The LFA Arts Evolution
We’ve grown from the Glee Club and cramped art room of the early 1980s. Alumnae share their memories and tell us how the arts at LFA have changed.
When you think of Little Flower Academy, do you think “artsy?” Well, perhaps it’s time that you do. LFA’s reputation as an academic leader is well known, but the school has long been committed to providing a truly well-rounded experience for the girls. With a program that strives to provide every student with the opportunity to find success and enjoyment in selfexpression through the creative arts, the “arts” have evolved to become something truly special.
Since the school’s founding, a healthy respect for artistic pursuits was instilled by the Sisters of St Ann. When LFA was “K to 12”, the Sisters sought to inspire their elementary students with regular art and music classes. The Sisters also introduced their students to performance through elementary school Christmas pageants, spring concerts, and various productions - some with Vancouver College. Then, as now, committed faculty (Sisters and teachers) generously gave their time and expertise to help LFA students experience the joy of the arts.
Today, the Sisters’ artistic legacy continues to flourish. LFA’s fine and performing arts program has evolved into a robust curriculum, including courses throughout high school in choral music, fine arts and theatre. Students are also encouraged to explore the arts through extracurricular opportunities: each year the school puts on a play or musical production and there’s the auditioned Chamber Choir. This years’ clubs include the Arts and Photography
Elese Sullivan, who penned this article, is the mother of Emily Sullivan ’15 and Laura Sullivan ’16. She is a freelance writer who generously volunteered her time and expertise to this publication.
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Since the school’s founding, a healthy respect for artistic pursuits was instilled by the Sisters of St Ann. When LFA was “K to 12”, the Sisters sought to inspire their elementary students with regular art and music classes. The Sisters also introduced their students to performance through elementary school Christmas pageants, spring concerts, and various productions - some with Vancouver College. Then, as now, committed faculty (Sisters and teachers) generously gave their time and expertise to help LFA students experience the joy of the arts.
Today, the Sisters’ artistic legacy continues to flourish. LFA’s fine and performing arts program has evolved into a robust curriculum, including courses throughout high school in choral music, fine arts and theatre. Students are also encouraged to explore the arts through extracurricular opportunities: each year the school puts on a play or musical production and there’s the auditioned Chamber Choir. This years’ clubs include the Arts and Photography
Club, Liturgy Band and the Drama Club. Arts-focused events include Voice of an Angel, Angel Arts and this year’s new art event, Art Attack. The arts program at LFA has grown to offer students exposure to the arts, the chance to set artistic goals and the means to achieve them.
The LFA Alumnae Newsletter wanted to reflect on this “arts evolution” through your eyes, so we asked alumnae to revisit their memories of the arts at LFA. Thank you to Maria Liaskas Maragos ’82, Pamela Ascroft Miller ’84, Edna Chan Bond ’87, Fiona Austin Rintoul ’96, Sarah Matossian ’97, Tara Diakow ’02, Aisling Galvin ’12, and our soon-to-be-alumna Claire Renaud ‘13 for kindly sharing their recollections.
The visual arts program at LFA has changed considerably over the years. Most notably, in 2007, the new art room was opened in the new wing. What do you remember about visual arts at LFA when you were a student?
Maria (Liaskas) Maragos ’82 started LFA when she was in grade 6. Her daughter, Demetra, is an LFA student now in grade 10. Maria remembers that, “Sister Xavier Marie was our art teacher. She was so passionate about it, and was a talented artist herself. The art room was in the building next to the convent. We had art class once a week, and used all kinds of art mediums. I remember drawing and sketching a lot, and making maple leaf bowls with clay (I still have mine). The student art was truly amazing. It was shown at the Catholic Educators’ Conferences, and one year the Inspector of Independent Schools requested that it be displayed at the Ministry Buildings in Victoria for summer viewing. It was that good.”
