HB Magazine - Winter 2022 by Hathaway Brown School

Arts

STATE

OF THE

CELEBRATING THE VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS

Contents Letter from the Head of School 7

The Art of our Architecture

Architecture can physically manifest the values of the people who inhabit and gather together in built environments

News from North Park 8

Achievements and Celebration

Celebrating the milestones and accomplishments of students, faculty, and staff

Locker Room 12

Blazer Nation

Learn more about what scholar athletes have achieved

Features 14

Works of Art

What’s Mr. Morse Got to Do With It?

Going Deeper

Performing Arts Where Everyone Belongs

For the Love of Music

Sisterhood at Play

HB’s dynamic visual arts program encourages creative thinking and self-expression at every grade level Perin Romano ‘22 shares a profile of beloved art teacher Jamie Morse Fellowships in Creative Arts Nurturing creativity, instilling passion and strengthening the sisterhood through the performing arts Chloe Echols ‘23 shares a profile about alumna and music teacher Laura Webster Photos from HB’s fall production of “Sister Act”

Alumnae Updates 28

Alumnae Trailblazers

California Dreamin’

HB is proud to honor our 2021 Alumnae Award recipients Thayer Sylvester Hoe ’93 loves the Golden State... and Hathaway Brown

36 Save the Date for Alumnae Weekend 2022! Class News 41

Donna Clegg Moffly ’53 reflects on teachers and lessons learned at HB

Alumnae Updates

Brides, Babies, Memorials

19600 North Park Boulevard Shaker Heights, Ohio 44122 216.932.4214

WE’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU! Share your thoughts. Letters to the editor may be sent to hbschoolnews@hb.edu or to the school’s mailing address.

Blake Cody ‘25

We welcome feedback through our social channels as well. Find us on Facebook @HathawayBrownSchool or send us a tweet at @HathawayBrown.

Parents: If your daughter is not receiving this magazine at her permanent address, please notify hbschoolnews@hb.edu so that it may be mailed directly to her.

Anna Fujiki ‘29

If you’d like to cancel delivery of HB magazine, please email hbschoolnews@hb.edu.

On the cover: Third grade student Charlotte Mawby, daughter of Lonny Hrabak Mawby ’00, created this beautiful self-portrait in Julie Odachowski’s art class where they studied contemporary artist Sandra Silberzweig. Students used black glue to create the portraits and analogous color sets with soft pastels and blending techniques to create a “broken mirror effect,” a characteristic of Cubism. Catherine Everest ‘28

Claire Lewis ‘26

EDITORIAL TEAM: Suzanne Taigen Editor Director of Communications D.J. Reichel Art Director/Designer Visuals and Publications Manager Kendra Davis, APR Associate Editor Director of Marketing

ALUMNAE RELATIONS TEAM: Tina Reifsnyder Alumnae Relations Coordinator

ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM: Fran Bisselle Head of School Sheri Homany Associate Head of School Sharon Baker Director of Middle School Toni Cross Director of Diversity, Equity, and Student Life

Faith Benton ‘25

Lauren Gibson ‘01 Chief Financial Officer Clarke Wilson Leslie ‘80 Director of Advancement Elizabeth Pinkerton Director of Enrollment Management Hallie Ritzman Director of Upper School Kelly Stepnowsky Director of Early Childhood and Primary School

Kendall Martin ‘27

Sadie Siegler ‘27

Winter 2022

Students collaborate in one of four new living room-style spaces created in recent renovations.

Capri Gerteis ‘27

Rhea Mahajan ‘22

Madeline Everest ‘26

Architecture The Art of Our

As a historian, I have always appreciated Winston Churchill’s wisdom and especially his quote, “We shape our buildings, and afterwards our buildings shape us.” This is certainly true of Cleveland’s historic buildings, many of which were designed by Walker and Weeks, a famed architecture firm that oversaw the development of many of our city’s iconic landmarks. Their portfolio includes churches and banks, the Cleveland Public Library, Severance Hall, Hope Memorial Bridge, Public Auditorium, and Hathaway Brown School!

Done right, architecture can physically manifest the values of the people who inhabit and gather together in built environments. Architects from the past like Walker and Weeks and our modern day architect, Gund Partnership, embody the mission of a place through design and construction. For example, Gund Partnership created our spectacular four-story Rosenthal Atrium with its floating staircases and continuous panels of glass that drink in the sunlight. It communicates to our girls that the sky is the only limit! Buildings are more than bricks and mortar; their physical forms help convey a certain sanctity, ambition, and hopefulness for the work at hand. We are thrilled with the recent projects that have modernized our campus to be more reflective of the HB experience and the fact that many of our students put their knowledge in action by helping the architect and engineers through our Fellowship in Sustainability. In the Adelaide Cobb Ward ’51 Classic Building, you’ll find four new living room-style gathering and study spaces that empower our students and create space for sisterhood. New state-of-the-art classrooms have cutting-edge technology that brings educational practices into the future. A new admission suite and living room welcomes families with its warmth and welcoming sense of belonging. Our outdoor athletic spaces have also been transformed and now include two turf fields and six new outdoor tennis courts. What a thrill it has been to see sisterhood in action as our Blazer athletes, PE classes and students play there as a celebrated community! Our campus is made even more beautiful through the art that fills its halls, a design innovation by our architects to make sure student art is able to be carefully curated throughout. It is with great pride that I share with you this issue of HB magazine that highlights the amazing visual and performing arts programs in the Nancy Caraboolad Hayes Center for the Arts. I believe the arts help synthesize knowledge and make meaning of emotion. The inventiveness and creativity of our students bodes well for our future. I am filled with an enormous sense of optimism that HB girls are leading the way and that they will be among the builders. Fondly,

Dr. Fran Bisselle Head of School

Winter 2022

NEWS FROM Index

Alumnae featured in this issue HB Masthead, pg. 4 Lonny Hrabak Mawby ’00 News from North Park, pg. 8 Lauren Gibson ’01 Performing Arts, pg. 22 Laura Main Webster ’91 For the Love of Music, pg. 24 Laura Main Webster ’91 Alumnae Trailblazers, pg. 28 Kate Shockey Lafrance ’60 Janet Eaken Narten ’61 Sandy Albrecht Wurzburger ’86 Katherine Tyler ’06 Mariel Tyler ’06

Belonging (n): an affinity for a place or situation The school year has revealed how powerful human connection is. Led by Director of Diversity, Equity, and Student Life Toni Cross, the faculty and staff are embracing the work of belonging to ensure that each member of the HB community feels connected to each other. This included professional development programs with NeuroLeadership Institute which uses the power of neuroscience to improve leadership, culture and performance. The programs gave language and practical steps to further strengthen the school’s commitment to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive learning environment.

