Music More than a third of Andover students take music lessons and more than 200 students participate in musical extracurricular activities. The music department organizes Chorus, the Symphony Orchestra, Concert Band, Jazz Band and Handbell Choir. Esteemed music instructors for a wide variety of instruments and styles of music are available for one-on-one lessons with students. Furthermore, the basement of Graves, the music building, has many piano-filled rooms for students to practice in, whether or not they are taking private music lessons. Christopher Walter, Chair of the Music Department, said, “We would like to encourage all students to participate in our program. We hold numerous student recitals, usually on Wednesday afternoons, in which anyone can play. Also, we will be featuring Academy music students in solo works at the student recital during Parents’ Weekend.” The music department has spent the entire first month of school preparing for these performances and has instated several changes to this year’s program. As usual, the Academy Symphony and Chamber orchestras will perform tonight, but this year is the Concert Band’s inaugural Parents’ Weekend performance. On Sunday morning, Andover’s Jazz Band will accompany brunch in Commons during the Jazz Brunch, which will be followed by the Vocal and Choral concert. Along with the Academy Chorus and Fidelio Society, many student soloists will be featured in this year’s concert. Theatre and Dance This term, the department of theatre and dance has decided to combine forces to create a production filled with singing, acting and dancing. On November 30, members of these departments will perform in “Urinetown,” a musical by Greg Kotis. Although the auditions for “Urinetown” already occurred, the theatre department is holding auditions for the major Winter Term production in late October. This production, which will feature the Andover Dance Group, will be directed by Mark Efinger and choreographed by Judith Wombwell. Another major event in the theatre department is Grasshopper Night, the largest talent show on campus. The show is completely student-run by the same students who produce Andover’s drama labs every Friday in the Theatre Classroom. The theatre department welcomes all students to try out for these drama labs. Auditions take place about twice each term and a single audition evaluates actors for between three and five shows. Fall Term’s auditions have already passed, but the department is always willing to include more participants. The Andover Dance Group, an essential part of the dance department, sets their roster at the beginning of each academic year. Most participants dance as their sport, but the actual Andover Dance Group rehearses outside of sports time as an extracurricular activity. For the Fall productions, however, the Andover Dance Group will split into two groups. One group will perform in the musical “Urinetown” and the other, consisting mainly of newer dancers, will have a separate performance later in the term. Art Providing an outlet for students to express themselves, the art department features student and faculty work in various galleries around campus. Currently, student work from Spring Term of last year is being exhibited in Elson Art Center and there is a show of faculty art in the Gelb Gallery. Contrary to popular belief, students can showcase their work even if they do not have time for an art class by talking to an art faculty member. “There is an art store in Elson where students can buy art supplies for their own projects,” said Instructor in Art Therese Zemlin. The Addison Gallery, PA’s professional art gallery, organizes an art club that traditionally meets on Wednesday evenings. Also, students have set up a film club and a Chinese painting club, which both meet in the Elson Art Center. The Film Club coordinates a film festival every spring that showcases videos submitted by students. The art department is currently working on providing more flexibility with required art courses by expanding the offerings of their foundation course, Visual Studies (Art 200). The department is also working closely with the Polk Center to ensure that the facility is meeting the needs of teachers and students and to discuss how the center should be used in the next five years.