Pamela (Ascroft) Miller ’84 attended LFA for all of her elementary and high school years: “one of the last girls to have that privilege,” she says. After graduating from LFA, Pamela continued to study music and drama, becoming a professional performer and teacher of the performing arts. “Art classes were very different than they are now,” Pamela recalls. While art was taught regularly during elementary school, high school was a different story. “It was mandatory to take art in grade 8, an elective in grade 9, but then that was it.”
Edna (Chan) Bond ’87 also attended LFA for elementary and high school. Edna has vivid memories of Sister Hortensius, who was her grade 7 teacher. “Her classroom was decorated with student art – she would change them each month depending on the project that we did in her class,” Edna says. “I still have my Book of Drawings from grade 7.”
As the current LFA art teacher, Sarah Matossian ’97 has the unique perspective of seeing the art program through both a student’s and an educator’s lens. “The art room used to be very small,” she remembers. “I taught in it for my first year as the art teacher at LFA. One of my early memories of teaching there is that when I walked from the front of the classroom to the back, I was accidentally painted on by a student -- simply because she was moving her paint brush at the same time I was walking by. However, even in that little space, we managed to create many beautiful things all year long. I came to realize quite quickly that the room itself doesn’t matter. It is what you do with it. However, now in the new art room, I can definitely say that I have the privilege of working in the most beautiful spot in the school. It’s bright, airy, inspirational and we can even hang artwork from the ceiling!”
Sarah has been a big contributor to the beautification of LFA’s many hallways and common rooms, showcasing student art and offering inspiration. “The school was decorated with far fewer pieces of art when I was a student,” Sarah explains. “The first thing I started to do when I became the art teacher was to put together rotating art displays of our current creations as well as framed artwork all over the walls of LFA. I knew that it was a vital opportunity to increase student awareness and pride in visual arts. I have framed and put up approximately 600 pieces of art throughout the school. I have many, many pieces still waiting to be put up too!”
Fiona (Austin) Rintoul ’96 is the current Alumnae Executive Chair and describes herself as “not much of an arts student,” but “more of a sciences girl.” Fiona remembers the lighter side of art class on a regular school day. “My art teacher was Mrs. Wood. She was a very unique and passionate art teacher. The most memorable art class I had was when we were brought outside to the grotto to sketch the statue of Mary. It was after a spring mass, so all the flowers had been placed around the statue. One of the students was “marked” by a bird while we were all drawing, which to a group of 14-year-olds was hysterical.”
Tara Diakow ’02 is the current drama teacher at LFA as well as teaching in the English department. “We did not have the beautiful art room that we have at present,” Tara recalls, “we were in the old, old building above the old library, beside the convent. Some student artwork was in the hall, but it was limited. I love the art in the school now, it brightens up the space and showcases all the amazing talent we have at the school.”
Aisling Galvin ’12 is a drama student at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California. “I have always loved the art room. I have so many great memories of hanging out with Ms. Matossian and my “art family.” We’d listen to all kinds of music when we painted, from Cold Play to Alex Day to Armenian songs. We used all kinds of mediums: sometimes we painted canvas or Russian dolls, other times we moulded wire sculptures or used clay to create something out of this world. The art room was sort of a home away from home for me.”
Claire Renaud ‘13 is very active in the performing arts. “I am constantly amazed by what my classmates are able to create. The most recent art event was Art Attack. It was a student council sponsored function where all grades could show off their creative side by painting t-shirts, shoes, and whatever else they desired. A couple of my classmates showed me what they had designed, and it looked as if they had bought it from a store.”
Today’s LFA Choir and Chamber Choir receive a lot of attention for their hard-earned accomplishments. What can you tell us about the music program when you were a student?
Claire Renaud ‘13 is very active in the performing arts. “I am constantly amazed by what my classmates are able to create. The most recent art event was Art Attack. It was a student council sponsored function where all grades could show off their creative side by painting t-shirts, shoes, and whatever else they desired. A couple of my classmates showed me what they had designed, and it looked as if they had bought it from a store.”
Today’s LFA Choir and Chamber Choir receive a lot of attention for their hard-earned accomplishments. What can you tell us about the music program when you were a student?