California Dreamin’, pg. 34 Thayer Sylvester Hoe ’93 Kate Harding Lincoln ’93 Ann Sylvester ’61 Elizabeth Sylvester ’70 Class News, pg. 41 Donna Clegg Moffly ’53

Lauren Gibson ’01 Joins HB as CFO Lauren Gibson ’01 joined the HB administration as Chief Finance and Operations Officer. Lauren took on the role in advance of Valerie Hughes’ retirement after nearly 24 years. “I am thrilled to return to Hathaway Brown to lead its finance and operations functions - it is truly the opportunity of a lifetime,” says Lauren. “I believe that close and careful collaboration with Fran and her executive team, the board of trustees, faculty and staff, students and parents, and our community partners will be the best way to build on the tremendous financial stewardship and operational excellence that are hallmarks of the school’s top-notch reputation.”

#1 Again!

Hathaway Brown is once again ranked #1 best all-girls school in Ohio, #1 best college prep private high school in Ohio, and one of the best private K-12 schools in the nation! The rankings were announced by Niche, an online platform that tracks education institutions and provides research findings for public and private schools across the country. Visit Niche. com to check out all of the rankings and add your review of HB!

Light the Night The HB community came together in the fall for the annual Light the Night celebration full of music, dancing, cheers and lots of fun and laughter! It also celebrated the opening of the new tennis courts, The Scout and Chasey Scaravilli Memorial Field, and The Wolf Family Field. HB is grateful to the more than 700 donors to the project and to the Scaravilli Family who chose to direct donations made to the Scaravilli Memorial Fund to the project as well. Special thanks also to the Wolf Family who graciously agreed to move their name to the new field so the existing field could be renamed in honor of Scout and Chasey who loved to play there. It will be a lasting legacy for generations of girls that will know Scout and Chasey’s love of friendship, family and sisterhood.

Winter 2022

NEWS FROM

Maya Tang ’25 is a Broadcom MASTERS Finalist

13 Seniors Earn National Merit Recognition Thirteen Hathaway Brown seniors are National Merit Semifinalists or Commended Students in the 2022 National Merit Scholarship Program. That is nearly 15% of the Class of 2022! The students are recognized for their academic talent, as indicated by the Preliminary SAT/ National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Hathaway Brown’s Class of 2022 National Merit Semifinalists will compete for 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $30 million. • Subratha Araselvan • Rhea Mahajan • Anjali Dhanekula • Avery Simon • Claire Hofstra • Madeleine Williams Additionally, seven seniors were recognized as Commended Students. These students place among the top 50,000 students who entered the competition by taking the 2020 PSAT and NMSQT: • Shereen Ahmad • Anna Banyard • Carys Bowen • Tess Hays

• Saakhi Kang • Morgan Monesmith • Kaila Morris

Broadcom Foundation and the Society for Science named freshman Maya Tang as a finalist in the Broadcom MASTERS® — the nation’s premier STEM middle school competition. As one of 30 finalists, she presented her eighth-grade science fair project — How Do Mask Types and Instrument Covers Affect Aerosol Spread and Sound Level During Music Performance?– in the virtual competition and competed in science and engineering challenges.

Five Students Recognized Nationally by The College Board The College Board, which administers the PSAT and SAT named five Upper School students as National African American and National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholars. The designation is based on their academic achievements and outstanding performance on the PSAT and/or AP exams.

National African American Recognition Program Scholars Dakota Taufeeq ’22 Muna Agwa ’23 Liv Moore ’22

National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholars Alison Gibbs ’22 Martina Aucejo ’22

Festival Connects Students Through Art The 10th annual Young Writers and Artists Festival took place on campus last fall, featuring an all-star list of workshop leaders, including writers Sarah Kay and Hanif Abdurraqib. “Getting focused feedback on my writing from a nationally celebrated author was astounding,” said Hannah Rowland-Seymour ’23.

Many workshops focused on connections and ties to the past and how they shape the present. Lucy Castellanos ’23 enjoyed an activity in Abdurraqib’s workshop where the students picked ten words out of a basket and then used those words to tell a story from their childhood. “It was an interesting way of incorporating a different perspective or abstract descriptions of a time which is familiar to us,” Castellanos explained. “It was an enlightening experience as I was able to get a small peek into my classmates’ childhood and their writing style.”

Do you have 40 minutes?

The beloved HB festival encourages Upper School students to explore an interest or to try something new, while participating in immersive full-day creative experiences. Workshops included ceramics, painting, poetry, non-fiction writing and songwriting.

Tune in to 40 Minutes with Fran! Head of School Dr. Fran Bisselle and special guests explore topics such as college counseling, athletics, and much more. 40 Minutes with Fran is part of the Listening and Learning for Life series — virtual events showcasing the skills, talents and stories of Hathaway Brown School and alumnae. Watch online at HB.edu/alumnae

Winter 2022

Blazer Nation Locker Room

Cross Country

Volleyball

Hathaway Brown’s cross country team was district runner-up, placed sixth at regionals and finished 11th at the Division II state meet! Morgan Monesmith ’22 is the first Hathaway Brown regional cross country champion and placed third at the state meet while setting an HB record of 18:09.03!

