St. Paul Catholic School third grade student Lilyana Aguilar was awarded the People’s Choice Award in the annual Symphony in Color art contest. This statewide enrichment program, sponsored by the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra Association and Ronald McDonald House Charities, is to encourage young people to develop an appreciation of both music and the visual arts.

Students create artwork while listening to one of the selected songs for the year. Aguilar’s painting was based on STRAVINSKY: “Infernal Dance of All Kastchei’s Subjects” from L’Oiseau de feu (The Firebird) and was selected as one of 36 blue ribbon winners. Her creation was then chosen from among the blue ribbon winners by the ISOA and Symphony Members during the People’s Choice Luncheon.

Second grade student Nicole Havens was also named a top 100 finalist. Her picture was created after listening to STRAUSS: “Something Waltz” from Der Rosenkavalier, Op. 59.

Art teacher Barb Dixon selected an artwork piece from each of the first through sixth grade classes as the school’s submissions to the contest. Other state contest submissions were: Okimma Gaspar (1st grade), Tempest Winters (4th grade), Elaina Leon (5th grade) and Shaeli Castaneda (6th grade). St. Paul Catholic School has had at least one state level finalist every year for the last 17 years.