Around 170 Greenhill Upper School students recently showcased their work at the 54th annual Independent Schools Association of the Southwest Fine Arts Festival from April 11 to April 13 in Austin, TX.
The ISAS Festival is a three-day visual and performing arts display. This year, the festival was held at St. Andrews Episcopal School in Austin.
Head of Fine Arts Terry Martin says the festival offers students a unique experience.
“It gives a chance for groups of different interests to socialize,” Martin said. “[For example], orchestra students do not often mix with theater kids.”
According to St. Andrew’s Episcopal School’s website, the festival has grown to be the nation’s premier annual regional arts festival among independent schools.
“At ISAS, I get to collaborate with other faculty members from other schools and get inspired by the work they are doing,” Martin said.
Due to the sheer size of the event, over 400 volunteers were needed this year. There were over 3,000 students from over 40 schools participating in 20 different performing opportunities.
“It was good to be back in a normal environment where we could take as many students as we wished to,” Upper School Visual Arts teacher Frank Lopez said.
Honors Photography students each showcased four photos that they have been working on this year.
“The best part was getting critiqued by someone who is a professional in their field,” junior Cassie Rosa said.
Advanced Video Production students brought projects from the first and second semester to ISAS this year.
Sophomore Davis Knocke brought a film called “Peanut Butter Derian”, which he has been working on since February.
“The support that was shown at ISAS made it so great,” Knocke said. “Seeing the work that we did play in front of hundreds of people was a special experience.”
Earlier this fall, students performed the Mean Girls musical. There are around forty students in the Musical Theater class that performed act two of Mean Girls at ISAS.
“I loved being able to connect with my classmates through their creative expression,” sophomore Tara Alim said.
To prepare for this performance, students had a few lunch and after school rehearsals.
There is currently no school hosting ISAS for next year, but Martin said that the festival will make its return in 2026.
“We have host schools lined up from 2026 all the way through 2030,” Martin said.