Blazer volleyball won their sectional championship and were Division II district runner-ups! This is the furthest HB volleyball has advanced since 2006. Alison Gibbs ’22 was named AVCA All American and Meg Gannon ’23 hit the 1,000 digs mark.

Six student-athletes received Academic All-Ohio honors by maintaining a minimum 3.5 GPA and qualifying for the state meet.

Tennis The varsity tennis team won the 2021 Ohio Tennis Coaches Association DII Team State Championship - the seventh year in a row! Sisters Ally ’23 and Kate Mills ’24 were OHSAA DII Doubles State Runners Up! Both students were also named All-Ohio First Team! Congratulations to the following seniors who were awarded “Golden Racquets” by earning two varsity letters while maintaining a 3.75 GPA or above. Saakhi Kang ’22 Claire Hofstra ’22 Lucia Passarelli ’22 Riley Mixon ’22 Kailey Takaoka ’22

Genevieve Comar ’24 Grace Gilson ‘24 Morgan Monesmith ‘22 Marianna Steele ‘23 Lauren Voinovich ‘23 Elena Winter ‘23

Juniors Meg Gannon, Carmella Muresan, Gabby Pribisich and Issy Pribisich were named AVCA Phenom Watchlist Award Winners. Alison Gibbs ’22 was named to the Division II First Team, Meg Gannon ’23 to Second Team, Gabby Pribisich ’23 to Third Team and Issy Pribisich ’23 and Lauren Tyrpak ’24 to Honorable Mention.

Volleyball

Golf The golf team was named the Division I Sectional Champions for the second year in a row! Freshman Dixon Hill placed fifth at districts!

Field Hockey The field hockey team had a great season with key wins! All-Region Field Hockey Awards First Team Helen Breen ’22 Halle Searby ’24

Second Team Perin Romano ’22

Congratulations to these scholar athletes who were named Academic All-Ohio as sophomores, juniors or seniors with a varsity letter and GPA of 3.5 or greater. Molly Aris ’22 Frances Berglund ’24 Allie Beros ’24 Natalie Crowley ’23 Molly Gisel ’24

Campbell Kahn ’24 Naomi Kaplan ’22 Perin Romano ’22 Julia Weinberg ’24

Soccer The Blazer soccer team had a strong season. Senior Katrina Santelli joined the 50 goal club and sits as 5th overall in HB history with 65 goals. She was also named Second Team All-State and Greater Cleveland First Team. Celia Bullock ’22 and Abby Morgan ’22 were named Greater Cleveland Second Team, and Lucy Castellanos ’23, Tayler Chauvette ’22, Rori Kostos ’23 and Tatum Schoaf ’22 were named Greater Cleveland Honorable Mention. Congratulations to these seniors for earning OSSCA Academic All-Ohio by achieving a 3.7 GPA or higher! Maggie Abrams Celia Bullock Abby Morgan

Middle School Cross Country The Middle School Cross Country team won their division in the OHSAA invitational for the second year in a row!

Next Chapter In November, two members of the class of 2022 took part in the National Letter of Intent Signing Day. Congratulations to Katrina Santelli ’22 who will play soccer at Lafayette College and to Allie Schmidt ’22 who will play soccer at Wake Forest University!

Katrina Santelli Tayler Chauvette Kaya Mendels

Winter 2022 15 13

o W rks

of Art

Visual Arts program inspires students throughout the HB experience

On a warm sunny day last fall, before things turned cold on Hathaway Brown’s historic campus, a group of young artists - two year olds to be exact - could be found exploring their inner Picassos, Rembrandts, O’Keeffes and Pollocks. Art history will come later, but for now the exploration was underway as paint was everywhere - on noses, hands, smocks and pumpkins. “It’s all about enjoying the process!” exclaimed Infant and Toddler Center Teacher Cori Simenc. The seeds of creative thinking and self-expression are planted early and nurtured at every grade level of the HB experience through a dynamic Visual Arts curriculum where creative growth thrives and technical skills expand. Along the way, the art faculty encourage students to try new things, problem solve and have confidence in expressing themselves. “If you ask a group of first graders, ‘who can draw?’ all the hands go up,” explains Visual Arts Department Chair Jamie Morse. “As the students get older, the confidence lessens. A few words of encouragement go a long way.”

Finding Their Artistic Voice In the Primary School, a group of students recently used art to integrate science and their study of trees by using recyclable materials to create mixed media collages. In moments like this, students learn to describe, analyze and interpret what they see. They learn aesthetic literacy, art vocabulary and visual sensitivity. Students also begin to recognize art as a means of chronicling cultural values, traditions, and customs. “The overarching goal in all our Primary School art classes is to help each girl find her personal voice, inspire a life-long appreciation of art, and develop the skills to express herself visually,” says Julie Odachowski, Primary School Visual Arts teacher.

Ever-Changing Perspectives Middle School students extend their art-making knowledge in the areas of painting, drawing, ceramics, sculpture, fiber arts, mixed media, and printmaking, and they have an authentic art studio experience. They make interdisciplinary connections with history, music, science, and English by creating art projects that connect to their learning. Art-based service projects are also an opportunity for students to shift their perspective to the world around them. “The Middle School artist comes to the art room with an emerging and ever-changing perspective of who they are and how to express themselves visually,” says Melissa Nilsen, Middle School Visual Arts teacher. “The goals for my students are to keep an open mind, try a wide variety of mediums, develop their personal style and feel confident about expressing themselves visually.”

