Arts

Imagination, innovation and invention are critical 21st century skills, acquired through the study of one or more of our rigorous visual and performing arts programs. The three disciplines—music, theatre, and visual art—provide students with the opportunity to master their aesthetic and performance techniques, while developing confidence in their personal expression and problem-solving skills. An appreciation of the historical context of the arts is a key component, as is theory, design, creation, and composition. Our arts courses parallel contemporary ideas and thinking, and prepare our students for further study. Many of our arts graduates pursue artistic majors—including Theatre, Costume Design, Architecture, Fashion Design, Industrial Design, Fine Art, and Music—at distinguished universities all over North America.

The arts at Elmwood are taught both within and beyond a traditional studio setting, including co-curricular clubs, activities, exhibitions, field trips, workshops, and festivals. The three disciplines are enhanced by opportunities for students to attend live performances, concerts, and exhibits at professional theatres, festivals, and galleries, as well as to participate in workshops provided by visiting guest artists. Every student of the arts is invited, if they so choose, to further practice their craftsmanship by partaking in hands-on performance and presentational experiences such as the mounting of a main-stage theatre production; performances through small musical ensembles and concert band; or, the development of visual art pieces for exhibition at local galleries and museums. Through these enriching opportunities, in which the standard of excellence is set very high, students gain confidence in their ability to reimagine their world through different lenses, while also building a life-long passion for the arts. All artistic disciplines are taught by a trained subject specialist.