EDMONDS, Washington (STPNS) -- As they went from store to store, shoppers at the Alderwood Mall last Thursday were treated to an unexpected show.  

The Lynwood Arts Commission in partnership with the Rotary Club of Lynnwood and Alderwood Mall hosted the annual Student Showcase at the mall on Feb. 25 to celebrate the talents of local students.

Students from Edmonds and Lynnwood took the stage in the Terraces Food Court at the mall to sing, play, recite and dance in front of an audience.

The Lynnwood Rotary Club awarded the students with $1,000 in arts scholarships.



“This is a really important project,” said Lisa Gallucci, a service director for the Rotary Club.  “It helps keep the arts going when so many schools are cutting those programs.  We like to see the kids continuing on in their [artistic] endeavors.”

From about 20 auditions, the LAC selected just 10 performances for an “all-star” lineup.  All auditions were from students living within the Edmonds School District boundary.

Started in 2005, the show gives students the opportunity to perform for their community.  Two shows were held at Edmonds Community College until the showcase was moved to the mall in 2003.

“There was a general movement where arts organizations were bringing the arts to places where people congregate, so we started a partnership with the Alderwood Mall,” said Fred Wong, Lynnwood’s cultural arts supervisor.

“The nice thing about having it at the mall is while we’re setting up, a lot of people walk by and say ‘What’s happening?’ and the people that are just at the mall, they stop by for the show.”

Keely Clark, an eighth grader at Holy Rosary School, sang “Anyway” by Martina McBride.  She said her dream is to be the next Kelly Clarkson and tour the world.

“Singing is my passion and my dream, and I hope to be a famous singer one day,” she said.  “I want to travel around the world and perform on big, big stages in front of huge crowds.”

Homeschooled senior and Melissa Poole performed “Nocturne Op. 5 No. 4” by Edvard Grieg on the piano.  She said performing gives her the opportunity to share classical music with others.

“Sharing music is like sharing God’s love for everybody; however the music speaks to them,” Poole said.  “I hope to touch people’s hearts.”

Haley Bolin, a freshman at Meadowdale High School, sang “Hey Ya!” by OutKast and a self-written song while playing the guitar.  An aspiring performer, Bolin said she performs whenever she can because the more she practices, the better she gets and the more comfortable she feels.

“I was a little bit nervous, like I always get, but when I got up there (on stage) and I’m standing in front of the mike, I felt really comfortable,” Bolin said.  “It was just like I was talking to my family.”

Blake Blevins, a seventh grader at Meadowdale Middle School, played Jimi Hendrix’s “Purple Haze” on guitar.  Blevins said he loves playing music and wants to turn it into his career.

“I’d do it again,” he said of the showcase.  “It’s just a rush whenever I’m up there (on stage).   It’s a good feeling.”

Other showcase performances were by a jazz trio from Lynnwood High School, LHS senior Shannon Bruno, Edmonds Homeschool Resource Center senior Michelle Herman, LHS senior Dawn Madsen, Meadowdale freshman Taylor Zickefoose, and the dance company Kontagious.

Wong said the showcase supports the LAC’s mission to encourage and support the arts – all of the arts.

“There are a lot of people who don’t call themselves artists, but they do a lot of art,” he said.  “They quilt, they knit, they crochet, they make YouTube movies, they just do all sorts of things, and part of our mission is to promote those things.”

He said he enjoys surprising shoppers at the mall with a show.

“The fact that they weren’t expecting anything, they were just at the mall, and then they find out about it – to me that is really good,” Wong said.  “That’s always really good.”