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Student Artist of the Month: January 2018


In partnership with Forsyth County high schools and Windsor Jewelers, The Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County is proud to present the Student Artist of the Month.

All Forsyth County high schools (private, public, and charter) that have arts programming were invited to participate in the Student Artist of the Month program. Arts educators and administrators from each school will select one student each month for recognition based on academic rigor and artistic merit.  A variety of arts disciplines will be recognized over the course of the school year.

Taylor Fernald

Atkins Academic & Technology High School

Principal: Joe Childers

SAM Coordinator: Janet Blakely

Nominating Teacher: Lauren Gliot

Arts Discipline: Theatre Arts

Grade: 11

GPA/QPA: 3.8

What is your favorite part of the arts genre in which you were selected? I enjoy working/performing with other students.

Where would you most like to attend college and what might be your major? I would like to attend NC State and major in Computer Programming.

What is your proudest artistic accomplishment? My Fall Showcase performance, “Robotic Love”.

How will the arts influence your future career? Performing in theater has greatly improved my communication skills.

Jefferson Bercaw

Bishop McGuinness High School

Principal: Tracy Shaw

Nominating Teacher: Alan Hirsh

Arts Discipline: Music

Grade: 12

GPA/QPA: 4.66

What is your favorite part of the arts genre in which you were selected? I enjoy the puzzle-aspect of music. Each song is a puzzle with melodies and harmonies that must accord with the selected chord progressions. I love to derive these progressions and craft melodies to fit them.

Where would you most like to attend college and what might be your major? Biomedical Engineering at Cornell University.

What is your proudest artistic accomplishment? My proudest accomplishment is the expansive list of instruments I’ve been able to learn and come to enjoy. I started with the piano in Kindergarten and continued to learn the clarinet, bass clarinet, guitar, alto saxo