Arts

FA's student musicians perform The Rolling Stones' "You Can't Always Get What You Want" at the spring concert:

'You Can't Always Get What You Want' from Beth Hunley on Vimeo.

Recognizing that appreciation and understanding of the arts enhance and enrich students' lives, Fredericksburg Academy places a high priority on fine arts in the curriculum. In the Lower School, student artwork lines the walls, and the happy sounds of singing and instrument-playing echo in the halls. As part of their weekly specials rotation, Lower School students take art class each week, where they are exposed to the work of famous artists and try their hands at creating with different media. This year, fourth- and fifth-grade students enjoy a visit from a professional artist each month through the LibertyTown Visiting Artists Program. The artists share their work and lead the students in a project. For more information about the LibertyTown Visiting Artists Program and a schedule of visiting artists, please click here to access Lower School art teacher Mirinda Reynolds' blog.

Lower School students also participate each week in a Music and Movement class. Each Lower School grade level puts on a class production in the Reed Theater each year, in addition to their musical performances for the Holiday Program and Grandparents and Special Friends Day.

An emphasis on the arts continues in the Middle School, where sixth- and seventh-grade students take part in a fine arts rotation that includes art, music, and drama. Eighth-grade students are required to take a fine art elective, and they choose between chorus, drama, studio art, and instrumental music.

Fine arts classes in the Upper School challenge students to tackle difficult pieces in their chorus and instrumental music classes and take on new media in their Studio Art classes. Introductory and advanced theatre classes are also offered. Middle and Upper School students perform two productions in the Reed Theater each year. Recent productions have included Fiddler on the Roof, Annie Jr., Once Upon a Mattress, Seussical Jr., Arsenic and Old Lace, Into the Woods, High School Musical, and Les Miserables.