Creative Freedom “I am really proud of the richness of our Visual Arts program,” says Morse. “Our art educators are strong throughout the school which makes for a seamless transition as we build on the skills and understanding of art in each grade. When students reach the Upper School, they already know the ground rules about how to collaborate and support their classmates in art.” There is a collegiality among the Upper School’s Visual Art students as they share their work, point out the positives of a classmate’s project, make suggestions and encourage each other. “All of our students have a voice and they truly reflect our ‘Learn for Life’ school motto,” says Morse. “Students will always benefit from becoming a creative

Infant and Toddler Center students enjoy the process of painting pumpkins!

thinker, even if they don’t pursue art classes beyond their experience here.” Upper School students choose from a full, robust list of course offerings. They engage in everything from traditional media like drawing, painting, ceramics and photography, to printmaking, filmmaking, digital media, and advanced or AP studio art. One favorite course among students is also publication design which oversees the production of Specularia. Originally published in 1892 as a collection of art, poetry, stories and jokes, it evolved in the 1940s to be the school’s annual yearbook. The students in this class are responsible for every aspect of its creation, including photography, design and editorial. The art faculty helps students connect with the greater community by taking field trips to local exhibitions and bringing in visiting artists to teach or demonstrate their art making. Year after year, student artists and writers are also recognized nationally in the Scholastic Art and

Upper School students engage in everything from traditional media like drawing, painting, ceramics and photography, to printmaking, filmmaking, digital media, and advanced or AP studio art.

Printmaking is one area that sets HB apart from other programs because of the unique skills of art teacher Shelly Ahern who is a master printmaker herself. It celebrates the idea of the multiple and provides a platform to disseminate storytelling through successive layers which reveal complex compositions, intricate positive and negative space, opacity and transparency ink application, and articulate transitions of color and value relationships.

Middle School students connected the school-wide theme of “Building the Future” by creating mixed media “homes” that were displayed in honor of HB’s celebrated community.

Writing Awards. In 2021, Hathaway Brown won more art awards than any other public or private school in Cuyahoga County. “We make an effort to look beyond our HB walls and pull the outside world in,” explains Morse. The art studios provide a happy environment full of laughter, camaraderie and sisterhood. “Art is important to me because it brings me joy. It’s a calming part of my day that allows me to reset and destress,” says Anna Banyard ’22. “I think our teachers make Visual Arts unique and special.” With the support of such a committed art faculty, students are empowered to try new things and continue to explore those inner Picassos, Rembrandts, O’Keeffes and Pollocks they may have first encountered as two year olds. And just like in preschool, it’s about the process. “Art is not perfection,” says Morse. “It’s about doing something to the best of your ability in that moment. Keep doing that and you will get better.”

The meticulous process requires concentration and patience, and students love it. And the projects are often personal - one student carving out an old photo of her parents in celebration of their 30th wedding anniversary, one student carving a work scene from her father’s law office, and another student honoring her classmate with a portrait. “As seniors, we’re definitely feeling emotional so I’m planning to do a lot of projects related to friendship,” says Maggie Abrams ’22.

The passion of the printmaking students is palpable when walking through the studio where they can be found digging deep into centuries-old processes such as carving woodblocks, screen printing, and letterpress printing. Color theory, and intuitive ink mixing “speaks” to students as they find relationships between contemporary digital imaging with traditional printmaking techniques.

Winter 2022

What’s Mr. Morse Got to Do With It? By Perin Romano ’22

icture sun streaming through glass panes, pollen fluttering through the slightly humid September air, and a small radio in the corner of room 261 in the Adelaide Cobb Ward ’51 Classic Building. The creative spirit of Mr. Morse’s class radiates through the room the same way the notes of Tina Turner’s “What’s Love Got to Do With It?” does. In a rigorous environment like Hathaway Brown, the art studio at the end of the infamous second floor hallway is almost like the light at the end of a tunnel, but that doesn’t mean that it boasts no challenges. For literally decades, Jamie Morse has strived to cultivate a haven for the next generation’s brightest thinkers, makers, and dreamers. An environment where they challenge themselves to discover new possibilities, establish their voice, and finally recognize that there is not always a right or wrong. What’s fascinating is Mr. Morse’s reluctance to ever begin teaching in the first place. Describing himself as a lacking student, “JMo” geared his efforts towards the skills that he did hone, drawing and painting. From the time he was in middle school, Mr. Morse can remember his own teachers pushing him to consider a career behind the easel. After attending Cleveland Institute of Art for a year, Mr. Morse transferred to Philadelphia College of Art now known as the University of the Arts. It was there that he discovered the same love of painting he is known for now. In fact, he decided to major in painting at the last minute and graduated at the top of his class. Crediting hard work as the factor that pushed him to excel, Mr. Morse took that dedication with him when graduating from college Self-portrait by Jamie Morse

actually had the chance to teach. A familiar face in the halls, he may be a significant figure to his mentees, to his art students, and to his history students, but even more importantly, he means something to each and every student at Hathaway Brown because they mean so very much to him. “Learning for life” is the motto that every member of the HB community wears proudly, but Mr. Morse seems to exude that attitude in his everyday energy better than anyone else does. He explained to me, “I find I learn from students as much as they learn from me.” This very statement is exactly what makes Mr. Morse’s teaching so successful. In his ability to be open minded to his students, he evolves with them, catering his lessons to have the impact he is so known for.

and immediately started student teaching. Almost unluckily for the students of Hathway Brown, JMo actually hated everything about it. After his student teaching experience, Mr. Morse determined that he would never teach again, thus beginning his career in business and antiques that helped to formulate many of the vivid stories he now recalls in the classroom. Although Mr. Morse gained some lively tales and precious life experience from the antique business, Mr. Morse explains that he wasn’t cut out for it, and when a friend called to inform him that HB desperately needed an art teacher, he decided to give it another try. The Arts department at Hathaway Brown has been home to published photographers, celebrated artists, and some of the most brilliant visionaries of our time, but it is clear to many that they wouldn’t have made it anywhere without Mr. Morse. When speaking to him, I diverged from my laid out questions for just a moment to ask what I had always wondered. How did he create such meaningful connections with students in and out of the classroom? There are many things that make JMo unique, but what makes him special is his dedication to his students. Not only does he know his own students sometimes better than they know themselves, but he makes an effort to be there for those that he never

