Arts

Arts Overview

The Arts at Tower Hill

Tower Hill has a vibrant arts program with numerous opportunities to participate in music, theater, visual art and design. Beginning in preschool, students are exposed to the performing and visual arts, allowing them to specialize as they move into Upper School—or to continue to sample the variety that the curriculum offers.

The Visual Art and Design Department provides opportunities for our students to develop their artistic understanding and appreciation. Preschoolers weave art into their classroom experience every day with tactile, collaborative activities. Art projects in grades 1-8 enable students to explore a variety of media and help prepare them for the many courses offered in Upper School. Among these offerings is a focus on studio art, giving interested students the chance to study art in depth. Photography provides another opportunity for artistic exploration. Examples of unique components to the art program are our fully equipped woodshop and ceramic studio, where students gain hands-on experience starting in Lower School. The department sponsors a visiting artist or group of artists in the Founders' Gallery each months, and our students exhibit their work in the spring at the “Evening of the Arts.”

The Theater Department gives students opportunities to “strut their stuff” on stage, support the productions behind the scenes or do both. Plays and musicals in Lower School and the traditional “8th Grade Show” in Middle School are opportunities for our students perform. Fall and spring productions in Upper School involve students on stage in acting roles and off stage in roles as student directors, set builders and light and sound specialists. Our state-of-the-art theater with fly space and a digital lighting board serves the theater program along with a smaller, more intimate auditorium. This technical side of theater production exemplifies STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) in action. Guest programs further enhance the theater experience of our students.

Music offers another chance for our students to perform. Through Lower and Middle School, the music program develops our students’ abilities in instrumental and vocal music as well as their appreciation of music. Concerts in the winter and spring showcase the talents of our students. The Jazz Bands and String Ensemble are examples of the variety that our music program offers. Guest performers further enhance the program. The music building provides large vocal and instrumental spaces, along with smaller classrooms, practice rooms, storage and offices.