The Arts at CDS

Music students were happy to fully return to music-making this school year. After many years of sharing the single music room, middle and upper school classes were elated to finally have dedicated spaces. As a result, the classrooms are alive with the sounds of musicians practicing and learning through ensemble collaborations.

With our drumline and middle school musicians at the Center for Innovation ribbon cutting, upper school pep band at pep rallies and in the stands at football games, it has been wonderful to see the music program, which had been stifled during the pandemic, coming back full force. In October, a new afterschool beginning band program opened up to all fifth and sixth graders and filled up quickly.

Music has been incorporated into the classroom with several eighthgraders participating in the IVECA program which included presenting solo musical performances online with a partner school located In South Korea.

December featured a 4th and 5th-grade performance, "Paint the Town

December,

" which showcased holidays throughout the month from around the world, and the middle and upper school Winter Performances. Audiences were delighted to hear the student's musical progress in programs of traditional and holiday songs.

As we look to the spring semester, music students are engaged and excited. Music is coming back strong at CDS.

It was a different year at CDS during 2020-2021 and theater looked different as well. Performances were filmed and only family members were invited to attend live performances. The CDS community was definitely missing the large theatrical events. Thankfully, with the start of the 20212022 school year, the theater department was ready to go.

In the fall, the Diploma Programme theater students put on the show "The Miracle Worker, " a family drama based on the true story of a young deaf and blind girl, Helen Keller, and her dedicated teacher, Annie Sullivan, who struggles to reach into Helen's isolation and bring her into contact with the outside world. Needless to say, it was touching and amazing and so good to have live theater back at CDS.

February brought the long-awaited "Matilda" back to CDS. After a two-year wait, anticipation was at a fever pitch until the curtain went up the last weekend of the month. Audiences finally got to enjoy the magic that our upper school theater department consistently creates. The show brought rave reviews and solidified the fact that CDS theater is back, better than ever.

This spring CDS is excited to present inaugural middle and elementary school musical theater productions to the community. Middle school will be bringing "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown" to the stage and elementary presents "Junie B. Jones. " We can't wait!

SAVETHE DATES

1st Grade Program "Bugz" - March 31st ECC Art Show - April 6th Festival of the Arts - April 7th 3rd Grade Program "Character Street" - April 14th Elementary Musical - April 29th and 30th Elementary Spring Fling - May 6th Middle School Musical - May 6th & 7th Middle & Upper School Spring Concert - May 12th 2nd Grade Program - May 19th