“The best teachers are the teachers who literally believe in their students. Kids know that, they pick up on that,” Mr. Morse says. He strives to lead by example. He is himself every day knowing that it will inspire his students to do the same, he is vulnerable to making mistakes knowing that it will give his students courage to do the same, and he is invested in everything they do, hoping that they will be invested in themselves. Mr. Morse’s experiences with teachers who did the opposite lends evidence to the fact that he desires more than anything to be what his students need even if they don’t know what that is themselves. His art students may need his advice on which paper to use or how to mix the perfect shade, but sometimes they need a teacher to be more than that. Mr. Morse continues to show that he is the center of HB’s celebrated community through his true care for each girl that walks the halls. When asked what his favorite memory at HB was, Mr. Morse relayed a memory that he actually had no recollection of at all. Rather, it was the memory of a past student who had never forgotten exactly what Mr. Morse had said. On a slightly humid day, a group of students sat working in the art studio as Tina Turner’s “What’s Love Got to Do With It?” played on the radio. Jamie Morse walked over, placed his hand on the dial, and turned the volume down. Looking at all of his students, he revealed a message that still rings true decades later, “Girls, I want you to know that love has everything to do with it,” and it is most positively true that love has everything to do with the relationship Jamie Morse has established with the students of Hathaway Brown.

Winter 2022

Going

Deeper Fellowships in Creative Arts between songwriting and mental health. She plans to host a mental health awareness performance in which her original music will be performed, as well as other songs pertaining to mental health issues. Money raised will be donated to the Aspire Program of Hathaway Brown, a tuition-free academic and leadership development program for middle school girls from under-resourced communities.

Visual Arts Fellows can explore traditional media such as drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, as well as digital media in film, photography, and design. The ideas represented can range from an in-depth exploration of a specific technique such as throwing pots on a wheel or using art to address social issues.

Lóa Schriefer ‘22

hrough HB’s signature Fellowships in Applied Studies, girls are encouraged and empowered to design their own learning. Book knowledge becomes even more actionable through in-depth, unique learning experiences. The Fellowship in Creative Arts engages its fellows in crossdisciplinary creative experiences and intensive study by cultivating the student’s personal artistic voice beyond the core arts curriculum. The experience culminates in the annual Creative Arts showcase where students perform, display, and share their work with the school community.

Performing Arts fellows focus on any of the five performing arts disciplines offered: dance, instrumental music, production and design, theatre, and vocal arts. A range of opportunities exist within each discipline, such as choreography, set design, songwriting, music theory, and playwriting, to name a few. As a participant in two fellowships - the Equity & Action Fellowship and the Performing Arts Fellowship - Desi Neal ’22 has grown as a student and as an individual. “The Fellowships have given me a platform for subjects I’m passionate about,” she says. Desi’s creative arts fellowship, “Safe”, is an exploration of the intersection

Lóa Schriefer ’22 is studying human and animal forms as part of her Creative Arts Fellowship. She is completing a series of walnut ink paintings that focus on the bone structure of the pelvis, spine and shoulder. “The arts fellowship offers so many different opportunities for students, just the number of different processes you can do in the studio is incredible.” she says. “The art teachers are always open to teaching something new or trying new processes that you discover, which makes for a really unique and tailored experience for every student.”

Art HB

Gallery

Liv Cremer ‘27

First grade students studied trees in science last fall and put their new knowledge into action while learning a new painting technique in art class.

Winter 2022

Genevieve Comar ‘24

Lucy Castellanos ‘23

Maggie Abrams ‘22

Anna Sharkunov ‘22

Evey Wellman ‘23

Tegan Lincoln ’27

Imani Gerling ‘28

Sara Ahmad ‘26

Publication Design students created one-of-a-kind logos and graphics and then brought their designs to life using technology in HB’s IDEA lab.

Riley Vallone ‘28

Ella Nolan ‘23

MaryJo Semaan ‘27

Gabby Ransom ‘26

Lindsay Reineks ‘26

Winter 2022

PerformingArts Where Everyone Belongs HB’s program instills creativity, passion and community The explanation of how to have a “dancer’s body” is clearly outlined on the door as students enter the dance studio located in the Adelaide Cobb Ward ’51 Classic Building:

It is that same spirit HOW TO HAVE A ” of belonging that “DANCER ’S BODY extends throughout the Performing Arts program at Hathaway Brown. All students are nurtured creatively and supported in their development as artists in music, dance and theatre. “We have a program that is broad and inclusive enough for any student to try something new,” says Laura Main Webster ’91, Performing Arts department chair. “And our program is also engaging for students who want to pursue opportunities beyond HB, including honors classes equal to those found at performing arts schools.”

1) HAVE A BODY 2) DANCE

The Performing Arts program spans all ages on campus beginning in the Infant & Toddler Center through the Upper School years. “To have vibrant music and dance educators teaching at the youngest levels means that we are pedagogical and teaching to the whole arts life of a person,” says Webster.

Moving with Purpose

HB’s dance program is one of the oldest, continuously running programs in the country. Early Childhood students focus on creative movement and explore how their bodies move. It’s not unusual to see three and four year olds in dance class pretending to be sea creatures or riding around the studio on an imaginary pony. Primary School students focus on improvisation, technique and storytelling. A recent group of first graders were seen zipping up their imaginary astronaut suits, riding on an invisible spaceship, and thinking about how their bodies would float without gravity or how they would react to an alien invasion! “Students are invited, even at the youngest ages, to think creatively and to move with purpose,” says Jenny Burnett, dance teacher and co-director of Fellowships in Creative Arts. “We practice dancing using effortful qualities and give all students the opportunity to improvise during their dance classes.” Middle School students focus on modern dance technique, heavier composition in small groups, creating solos and more emotional storytelling. Recent classes explored how students could express themselves in a healthy way through dance, whether that’s expressing rage through strong physical movements or calm through serene, gentle motions. In the Upper School, dance is an elective where students can focus on technique and choreography. “At the heart of Performing Arts in the Upper School is a commitment to student-driven work,”

says Webster. “Students not only learn and study technical aspects of dance, they learn improvisation and composition, and create their own choreography.”

