MADFest 2025 celebrates student talent

Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School’s campus was alive with creativity and excitement during the highly anticipated MADFest 2024, an annual celebration of the arts that showcases exceptional student talent. The event featured outstanding performances in music, dance, circus, and drama, along with a stunning display of student-produced visual art.

More than 90 students auditioned on Monday for a chance to perform in the showcase, which was judged by a panel of professional artists. The audience was amazed by the remarkable talent on display, and several students took home top honors.

Kenna Bilbrey ‘26 earned the prestigious Best in Show award for her captivating aerial silks performance, while Bailey Brackett ‘27 received the Audience Choice Award for her powerful vocal solo.

Additional award winners include:

 

Vocal Solo:
🥇 First Place - Malia Albury
🥈 Second Place - Savanna Bubenik

Dance Solo:
🥇 First Place - Abigail Brenner
🥈 Second Place - Erin Turner

Dance Ensemble:
🥇 First Place - Copa Cabana featuring Mya, Makenna, Abby, Harper, and Cecilia

Drama:
🥇 First Place - Allen Arbitter
🥈 Second Place - Clara Pedall

Drama Ensemble:
🥇 First Place - Megan West, Jovita Vishnu, Savanna Jones, Allen Arbitter, Kite Stribling, Cecilia Barry, Greg Seok

Instrumental Solo:
🥇 First Place - David Laguarda
🥈 Second Place - Greg Seok

Film:
🥇 First Place - Peng Ye

Circus:
🥇 First Place - Makenna Bilbrey
🥈 Second Place - Lexi Edwards

 

Drawing:
First Place - Hitomi Nakamura
Second Place - Anslyn Smith
Third Place - Savanna Bubenik and Lenz Putz Garcia
Honorable Mentions - Adlaide Sprinkle and Liam Hesselgrave

2D Design/Mixed Media:
First Place - Gabrielle Witt
Second Place - Kendall Weisser
Third Place - Emma Denisoff
Honorable Mentions - Zuri Renken, Cassidy Klimasewski, Eulalie McGrath

Photography/Graphic Design
First Place - Runfeng Shi
Second Place - Mingjie Jiang
Honorable Mentions - Mingjie Jiang

Middle School 2D/3D Visual Arts
First Place - Raynor Gault
Second Place - Alexander Zeppieri
Honorable Mentions - Wray Wheeler, Luke Highsmith

MADFest also featured a special Lower and Middle School Showcase, where more than 30 students had the opportunity to perform for their classmates and teachers, further demonstrating the depth of talent within Rabun Gap’s community.

 

“We are incredibly proud of our students for their hard work and dedication,” said Artistic Director Joshua Miller. “MADFest is a powerful celebration of our students' creativity, and this year’s performances truly captured the passion and talent that thrive at Rabun Gap.”

 

Special thanks go to Rabun Gap’s dedicated arts faculty for their guidance and mentorship, helping students shine both on stage and behind the scenes.