MLM: “Sister Dorothy Moonan was our music teacher. We attended music class a few times a week during the day, not before school like nowadays. The room was very small and located in the convent building. We sat in rows in old, wooden, uncomfortable chairs as Sister Dorothy played the piano at the front of the room. We sang songs with her accompaniment from sheets in our duotangs. The choir performed annually in concerts, masses, and choral festivals. Girls had the opportunity to be instructed by Sister Dorothy for the annual Royal Conservatory piano and theory exams.”
PAM: Pamela was one of the girls who studied piano with Sister Dorothy and remembers that music class was taught several times a week, but only from grades 1-8. Pamela fondly recalls Sister Dorothy’s annual tradition of taking the grade 6 and 7 girls to sing at the Bayshore Hotel in downtown Vancouver at Christmas time. “She did it for years,” says Pamela. “I still remember the words to those songs!” Pamela has warm memories of performing in the annual spring concerts, and the grade 8 privilege of singing for the high school graduation ceremony. “The Sisters’ joy and love of music inspired me.”
ECB: “There was a Glee Club. I enjoyed it immensely. The most memorable music performance that I can remember was performing at the opening of the Vancouver Trade and Convention Centre. We had learned to sing the Japanese national anthem, Kimigayo, and sang it for the Japanese dignitaries at the opening. Premier Bill Bennett was present as well.”
SM: “I was part of the Glee Club led by Mrs. Koch and Sister Jo. It was small and simple, but we were incredibly dedicated. My fondest memory is visiting seniors homes, care homes, and hospitals every Christmas season. Afterwards, we would chat with the residents or patients, and we could quickly tell how they simply longed for conversations and people to spend time with.”
TD: “Choir was popular, but was quite small in number compared to today. There were definitely no trips to San Francisco or New York while I attended…perhaps I would have stayed in choir past grade 10 if there were.”
AG: “Yup, I’m a bit of a choir veteran, but unfortunately I never did Chamber Choir. Two early wake ups were enough for me. I did have quite a few friends who went to Carnegie Hall with Chamber Choir, and they all said it was the experience of a lifetime, which they couldn’t have done without LFA and Ms. Mislang. I did have a ton of fun in Concert Choir. I made good friends and being in a room full of people hitting a high sharp note will wake you up better than any coffee I’ve ever seen.”
AG: “Yup, I’m a bit of a choir veteran, but unfortunately I never did Chamber Choir. Two early wake ups were enough for me. I did have quite a few friends who went to Carnegie Hall with Chamber Choir, and they all said it was the experience of a lifetime, which they couldn’t have done without LFA and Ms. Mislang. I did have a ton of fun in Concert Choir. I made good friends and being in a room full of people hitting a high sharp note will wake you up better than any coffee I’ve ever seen.”
CR: “I’ve been in choir since grade 9, but this is my first year in Chamber Choir. The choral program is incredibly popular. Each year, we sing a variety of genres as well as a few pieces in foreign languages. The only downside to choir is the fact that rehearsals begin at 7:15 in the morning. But despite the tough wake up call, we all seem much more energized by the end of rehearsal, and are ready to begin the rest of the day on a good note (pun intended).”
What do you remember about the drama productions and opportunities at LFA when you were a student? Do you have any favourite memories?
MLM: “There was an elementary drama performance and a high school performance produced annually. My first and only performance (stage fright did me in) was as the Blue Fairy in the elementary production of Pinocchio. I opted to be an usherette in years to follow. For the elementary productions, Mrs. Carol Coulson (a professional choreographer and a school mom) was the choreographer. She also worked on the elementary Christmas concerts and Mrs. June Koch (a school mom) was the pianist and musical director. Brother Furey was the director. We worked hard, going to practices 3-4 times a week. It all came together in the end with great costumes and performances.
