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Arts: Rising Stars: Artistic Dreams
As a 3A’s school, Fort Worth Country Day recognizes when its students continue their arts and athletic passions. Three fine arts students will pursue the arts in college in fall 2024: Jane Shelton ’24, Brooke Baldwin ’24 and Anna Rodgers ’24.
Shelton will continue her dance career at the University of Southern California, where she will major in business and minor in dance. “Jane is such a talented dancer, and because of her hard work and dedication, she is able to continue on her journey to become a professional ballet dancer,” said Carrie Cheng, Director of Ballet at FWCD and the Ballet Conservatory. FWCD and Conservatory Ballet Teacher Natalie Bracken ’05 added: “What I admire most about Jane is that her path in ballet hasn’t always been easy. She faced some obstacles with her health and injuries that might have caused others to stop dancing, but Jane pushed through with a smile and a positive attitude.”
Baldwin will attend Texas Christian University, where she plans to double major in photography at the College of Fine Arts and Business at the Neeley School of Business.
“On winter break four years ago, when no emails were coming in, I received an unexpected message from young Brooke. She explained she received a new Fuji X-T200 [camera] and shared a link with an impressive first series of 30 or so images, beautifully shot and edited,” said Upper School Photography Teacher Sil Azevedo. “No assignments were due. Brooke simply could not contain her enthusiasm. This love for the craft and curiosity for the world have driven Brooke to continue to photograph and develop a style of her own. She has a gift for setting perfect strangers at ease and capturing wonderful portraits. Her gift and dedication are powerful assets as she enters this new phase of her journey, which is sure to be filled with discovery and growth.”
Rodgers auditioned for and earned a spot in the Ritter Family Classical Guitar Program at the University of Colorado. “I started teaching in the conservatory in 2017, the year guitar was added as an option for the students. Anna was among the original guitar students, and she studied with us until she started high school,” said Quint Olsen, Music Conservatory Instructor. “Anna was immediately one of the brightest talents in the program. She plays so musically and with such expression … and she is easily the best sight reader I have ever worked with.”
Director of Fine Arts Chelsy Beninate initiated art signings at the School during the 2022-23 academic year.
“Celebrating students who chose to continue an artistic passion in college should be a tradition each year,” she said. “We are fortunate to have a school that values the arts, and we hope our students continue to be patrons and participants of the arts throughout their lives.”
