Bravo!

Thanks to the McMackin ‘ohana, the Gates Performing Arts Center has never sounded better

GPAC, Alice in Wonderland
GPAC, Alice in Wonderland

In his groundbreaking study, The Great Good Place, Ray Oldenburg writes about the importance of public spaces—cafes, community centers, general stores, barber shops, and other gathering spots that bring people together. Such places foster a sense of fellowship, encourage the exchange of ideas, and make room for relaxation. In a civil society, he argues, they are as important as the home and workplace.

There are many “great good places” on the HPA campus, such as Ko Kākou Student Union, Anna’s Field, Davies Chapel, and others that HPA is working to sustain or revitalize through the campus master plan. Recently, the Gates Performing Arts Center (GPAC) received a much-needed upgrade courtesy of HPA Trustee Cindy McMackin and her husband, Ron McMackin, parents of Curtis ’16, Riley ’17, Raquel ’21, Roxanne ’23, and Colton ’26. The McMackins’ gift installed a state-of-the-art surround-sound system, laser projection equipment, and a camera distribution system that enables live streaming of events. Their gift elevates what is already a thriving arts program and promotes continued enrichment. As the school year comes to a close, one thing is clear: the Gates Performing Art Center is now an even more vibrant gathering place for our campus community, as well as for the many outside organizations that hold events at HPA.

Importance of the arts

Current brain research confirms what teachers have sensed for generations: the arts are essential for early childhood development and beyond. Within the performing arts, students gain skills that support all other learning—confidence and creative thinking; teamwork and cooperation; public leadership and solitary expression. “I feel that music and the performing arts touch students in a way no other subject of study can do,” says Georgia Poláková, who teaches these disciplines for the Village Campus. “They provide an opportunity to celebrate the richness and depth of human expression. They help students discover their talents and form habits that transcend all areas of study.”

As a family, the McMackins have experienced the power of the arts first-hand. “We have five children, and all of our kids love the stage,” says Cindy McMackin. “But beyond our family, we have a deep appreciation for the arts—as a personal experience and as a public asset. We believe that art, music, and performance avenues significantly enhance the overall education of young people. We are thankful for the opportunities that HPA affords all students to participate in the arts program. From handbells and ‘ukulele to the plays and musicals—HPA does a great job throughout its K-12 programming.”

‘Excellence on stage

Attend a GPAC event and you’ll notice an immediate difference since the new systems were installed. Clear, high-quality sound reaches every seat in the theater. Screens in the lobby and speakers throughout the facility ensure that performers and audience members don’t miss a minute of the action. And if you live at a distance, you may have already experienced the magic of a live-stream event from HPA.

“This technology gives our students more possibilities to shine on stage, making them look and sound better than ever before—here at HPA, and now, with our streaming capabilities, around the world,” says Fine Arts Department Chair Jared Terpak. “This is a custom technical communications system unlike any other in the state and only rarely found in high schools. Our students are now using the same high-end technology that industry professionals are using in today’s market. Staying ahead of the tech curve is tough, and we are back on the front line where we belong—thanks to the McMackin family.”

Terpak and the department are excited for how this equipment will expand their design and performance options. “We are experimenting with how the equipment opens up new possibilities for projecting images on the cyclorama at the back of the stage and also some projection mapping on set pieces,” says Terpak. “And we can now mike more areas, like the fly space, in addition to individual performers, which gives us more opportunities for inventive staging. The whole facility feels like it’s wired for creativity now.”

HPA Fine Arts Department Chair Jared Terpak
Fine Arts Department Chair Jared Terpak

Community benefit: on campus and beyond

GPAC’s new tech capabilities have helped to transform the Upper School Monday assemblies this year, supporting student films, music and dance performances, slide shows, and even mindfulness meditation. These and numerous other gatherings in GPAC all help foster campus unity and allow students and teachers to share their lives and moments of discovery.

Through GPAC, HPA also hosts the local community, whether that be the Waimea Ocean Film Festival or world-renowned astronomers giving Keck Talks sponsored by the W. M. Keck Observatory. “I am always eager to find ways to connect our students with the local community and to share our resources and creativity with a broad audience,” says Musical Director Barbara Kopra. “The updates make GPAC an even better showcase. Through all these activities and more, the Gates Performing Arts Center draws us together in a space of fellowship, curiosity, and wonder.”

Editor’s note: This story first appeared in the spring 2019 issue of Ma Ke Kula.

Artfully Done

Lower School art program flourishes in its own dedicated space, thanks to an anonymous donor