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Arts in Upper School

student Owen Moore conducing US orchestra while teacher Adrian Gordon plays cello

Performing Arts

Providence Day School offers a comprehensive and award-winning Upper School Performing Arts program where students can explore their passions in music and theater. Our curriculum includes musical ensembles, AP Music Theory, and a wide range of theater and technical theater classes. Beyond the classroom, students can participate in extracurricular activities such as plays, musicals, and various musical ensembles. Whether you're seeking a creative outlet or planning to pursue performing arts beyond high school, Providence Day provides a nurturing environment for you to thrive.

Additional performance and growth opportunities are available through master class opportunities and visiting artists as well as the schools membership and participation in national and regional organizations such as the National Association for Music Education, American Choral Directors Association, and North Carolina Theatre Conference, as well as repeated recognition in the annual Blumey Awards.

Click here to see some of our past performances, set builds, concerts, and awards.

Visual Arts

Visual Arts courses provide essential experiences for our students. Whether enrolled in AP Studio Art or AP Art History, manipulating studio media, developing film in the darkroom, or working with unconventional materials, our students engage in diverse and meaningful avenues for creative expression. The Visual Arts faculty help students develop the skills, discipline, and self-confidence that characterize successful artists. With curricular emphasis on fundamental processes, Upper School Visual Arts courses challenge students to be original, resourceful, and innovative.

Spotlight on the Arts

All performances and participatory activities are during Upper School lunch from 1:30–2 p.m. in the McMahon Fine Arts Foyer.
 

Interactive Stick and Ink Drawing
Thursday, September 19

Jazz Ensemble
Wednesday, October 9

Los Profes
Thursday, October 31
featuring World Language faculty Jay Barron,  Andrew Werner, and Stephen Melton

Printing on Fabric
Thursday, November 14

A Cappella
Thursday, December 12

Pursuing Excellence in the Arts

Click on any photo below to learn more about our array of arts opportunities for Upper School students.

Productions, Concerts, and Exhibits

Tickets
Tickets are available close to the date of the event.

Productions
2024 Fall One Act
Psycho Beach Party
Performance Dates
October 17-18 at 7 p.m.
October 19 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
 
2025 Spring Musical
Peter Pan
Performance Dates
April 10–11 at 7 p.m. and April 12 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Audition Dates
December 3–5 from 3:45-7 p.m.
Concerts
Choral Concert (with Middle School)
December 9 and 10 at 7 p.m.
 
Band Concert (with Middle School)
December 12 at 7 p.m.
 
Choral and A Cappella Concert
April 29, 2025 at 7 p.m.
 
Band, Orchestra, and Jazz Band Concert
May 1, 2025 at 7 p.m.
Exhibits

End of the Year/Best of the Year Exhibit
April 17–May 16, 2025

Student/Faculty Exhibit
April/May 2025


Spotlight on the Arts (every month)
see schedule above

 

 

 

Calendar

Meet the Team

Lesli Clowes

Assistant Band Director
Email

Jordan Ellis

Theatre Technical Director
Email

Brooke Fulton

Upper School Theatre Director
Email

Adrian Gordon

Director of Orchestras
Email

Michael Hough

Performing Arts Department Chair and Director of Bands
Email

Felipe Maldonado

Upper School Art Teacher
Email

Herman Nicholson

Upper School Art Teacher
Email

Sarah Oguntomilade

Teaching Fellow
Email

Sydney Sheaffer

Upper School Art Teacher
Email

Stephanie Smeltzer

Choral Director
Email

Kyra Totillo

Assistant Orchestra Director and Department Assistant
Email

Lindsay Woog

Art Department Chair and Middle School Art Teacher
Email