PAM: Pam remembers “the most awesome Christmas pageants” when she was in elementary school. Every student would participate on stage and in costume. “Those pageants had a big impact on me.” In particular, Pamela loved the costumes. The Sisters had an amazing collection in the old classrooms on the top floor of the Foundress Hall. Pamela remembers that the Sisters would allow her upstairs (“it was restricted, and no one was allowed to go up there,”) to peruse the glorious costumes that had been collected over the years – some as far back as the 1940s and 1950s. Pamela also remembers that every year they performed a musical. She recalls Mrs. June Koch as a wonderful musician, and Mrs. Carol Coulson as an “amazing choreographer,” who helped to direct these productions.
ECB: “Carol Coulson had many connections in the community,” explains Edna. “It was through her that I participated in doing rhythmic gymnastics and a variety of other presentations at BC Place and at Expo ’86. We did presentations for Prince Charles and Princess Diana, when the Pope visited in 1984 and for Steve Fonyo in 1985.” Edna also participated in the high school productions with Vancouver College and her gymnastics background helped her land parts. “I was used initially in Mary Poppins as an acrobat. Eventually they realized that I could sing and dance as well and thus, was invited back to perform in A Musical Extravaganza. I really enjoyed doing the school musicals and wish that there were more opportunities for drama back then; I was very interested at that time.”
ECB: “Carol Coulson had many connections in the community,” explains Edna. “It was through her that I participated in doing rhythmic gymnastics and a variety of other presentations at BC Place and at Expo ’86. We did presentations for Prince Charles and Princess Diana, when the Pope visited in 1984 and for Steve Fonyo in 1985.” Edna also participated in the high school productions with Vancouver College and her gymnastics background helped her land parts. “I was used initially in Mary Poppins as an acrobat. Eventually they realized that I could sing and dance as well and thus, was invited back to perform in A Musical Extravaganza. I really enjoyed doing the school musicals and wish that there were more opportunities for drama back then; I was very interested at that time.”
SM: “When I was in grade 11, the school put on a musical production for the first time during my years at LFA. I was so fortunate to be chosen as the lead character, Princess Fred, in Once Upon a Mattress. I loved getting to be this quirky, unconventional, hilarious princess. It was one of the highlights of my high school experience. We practiced for months under the leadership of Mrs. Farrell, Mrs. Troughton and Mrs. Grindlay. Our cast, small crew and sponsor teachers were like a family. It was wonderful to work together to create something so memorable. My classmates and I still talk about to this day!”
TD: “I was very involved in drama at LFA and felt like I made some of my closest friends in class and in the yearly
productions – Anne of Green Gables, The Secret Garden, Those Crazy Ladies in the House on the Corner. We had Drama 9, 10, Senior Drama, and Film and TV 12. Jo-Anna (Stokovac) Nicolato ’89 was our fearless leader in the department. The drama productions were an excellent opportunity to make friends outside of your grade level, and it was a very supportive, high energy and humorous environment.”
productions – Anne of Green Gables, The Secret Garden, Those Crazy Ladies in the House on the Corner. We had Drama 9, 10, Senior Drama, and Film and TV 12. Jo-Anna (Stokovac) Nicolato ’89 was our fearless leader in the department. The drama productions were an excellent opportunity to make friends outside of your grade level, and it was a very supportive, high energy and humorous environment.”
This past fall, Tara was the “fearless leader” herself as director of The Mousetrap, LFA’s 2012-13 drama production. Tara says that “The Mousetrap was so much work, but so rewarding and fun, and you really felt like you had a small family. I was blessed to have such a talented cast. We also had a really strong crew which kept everything running behind the scenes. It’s such a different experience to be on the faculty end: you tend to worry more about things that can go wrong, yet, when the show is over, you really miss the rehearsals and the students. (I’m lucky that I teach the majority of my cast.) I recently ran into Jo-Anna Nicolato at the Catholic Educators’ Conference, who directed all the drama productions when I was at LFA, and I made sure to give her a huge thanks for all her work those years ago.”
AG: “The Drama program was what really sealed the deal for me at LFA. I was lucky enough to get a role in Little Women. After that, I took Ms. Mislang’s theatre class in grade 9, Ms. Bazille’s theatre class in grades 11 and 12, and bopped around in various plays including Juvie, Twelve Angry Men, and Annie. The theatre classes were always my favourite part of the day, and the girls in the class always bonded together. You had people from different groups with different interests all joining together in a crazy environment where trust was a must.”
