella), vocal collective, and MYSO’s chamber orchestra and senior symphony.

 Ty explains that he enjoys the arts of performing because “it allows for stylization you can’t find in other subjects”. He says, “Art carries emotion you can’t get in other subjects like math or science,’ and, “It’s a different type of intelligence, emotionally engaging rather than book-learning or wisdom building”. He finds the benefits of art in how he can connect with others and be in tune with the people around him. The most important parts about the arts for him are the people that he meets and the relationships he builds with people when performing with them. The emotional expression and creativity made possible by art are some of the things that Ty finds most important about the arts. Ty says, “You can’t derive personality from the number ‘one’ or something that happened in history. Only things made and influenced by you are truly you. It’s your mark on the world- and art is, in its base form, everything you do that leaves your mark on the world.”

Kate Weissman (12)

Kate takes part in orchestra and choir and will be attending the Berklee School of Music this fall for cello performance and music education. Kate is more than active in the musical arts, she plays in pit orchestra for the summer and fall musicals, and she’s a member of both the Senior Symphony and Chamber Orchestra for MYSO. For Kate, music is a way to bridge the gap between herself and others. She says that while hearing, performing, or seeing others perform music, she “instantly becomes connected to the people… regardless of our differences”. Kate has found boundless opportunities and experiences in music. Kate has been able to meet people who have helped record Taylor Swift Albums, the principal cellist of the LA Philharmonic Orchestra, and many more. Experiences like those have inspired her to continue music as a career.

Art is more than just experiences and inspiration for Kate. She has said that music is both a challenge and a comfort. “I feel like the truest, most honest version of myself when I sing in the choir or play my cello.” Even if you’re not musically inclined, Kate still feels like music is a way to grow as a person and feel connections with others. Kate finds that everyone can experience art, and, “ be capable of learning, growing, and walking away a more thoughtful, kind human because of it.”

Anyone can take part in the wonders of the arts. The expression, connection, skills, and techniques that are created and facilitated by the arts are immense. Without those opportunities, it is clear that our human experience would look quite different. 

Even if you don’t think of yourself as an artist, that should never stop you from pursuing a hobby, or passion, or expressing yourself creatively. It’s safe to say that some of the most important parts of the arts are the people you meet, thoughts that are conveyed, feelings that are invoked, and stories that are told. And in the end, the arts truly are for everyone to enjoy.