Learning the Notes The Music curriculum is grounded in the historic Orff-Schulwerk tradition, a philosophy integrating creative movement, singing, and instrument playing. The program was started by Primary School Teacher Bea Alexander in 1975, and the faculty have carried on the tradition year after year. Today, HB is nationally recognized for how the Orff approach incorporates imitation, exploration, improvisation, composition and creative expression at all age levels. For example, students in Early Childhood and Prime begin their education with a chant or poem, patting the beat on their lap. Older students build on this with reading music, singing, and playing percussion instruments, xylophones and recorder. Modern elements are also incorporated with electric guitar and pop music. “Incorporating modern band music and instruments is a seamless next step in a student’s Orff-Schulwerk based music education,” says music teacher Chelsea Thiel. “It blends the tenants of the Orff approach with HB’s motto ‘We learn not for school, but for life.’” Vocal artists in the Upper School are encouraged to write and produce their own music and students often publish their own albums on public music streaming sites. “HB gives students the space and classroom time to create, give feedback, produce and showcase,” Webster explains. Students can also explore a variety of performance styles, including the only solo jazz vocal

program in Northeast Ohio. And the Bravuras, a small select ensemble, perform an advanced women’s choir repertoire while paying attention to sophisticated vocal techniques, aural skills and stage presence.

Strings Attached Along with an extensive Middle School and Upper School Orchestra program, performing arts teacher Linda Simon-Mietus has a “meet the instruments” program for Primary School students where they can do eight week rotations to experiment with woodwind, brass, percussion and string instruments. Here, the early seeds are planted for the students to become musicians in the Hathaway Brown Orchestra program. The HB orchestra has performed in venues throughout Cleveland, collaborated with Cleveland Orchestra musicians, and serves as musical ambassadors of HB by making international tours including Chile, Hong Kong, Toronto and Ireland.

Finding Center Stage For those that prefer behind the scenes to stage performances, there are opportunities in production and design. T. Paul Lowry is an award-winning technical theater artist who has both a career in professional theater and as HB’s technical theatre director. The production and design program often partners with STEM classes to find new ways to design and build. “When I approach projects, I don’t limit it to the theatre,” says Lowry. “What if you become a scientist or engineer? How can you connect with those different skill sets?” Performing Arts at HB nurtures creativity in girls, instills passion, and strengthens the sisterhood among its students. “We are building a community in arts at every age level,” Webster says. “It’s important to have those strong bonds and I’m thankful to support our students as they build a lifelong relationship with the arts!”

Winter 2022

23 19

♥

For the L♥ve of Music By Chloe Echols ’23

aura Main Webster ’91 wears many hats in the Hathaway Brown community. As an alumna, mother of an alumna, teacher, and Performing Arts department chair, she has a unique perspective on HB and insight into the lives of both students and teachers. Laura began her HB experience as a child in eighth grade who loved music. Student life, for Laura, was filled with blissful moments that included creating dances with classmates, participating in musicals or shows, and writing songs in the courtyard during lunch. Her love of the arts ran so deep that she would cry when performances were over. Music also helped her cope with feelings of not fitting in. In her school years, HB was not as diverse as it is currently, so there were often feelings of social exclusion. Though a somewhat painful experience, this deepened Laura’s involvement in the musical world, as she found it to be her home and place of acceptance. She remembers caring about social excursions and grades, but nothing trumped her love of anything musical or of the arts. This love of music permeated her everyday life and formed the music teacher and lover of the arts that we know today. When thinking back, Laura says she remembers many times singing, creating, and dancing as a child in Primary and Middle School. She also remembers often sitting in the grass singing with former teacher Deb Southard. “These were the times that all felt right with the world despite having challenging academics,” she says.

Feelings of peace, love, and joy are vivid in all her memories of HB and create a desire in her to spread the same feelings to her students through music, empathy, and intentional communication. Her childhood influences her teaching every day because she wants everyone to feel loved and accepted at all times; the way she felt when singing. She wants and strives to make the world of performing arts a home for those who feel like they don’t fit in. Laura says that when teaching, she always tries to make a personal connection, to share music that comforts and empowers, and to enforce the principle that everyone matters, everyone has value, and everyone is welcome. “I pride myself in trying to see people, to be personal, and to see the best in everyone,” she says. Her love of music motivates her to connect with everyone in HB’s community, from the cleaning staff to the infants she teaches. She recalls a moment of catching a student’s eye while singing a song called “You Matter to Me.” She remembers it because the student was going through a difficult moment in her life and experiencing feelings of loneliness and weariness. This moment was so beautiful and intense and proves Laura’s commitment to showing love and acceptance through music. After attending HB, Laura went on to pursue more musical studies as an undergraduate at Sarah Lawrence College, and graduate school at Case Western Reserve University. There, she learned more about music and how to teach. After graduation, she came back to HB to teach and continue to grow in the world of music. As Performing Arts Department chair, Laura works with infants through high schoolers and even presents nationally to music teachers from all over the country! Being an alumna and past participant in musical groups like Bravuras gives her insight and understanding into what each division specifically needs in their program. For example, with younger children she works on using music to express big emotions like anger or sadness. With Middle Schoolers, she uses music to tell stories and show how it can be used as a beautiful expression. In the Upper School, she combines both of these principles and adds in vocal techniques like vowel shape, dynamics, tone, and color of the sound. She enjoys her work with each division knowing the influence and power of music is in the

