As the buses pulled up in front of the local Eagle Theatre you could feel the excitement and happiness radiating from all of the high school students. Hammonton’s Main Street was filled with hundreds of performing arts as well as creative arts students. Teen Arts is an annual celebration of many different forms of art.

Students and their teachers come from all around Atlantic County to participate in this event. There are performances by drama classes and clubs as well as school chorus performances. Hammonton students had many separate performances; the whole chorus performed while separate members of the chorus performed solos or duets. Hammonton High students Rileigh Mason and Caitlyn Achanzar performed a duet including the songs This is Gospel by Panic! At the Disco and Sugar We’re Going Down by Fall Out Boy.

Not only did the school’s chorus per for, but some of the bad did as well. Senior Shon’tiana Butcher played flute in a trio with sophomore, Meghan McFerren and senior, Amy Schwab. “I loved teen Arts, I especially liked performing, “ Butcher stated. “The critiques help me become a better flute player.” The trio performed the songs ‘Garotte’ and ’The River Flows in You’.

Along with performing arts there were many workshops displaying creative arts as well. They include different types of crafts including painting and writing with chalk. Many workshops were located at the Hammonton Arts Center, on the first floor Mrs.Bradford taught students how to create Zentangles, simplistic shapes colored in with different and elaborate patterns, as well as watercolor paintings. Human wire sculptures were being created on the second floor with only long strands of wire and a wooden base. The workshops were only the beginning of the festivities.

Located at Kramer Hall there was a large art show displaying the work created by high school students. Some of the pieces are chosen to be shown at Stockton University for one week. One students chosen from Hammonton High School was Taylor Rocket. “My first time being selected was my Sophomore year. I had used pastels to make a portrait of my cat.” This year she created a beautiful painting of a snow leopard on a large canvas. She worked half of the year on this single project reaching for perfection. “ I was really excited to be selected. I cant wait to visit Stockton and see my artwork there.”

Outside of Kramer Hall the street was covered in colorful chalk murals created by students. The streets of Hammonton exploded with color and creativity. Under a gazebo outside of Kramer Hall there was a woman by the name of Leah Morgan. She had a very long line of people behind her all waiting for her to create their spectacular caricatures. This year Teen Arts was a big success, everyone had their share of music, art and fun. Many underclassmen are excited to take a trio to Teen Arts next year.