Backstage Pass Duke Ellington School of the Arts

BACKSTAGE PASS

Duke Ellington School of the Arts

Duke Ellington School of the Arts is known for its storied traditions and it’s history of producing stunning artists, writers, performers, and entertainers.

Article By Alyson Turner Photographs Courtesy of Dr. Monique Spell, Chamar Littlejohn & Vanessa Snyder

Washington D.C. native, composer and bandleader Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington was known for his discipline and resilience along with his ability to develop long lasting connections with others. These qualities along with his many other talents inspired the opening of Duke Ellington School of the Arts that has been teaching and guiding young people in grades 9 through 12 in rigorous academic studies coupled with an intensive arts program: Dance, Literary Media and Communications, Museum Studies, Instrumental or Vocal Music, Theatre, Technical Design and Production, or Visual Arts.

Article By Alyson Turner Photos By Mrs. Littlejohn, Monique Holmes & Duke Ellington Staff

Duke Ellington School of the Arts

According to their website, “The Duke Ellington School of the Arts was established in 1974 and remains the sole D.C. public high school to offer a dual curriculum encompassing professional arts training and academic enrichment, in preparation for college and careers in the arts.” The mission of the school is to “nurture and inspire passion for arts and learning in talented students who might now otherwise have an opportunity to develop their artistic skills.”

Duke Ellington Instrumental Music Teacher Lynne Gray tells us, “Duke Ellington School of the Arts offersa performancebased curriculum. Not only are our students given a very demanding academic curriculum, but they are also required to engage in weekly private lessons and performances. Each Senior in the both Instrumental and Vocal music are required to complete a 20 to 25-minute recital consisting of the repertoire they have been assigned by their given private instructor. This repertoire for Vocal students represents songs sung in Italian, French, German and English. Instrumental students are required to play Classical music from various periods.”

She continues on to say, “In the midst of the pandemic all Seniors performed Senior Recitals, using platforms such as Youtube and other platforms that allow for pre-recorded performances. Parents and friends were able to virtually attend the recitals—programs were provided, audiences were allowed to attend—it was quite amazing. Even our Graduation was virtual—each department was given an opportunity to contribute a performance piece—prerecorded and shared virtually. This can only happen at a performing arts school with the amazing faculty and staff were have working with our students.”

The tight-knit community of Duke Ellington School has pulled together during this challenging time to ensure that students have all of the resources they need to succeed. “Our ongoing mission has always been to create an environment that cultivates and develops the “Artist Scholar”. We are a close-knit school community that embraces the mission that it takes a “Village” to teach, respect, and care for our students. When we were faced with the challenges of the pandemic, it was amazing how we created throughout the school a way still engage

Duke Ellington School of the Arts

3500 R St NW Washington, DC 20007 202.282.0123 info@ellingtonarts.org

with our students,” says Lynne Gray, “Teachers continued to teach via Zoom- Vocal technique classes, Instrumental technique classes, Dance classes, all of the classes taught in Theatre, Technical Design and Production, Visual Arts, Literary Media, Museum Studies. It was quite amazing how each Arts Department and Academic Department assured that our students will still receiving the same, yet shared in a different manner, instruction that would normally be given in person.”

Despite the unusual end of school year many students have faced, the faculty, staff, and administration has made sure students know they are a family. Lynne Gray says it best, “As a teacher, the joy of connecting with my students was in making many phone calls. Not just to inquire about work and assignments, but first to find out how they were doing. We at Duke Ellington are committed to our students and their care, we as a team stepped up to be the supportive village not just for our students but also for [their families]. We are preparing for the Fall to provide our students with an engaging, intense, supportive, and creative learning environment. To teach the next generation of Artist Scholars.”

FEATURED ALUMNI

Many alumni from The Duke Ellington School of Arts have become household names taking their talents to Broadway, opera houses, television, and beyond. The school works to give its young students the resources and the push that they need to follow their dreams into the arts.

Dave Chappelle – Comedian Denyce Graves – Operatic mezzo-soprano Lamman Rucker – Actor Christylez Bacon – Grammy Nominated Progressive Hip-Hop Artist Sylver Logan Sharp – Singer & Songwriter, Lead Vocalist Tony Terry – Singer Ben Williams – Jazz Bassist Hank Willis Thomas – Conceptual Artist Nekisha Durrett – Artist & Painter Wallace Roney – Jazz Trumpeter Micaela Angela Davis – Writer, Fashion Expert, Image Activist

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