room. She shares songs that soothe and share love like “Seal Lullaby’’ by Eric Whitacre or “Parting Glass” which is a traditional Scottish song. When asked if she has a saying or phrase that embodies her teaching, she says, “Welcome to the vocal arts room, mistakes made here,” “take your mess and make it your message,” and “I teach people not music.” These quotes encapsulate her message to those who enter the world of performing arts and her desire for her students to not just learn music, but also how to be a kind human. Laura’s world is constantly surrounded by music and kindness. She welcomes her mentor group each morning, she teaches music all day every day, she meets with people one on one to practice but also to talk about the hardships of life, she greets her fellow faculty members, students, and staff with warm smiles, and she tries to love in every encounter. Laura Webster’s love of the performing arts is plain to everyone. And this love inspires her students, friends, fellow faculty, and family to share love and connection through music. As a current student at HB, and having been taught by Mrs. Webster since kindergarten, I can confidently say that she has always invited me into the world of performing arts with love and joy. She has encouraged me to step outside my comfort zone, to make mistakes, to grow, and to strive for excellence, while having fun! I thank her for all the vocal techniques and strategies that I’ve learned. However, the most important thing I thank her for is my love for all things of the arts and the confidence to pursue those things. Ever since I was little, I’ve loved to sing, dance, color and draw, and never once has she put out this flame in me by correcting too much, critiquing too much, or pushing me too far. She has always cultivated, grown, and deepened this love, and for that I couldn’t be more grateful.

Winter 2022

Sisterhood

AT PLAY

Hathaway Brown’s fall production of “Sister Act” was a lively, music-filled comedy celebrating sisterhood in a whole new way!

Winter 2022

Trailblazers Alumnae

During the 2021 Alumnae Weekend, five women were recognized for their personal and professional achievements and their service to HB and the community. Profiles by Lisa Kroeger Murtha ’88

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNAE AWARDS

Kate Shockey Lafrance ’60 HB has been part of Kate Lafrance’s life since she began attending summer day camp on campus at age three. In seventh grade, Kate came to HB as a student and five years later she’d serve as senior class president. A keen interest in science and math (“thanks to teachers Miss Reeve and Mrs. Kuerti,” says Kate) led to her biochemistry major at Mount Holyoke College and an early career in pharmaceutical and chemical research. But after marrying and pausing work to raise two daughters, Kate changed course. Her later career included earning a master’s degree in elementary education, working in college admissions and doing computer systems work. A career highlight that combined the latter two experiences was serving as acting dean of admissions for Catholic University. Throughout it all, Kate has worked diligently, along with two other classmates, on reaching exceptional participation rates for their class in The Fund for Hathaway Brown. She is most valued by former classmates, though, for serving as what one calls “the glue that binds and supports the close relationship our class enjoys.”

A turning point in my life happened … “… during the summers I spent in Vermont at Aloha Hive as a camper and counselor. There I was introduced to mountains, lakes and rivers among like-minded girls and caring, strong women.” I’m most proud of… “…receiving the Mount Holyoke College Medal of Honor in 1979, for creating a new model for MHC alumnae volunteer workers to use in their admissions work all over the country.” The most valuable part of my HB experience was… “…Miss Reeve’s bird, tree and flower walks, and my favorite space at HB was Miss Reeve’s classroom and lab. I was fascinated with her topics, from geology to astronomy.” In hindsight… “…I appreciated Miss Coburn’s continual emphasis on integrity, academic achievement and good moral character. I have also appreciated putting into practice We Learn Not for School but for Life. You continue learning long after your formal education.” Building the future means… “…It is important to offer a broad range of ideas based on science and facts to let the students draw their own conclusions for their lives now and in the future.” My most valuable life lesson so far is: “Stay true to yourself, with an open and engaging mind.”

Janet Eaken Narten ’61 An HB student from 9-12 grades, Janet Eaken Narten found her calling after taking time off from work. She’d earned undergraduate and master’s degrees in secondary education, language and literature from both University of North Carolina and the University of Michigan and was teaching high school English when she paused her career to raise her son and daughter. That’s also when she began volunteering, and realized that private foundations needed help managing their day-to-day business. “My dream,” she soon discovered, “was to manage multiple foundations at a reduced cost,” so they could spend less money on “an office and staff and health insurance” and give more money to charities. She started her business with one client – a private foundation at a local bank. Today, Foundation Management Services is a “mission-driven for-profit company” with a staff serving anywhere from five to eight different Cleveland-based family foundations at once. Janet has since retired (her daughter runs the business), but she is still an owner and is now a grandmother of three as well. I’m most proud of… “…creating a business that was ahead of its time. When I was trying to set up a business plan, I couldn’t find anything nationally like what we were doing. Since then, there are a lot of organizations like this all over the country. We were ahead of the curve.” The most valuable parts of my HB experience are… “…the confidence instilled by the challenges, the satisfactions of intellectual pursuits and the lifelong friendships with people who challenge you, making you be the best person you can be.” In hindsight… “…I wish I had reached out more to teachers as a student. I don’t think I appreciated how much teachers want to help. That’s their passion.” My favorite space at HB? Miss Bruce’s English class was a memorable place because

we were all terrified when we went in there. But I’ve always enjoyed sports, so the gym – where we had those wonderful phys-ed teachers and played volleyball and basketball – was a favorite place.” Building the future means… “…that HB has to be extremely adaptable so they’re continuing to prepare students for a future that’s changing.” My most valuable life lesson so far is: “You have more success, happiness and adventures in life if you tend to say ‘yes’ when opportunities come along, rather than ‘no.’”

Sandy Albrecht Wurzburger ’86 “I was almost a lifer,” says Sandy Albrecht Wurzburger, who arrived at HB in Kindergarten and stayed 13 years. Later, at Connecticut College, she studied sociology-based human relations and then returned to Cleveland in 1990 to begin a career in hospitality and special events. One year after her 1995 wedding, Sandy was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), a life-altering experience that has taught her the benefits of “courage, staying positive, accepting help from others and dealing with one’s limitations,” says Sandy. “I know how truly fragile life is and how fast things can change.” In 1998, her daughter Brooke was born – “the greatest thing that ever happened to us,” says Sandy and three years after that, the trio moved to Argentina for Sandy’s husband’s job. There, Sandy served as president of the 350-member Buenos Aries International Newcomers Group, leading a board of eight. She and her family returned to the States in 2005. Today Sandy serves as a tireless volunteer fundraiser and event committee member for the National MS Society. My strongest life achievement is… “…being a great role model for courage, pride and dignity in the face of tremendous uncertainty and adversity in my 25-year struggle with MS. I never focus on what I’m missing. Instead, I focus on what I can do.”

