Fine Arts Through the Fall

FINE ARTS 24 campus news through the fall | by Jay Freer ’78, Director of Fine Arts and Lindsey Wohlfrom, Communications and Marketing Manager FINE ARTS

2020 started without a hitch for Lovett’s fine arts students. They rang in the new year with a musical production of The Little Mermaid—executed by the talented Upper School Theater Arts and Design & Production students—which received four Shuler Hensley award nominations for Best Performance by Leading and Supporting Actresses, Technical Execution and Musical Direction. The Upper School Honors Ellington Jazz Ensemble performed at Cafe 290 and Venkman’s in Atlanta, and Lovett’s annual student art show at The High Museum featured extraordinary artwork by selected K-12th grade visual artists. Upper School Dance students traveled to Disney for a jazz and hip hop workshop, and the Honors Theater Arts students went to New York for their annual Broadway extravaganza trip—experiencing New York in a rare and exciting way with backstage tours and the chance to meet professional actors and directors. Middle and Upper School Performing Arts students were selected for Honors and All-State Band, Chorus and Orchestra, and Photography student Kendall Greene ’20 was the 2020 Sony World Photography Awards Shortlist Winner.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought forth some challenges, but the Fine Arts Department shifted gears and ended the year on a high note. Students switched to all virtual classes, and every discipline was able to do amazing work. Scene study continued online in Honors Theater, the Middle School produced a virtual production of a play called “Squad Goals,” and Upper School Theater Arts did a virtual performance of “All the King’s Women.” Choral classes sang their hearts out online and studied bird song. The Ellington Jazz Ensemble (from the safety of their homes) recorded “Certified,” a chart written by jazz artist Steve Williams, and Orchestra continued classes online, with the Bach Ensemble o ering a special online performance of a piece by John Cage, 4’33. Band continued online, and Visual Arts teachers continued to instruct and encourage students to produce work and present it to their classmates online. Film classes created short film projects, and Dance continued with online classes and choreography from Rebecca Metzger and virtual presentations from the students. Design & Production worked to design visuals for the Middle and Upper School virtual plays.

The start of the school year has brought our Fine Arts students back to the Riverbank, and though it may not look like a typical school year, it’s great to be back. Due to live audience and distancing restrictions, no inperson theater productions or concerts are on the schedule at this time; however, virtual performances from all performing arts will be planned.

have you seen the 2019-20 signature?

The Signature , a curated collection of student artwork and creative writing, provides a unique reflection of Lovett Fine Arts students’ time and experiences over the school year. Check out their work at: www.lovett.org/arts.

TOP: Ariel (Catherine Sherling), Scuttle (Virginia French), and the Seagulls (Sarah Piña, Lindy Benton, Ciara Kilroy, Alizeh Chamadia, Alex Spitale, Julia Jamieson, and Sarah Packman) after “Positoovity,” a song in which Scuttle insists on Ariel’s positive attitude while she learns to use her legs and begins her new life as a human. BOTTOM LEFT: Upper School Dance students perform during the fall concert. BOTTOM RIGHT: Upper School Band’s holiday performance, featuring Brandon Holmes, tenor saxophone, Raymond Mann, bass, Holden Carson, drums, and Ishaan Lakha, guitar.