Frisco ISD is preparing to launch its long-anticipated Visual and Performing Arts Center (VPAC), a facility designed to showcase student talent across the district and expand opportunities in fine arts education. The center, opening May 15, will debut with an opening night performance that highlights programs from each high school, bringing together a wide range of artistic disciplines on one stage.
The opening night event will serve as both a celebration and a demonstration of the district’s fine arts programs. Performances are expected to include band, choir, orchestra, theatre and dance, with each high school having students in an ensemble. By featuring every campus, the event emphasizes the collaborative spirit behind the project and the vast talent across Frisco ISD.
“It’s important to have opening night reflect the entire district,” Choir Director Elijah Lopez said. “This district has so much diverse talent that needs to be shown.”
Students involved in the performance have spent weeks preparing for the showcase. Rehearsals have taken place after school at one of the Frisco campuses, which required students and directors to adjust to a shared production schedule. This process has pushed students and teachers to be flexible.
“The end of the school year is already crazy, but adding VPAC rehearsals is something else,” Lopez said. “We all just have to remember that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
The opening performance also represents the culmination of years of planning and development. The idea for a centralized fine arts facility dates back to 2018, when Frisco ISD voters approved a bond package that included funding for such a project. The project broke ground in May 2024 after years of discussion and deliberation.
“This project has been shaped by years of input and careful decision-making,” Lebanon Trail Choir Director Mike Buntyn said. “[The students] have to think about that when performing.”
The impact of the VPAC extends beyond individual performances. A more personal impact is the principal of the building; so much effort has been put into creating a space in Frisco ISD for fine arts to thrive.
“In a time where budgets are getting cut, people still see the importance of the arts,” Buntyn said.
Tickets for the performances on May 15 and 16 are now on sale, so keep an eye out for that! It is so important that the arts continue to be supported, and that can carry on by seeing a beautiful performance put on by your teachers and peers.