Winter 2022

The most valuable parts of my HB education were… “…my long-lasting female friendships and the way it prepared me for college.” In hindsight… “…I appreciate how HB helped me gain confidence for leadership roles… and being able to cross register at University School. It was the highlight of my day!” My favorite space at HB? “Mrs. Behrman’s room was very safe and warm. She was my advisor after my sophomore year, when my mom died. She was such an amazing advisor and person.” Building the future means… “…having a vision for preparation, creativity, hope, foundation and commitment to investing in our next generation of students.” My most valuable life lesson so far is: “Take nothing for granted - and I mean nothing. Life is what you make of it, despite any challenges you may face, and you must learn that everything has a reason or purpose. Everything is a test and a learning opportunity. As my husband always says: ‘Play the hand that you’re dealt and don’t look back. The future is right in front of you.”

ALUMNAE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Katherine & Mariel Tyler ’06 Well before they were snapping photos of concerts, events and celebrities like Sting, Whoopi Goldberg and Lady Gaga, twins Katherine and Mariel Tyler were Upper School students at HB who were “really into sports and art,” says Mariel. But after multiple sports injuries for Katherine and a full-ride acceptance for both into Ohio University’s Scripps School of Visual Communications, they chose to focus on art. While

studying commercial photography, the twins interned at places like Elle Magazine, Teen Vogue and BET. After graduation, Katherine worked full-time at iHeart Radio, eventually becoming national photo director. Mariel assisted Swiss photographer Raymond Meier, and after freelancing for places like Getty and the NBA, became the senior photo editor for Elle.com. She also recently earned her master’s degree in accessory design from SCAD. In October 2019, they began their own photography business. “Getting to this point in our career has by no means been a linear path,” says Mariel. “We’re still growing. It’s always an evolution.” A turning point in my life happened … Katherine - “…in high school, after having three injuries. You think your whole life is sports; it was devastating for a kid. In hindsight, it helped me realize I could lean into my other talents.” We’re most proud of… Katherine – “…the Bronner Brothers [international hair show] shoot for Elle. We didn’t have a big budget but we were able to highlight Black beauty in a special way and wrote an accompanying article about how unique that creative experience was for us.” The most valuable part of our HB experience… Katherine – “…is how intense it was. Figuring out how to balance school, sports and other activities, I grew accustomed to that intensity and now I expect it.” Mariel – “If something’s too easy we make it more difficult and expect a better outcome.” In hindsight… Katherine – “…I appreciated the HB sisterhood. It’s corny to say, but it always feels like you’re going home when you go back to HB.” Building the future means… Mariel – “You can’t go forward if you don’t know your history and grow from your mistakes, otherwise you’re just walking forward blindly.” Our most valuable life lesson so far is: Katherine – “Not every career path is straightforward; it’s important not to compare yourself to others.” Mariel – “‘Comparison is the thief of joy.’ I don’t remember who said that, but it’s true.”

Art HB

Gallery

Karina Passarelli ‘28

Brooklyn Barlage ’33 Kendall Martin ‘27

Myka Dent ‘27

Sofia Dewey ‘23

Shereen Ahmad ‘22

Winter 2022

Somerset Colligan ‘22 Josie Duncan ‘26

Grace Pietrick ‘25 Natalie Crowley ‘23

Phoebe Watkins ‘33

Anna Liu ‘23

Brooklyn Napolitano ‘22

Tori Margulies ‘24

Zoe Bennett ‘23

Julia Shao ‘25

Marina Luttge ‘28

Julia Weinberg ‘24

Audrey Handel ‘24

Ingrid Tekieli ‘23

Maxine Husni ‘22

Winter 2022

Save the date for May 20-21, 2022 You and your classmates are an important

part of the HB community, and your reunion will be an opportunity to celebrate, reconnect, and reminisce with each other while making new memories! Join us to see the campus renovations, meet current students, and support your alma mater.

The Class of 1967

The Class of 1972

55 years

50 years

Alumnae Weekend The Class of 1977

The Class of 1982

The Class of 1987

45 years

40 years

35 years

Winter 2022

Save the date for The Class of 1992

The Class of 1997

The Class of 2002

30 years

25 years

20 years

Alumnae Weekend The Class of 2007

15 years

The Class of 2012 HB BHBBHB H B B BH BH HBHHBHBHHBHBHHB B H B B B B H HBH HBH HBH HB HB HBHB HBHB HBHB HB HB HBHB HBHB HBHB HB HB HBHB HBHB HBHB HB The Class B BHBofB2017 B BH HB B H HBHHBHBHHBHBHHBHBHHB HB HBHB HBHB HBHB HB HB HBHB HBHB HBHB HB HB HBHB HBHB HBHB HB HB HBHB HBHB HBHB HB HB HBHB HBHB HBHB HB HB HBHB HBHB HBHB HB HB HBHB HBHB HBHB HB HB HBHB HBHB HBHB HB HB HBHB HBHB HBHB HB HB HBHB HBHB HBHB HB HB HBHB HBHB HBHB HB HB HBHB HBHB HBHB HB HB HBHB HBHB HBHB HB HB HBHB HBHB HBHB HB HB HBHB HBHB HBHB HB HB HBHB HBHB HBHB HB HB HBHB HBHB HBHB HB HBHB HBHB HB HBHB HB

10 years

5 years

Winter 2022

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage

19600 North Park Boulevard Shaker Heights, Ohio 44122

PAID

Cleveland, Ohio Permit #3439

HB Magazine - Winter 2022

Articles inside

For the Love of Music - Laura Main Webster ’91