A piano student at the St. Peter’s Community Arts Academy performs at a student recital.

GENEVA – Practice, practice, practice.

Certainly instruction and practicing is important at the St. Peter’s Community Arts Academy, but performing is also an integral part of the programs offered.

“Some 50 performances will take place this academic year to help students build confidence in their ability to practice, rehearse and perform in ways that recognize their potential as individuals,’ according to Donna Davenport, Dean of Faculty. “The Community Arts Academy stresses that performances also help in the ongoing development of Geneva as a vibrant community that values the arts and education.”

The month of December has three performances that spotlight the Academy’s choral, violin, cello and piano students. Take pleasure in attending one or all of them as a reprieve from the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.

The popular Sounds of Christmas Concert featuring the four Academy choirs will take place from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7, at St. Peter’s Church, 149 Genesee St. Tickets are $7 for adults, $6 for senior citizens and free for students and children under 12.

This event is a benefit for the Senior Choir’s performance tour of England, Wales and Scotland, which will take place in February 2019. In addition to the Senior (Teen) Choir, the Community Arts Academy also includes the St. Nicholas Choir for pre-kindergarten through second-graders, the Junior Choir for third- through sixth-graders and the Adult Choir, all of which are open to the community.

On the afternoon of Sunday, Dec. 9, from 3 to 5 p.m., students in Julianna Gray’s violin and Glenna Curren’s cello programs will perform in the Strings Recital at St. Peter’s church. The recital will feature an array of age and talents. Another recital will take place April 28, 2019.

On Thursday, Dec. 13, piano students will give holiday recitals at 5 and 6:30 p.m. at St. Peter’s. The choirs at the academy perform regularly and the Dance Studio will stage recitals in June 2019.

Talking about the value of performance. Cello instructor Curren says that “it’s not just about music for other people, but with other people. It involves communication with others.”

“Performance is sharing with other people,” she added. “It’s gratification for us and the audience. A student should see performing as giving a gift to someone else.”

The Arts Academy offers lessons and performances in children’s choirs, piano, violin, cello, organ, voice, dance and guitar and now serves more than 200 students from 16 area schools in a five-county area in large part due to the dedicated core of instructors and staff, all of whom are professionals in their field. Embracing its theme of “Arts for All,” the Academy is open to everyone from infants to adults and is not affiliated religiously although St. Peter’s Episcopal Church sponsors and supports the academy.