General

The Performing Arts present opportunities in curricular, extra and co-curricular activities for students: Pre-K –12. Music classes are offered on every grade level, and Drama is integrated into that curriculum until high school where Drama is offered as a four-level course. Those students with a keen interest in the performing arts are encouraged to further develop their skills in greater depth by participating in the wide variety of enriching events.

Our theatre/music program offers the student body opportunities to create and perform each semester in variety shows, plays or musicals. In addition to performing opportunities, students may participate in design for make-up, lighting, set and costumes. Interested students run the technical aspects of each production.

Primary, Lower, Middle and Upper Schools enhance and celebrate Music through a developmentally oriented spiral curriculum based on, but not exclusive to, the National Standards in Music. These schools approach vocal work with an aim to foster a love of singing and, from that affirmation, build toward vocal health, singing skill, and independent musicianship. Skills in rhythm and melody are introduced in the primary years, whereas harmonies and more complicated rhythms are introduced as the student is developmentally ready.

Students on the boards…

Primary and Lower

The Primary and Lower Schools offer a healthy balance of performance and enrichment as the students are called upon to perform extensively during the calendar year. Intensive creative play within the classroom provides a performance foundation outside the classroom in the Holiday Concert and Grandparents' Day in the spring. The Lower School also presents a Fall Concert.

The Lower School co-curricular activities such as Recorder Ensemble and Advanced Chorus meet regularly to supplement the ongoing music classes. To further engage students who express an interest in these fields, Bell Choir and Chorus are offered as clubs to 4th and 5th graders. Each ensemble is featured in concert events. The Lower School Instrumental Music program offers weekly instruction and practice to interested students. The full band meets after school to practice as an ensemble and prepare for concert.

To culminate the Lower School performing arts experience, the Lower School's Fifth Grade Musical is a curricular music project involving the entire grade as part of the GCS Arts Festival. The musicals chosen are appropriate to grade level in skill, length, content and interest. (Emperor's New Clothes, Give My Regards to Broadway, Really Rosie)

Middle

The Middle School produces three theatrical productions in the year, including: MS Musical, 6th grade play and Variety Show as well as two concert events in: Winter Holiday Concert and Grandparents Day concert. In the Middle School Musical, the script is adjusted to meet the skills of seventh and eighth grade performers (Music Man, Jr; Fiddler on the Roof, Jr; Guys and Dolls, Jr; Little Shop of Horrors.) The sixth grade prepares an adaptation of a classic story for the Sixth Grade Play (Phantom Tollbooth, Story Theater, Trial of the Big Bad Wolf). The scripts provide an opportunity for a large cast of inventive characters. In addition, The Middle School produces two concert events in: Winter Holiday Concert and Grandparents Day concert. The Middle School Variety Show showcases the talents of sixth, seventh and eighth graders in their choice of music, dance or sketch. The students choose the content of this production with guidance from Performing Arts faculty. The Middle School Instrumental Music program offers weekly instruction for interested students. The full band meets after school to practice as an ensemble and prepare for concerts throughout the year.

Upper

The Upper School begins the performance season with a variety show opportunity in a cabaret format. The September performance event, Who’s Cabaret is It Anyway?, features songs, dances, and sketches which ultimately encourage students to share the talents early in the academic year.

The Upper School drama classes produce the fall Shakespeare production. The production showcases the growing skills of student actors in the language and complicated plot of classical theatre. This event is developed from curricular study in the drama classroom.

Chorus classes concentrate on strong SATB arrangements as well as rehearsing the men's and woman’s vocal ensembles which have been offered consistently throughout the years. Chorus participates in semester concerts of the Winter Holiday Program and spring’s “Arts Happening.” This year Chorus is preparing for a Rodgers and Hammerstein evening, “A Grand Night for Singing.”

A flexible performing arts faculty provide time and opportunity to pursue interests that are not addressed in class, tailoring the individual interests to small group ensembles and clubs. For example in the year 2005-2006, Upper School music students engaged in diverse musical activities such as: Jazz Combo, Woodwind Ensemble, Pep Band and an Eclectic Rock Group along with many other solo and group opportunities.

Glenelg Country School takes the opportunity in the slow winter months to provide a platform for students in each division to showcase their artistic abilities in the annual Dance Gallery as well as the International Night and Fashion Show. In the Dance Gallery, participating student choreographers share original work and some dancers share pieces from their repertoire. Past performances have celebrated tap, jazz, ballet, pointe, modern, stomp, hip-hip and cultural dance of the east. The very unique fashion show showcases original fashions and is hosted through a community service project benefiting a charity.

The advanced senior drama students perform a Senior Showcase modeled after a master's thesis show which culminates much of the work produced in class over the high school career. In this performance opportunity, students engage in the creative process beyond the class.

“The Arts Happening” kicks off the GCS Arts Festival. Each year, students create a unique evening of dramatic presentation, storytelling and music in a variety of forms. The artistic leaders become producers in this student-driven evening of the arts.

Our SRO Concert (Standing Room Only) is a highlight of the high school year featuring the students’ interest in an eclectic mix of music. Past performances have included a Motown Medley, Freebird, and Bohemian Rhapsody as well as classical selections.

GCS is a proud member of the Cappies of Baltimore which encourages area talent in theatre and journalism. Each year concludes with an Awards Gala at the Hippodrome Theatre in Baltimore which celebrates the collective and individual efforts of the high school community. GCS students have performed at this Gala, as singers dancers and orchestra, since the founding of this Cappies chapter.

Professionals on the boards…

GCS takes great care in bringing artists in residence and performing troupes to the student body during the course of the academic year.

The National Players Touring Company, comes to campus, every year to present one or two productions from its changing repertoire. Owned and operated by the Olney Theatre Center, NPT is the longest running classical touring company in the United States.

Every other year, GCS celebrates International Week in which a rich diversity of dance, music and story may deepen students' understanding of artistic cultures from around the world.

With an exceptional performing arts faculty who understand the collaborative nature of the performing arts, Glenelg Country School excels in promoting creativity as an integral part in the development of the whole person.