CR: “Last year I had the honour of playing the title character in LFA’s winter production of Annie. From September to December the cast and crew worked nonstop. By the time opening night arrived, we were all prepared to give our best performances. Ms. Mislang and Ms. Bazille directed the production, and Ms. Roussel was the costume/prop coordinator. The cast worked very hard for the productions, but it was the behind the scenes help that truly made the show a success. The stage/lighting/sound/hair/makeup crews (which were all run by LFA students) were unbelievably organized. The school went the extra mile with this production. I am really fortunate to have had the opportunity.”
How has the arts at LFA helped you, or influenced you, in your life after high school?
PAM: As a professional artist in drama and music, Pamela is grateful for her experience at LFA. “I was encouraged in the arts as far back as I can remember,” she shares. “The Sisters spotted that I had musical ability, and I was encouraged to develop it.” She also credits the hardwork ethos at LFA with her success after high school. “When I lived in England and attended the London Theatre School, I worked part time during the day and attended evening and weekend classes. There wasn’t a lot of spare time. The good work ethic I learned at LFA served me well.”
ECB: “My LFA arts experience has allowed me to eventually get over my ‘stage fright.’ It has been a starting point in building my confidence to do the many presentations I do at work as well as being comfortable in a teaching environment.”
CR: “I have quite an artsy brain so I am glad to have had a creative outlet at LFA. I intend to pursue the arts after high school so my ability to participate in several arts programs at LFA has definitely contributed to my motivation. Additionally, the arts programs at LFA have enabled me to meet and become friends with students in the school that I may not have known otherwise.”
TD: “I would say LFA arts definitely aided me in my public speaking, social skills, and overall confidence.”
AG: If there’s one thing that art in general has taught me, it’s that there are so many ways to approach a problem in life. There are thousands of different ways to play a character on stage, a thousand more to capture her on a canvas. It’s also taught me the value of working away at something you enjoy, and practicing your craft.”
CR: “I have quite an artsy brain so I am glad to have had a creative outlet at LFA. I intend to pursue the arts after high school so my ability to participate in several arts programs at LFA has definitely contributed to my motivation. Additionally, the arts programs at LFA have enabled me to meet and become friends with students in the school that I may not have known otherwise.”
What do you think of the arts opportunities LFA offers its students today?
MLM: “I think the opportunities today are amazing. The students have so many professionals around them that impart incredible knowledge and skills. The travel experiences are incredible: [The Chamber Choir has traveled to] New York, Chicago, and San Francisco. We could never have dreamed of such opportunities. They [the Choral Department as a whole] are cutting CDs now and think nothing of it. We would have thought we were stars.”
PAM: “LFA has always been academically inclined. It’s so nice to see the arts flourishing. It’s important to show the girls that there is balance – it’s not just about math and science.”
ECB: “I think it’s great that more is offered today than when I attended. This provides more opportunities for students to explore their interests and decide if this is the route they wish to pursue when they graduate.”
FAR: “The opportunities are seemingly endless, which is extremely impressive. I can imagine that it would be difficult to choose which direction to go, particularly as a multi-talented person – as so many LFA students are. The range of courses offered reminds me more of what I saw at the university level, rather than at high school. Lucky girls!”
TD: “The courses are excellent. We have so many students here at LFA who learn in different ways and have such talent. For many, the wide variety of arts-based opportunities really allows their true selves to come out.”
Elese Sullivan, who penned this article, is the mother of Emily Sullivan ’15 and Laura Sullivan ’16. She is a freelance writer who generously volunteered her time and expertise to this publication.
A special thank you to Ann Marie (Latimer) Platt ’84 and Ingrid Chan ’85 who helped us gather information for this article. If you have any memories of your LFA experiences that you would like to share, please contact us at alumnae@lfabc.org
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Tel: 604-738-9016
Support LFA | Contact Us | School Calendar
