Arts

Afternoon Arts

Arts Beyond the Classroom

Highlighting our commitment to helping students explore their creativity, Westminster offers several exciting after-classes programs in the arts. Whether a student is the lead in the fall drama or the winter musical, the passionate photographer who dutifully attends every home game to chronicle the action, the dancer who develops his or her skills under the watchful and expert eye of dance instructor, or an accomplished singer who dedicates time to private instruction, Westminster provides opportunities for students to explore the many avenues of art.

List of 7 items.

  • Dramat

    In the fall and winter terms, students can fulfill their afternoon commitment in three different ways in the theater: as a lead in the fall drama or winter musical, as a member of the Technical Theater program, or as a performer with a smaller role who also helps with Tech work. Under the direction of the Tech Director, students learn the fundamentals of safe building and rigging of set pieces and lights; they build and paint the set and props; they patch sound and monitor audio for live singing and music. Thanks to their dedication and skills, Westminster students are largely responsible for ensuring that events focusing on Westminster students, faculty and alumni, as well as visiting performers, run smoothly in Werner Centennial Center. 
     
    Westminster honors those students who devote themselves to producing, performing in or building sets for Westminster’s remarkable plays with highly-coveted distinctions. After a student has contributed 100 hours to Dramat performances, they become members of Dramat. After 400 hours, they become Williams Hill Players. Under the direction of Director of Theater, A-men Rasheed, the numbers of students involved in plays and Tech have more than doubled. This recent rise in student involvement in Dramat highlights the enthusiasm and passion Westminster students have for theater.
  • Dance

    Many Dance Ensemble members also participate in the Afternoon Dance Program which fulfills the sports/afternoon requirement. The afternoon program provides primarily technique and conditioning classes, these students may also perform, sometimes in an informal showing. A genuine desire to learn a variety of dance styles, conditioning, form and technique is necessary to participate.
  • Music

    For those students who desire greater instruction to improve technique and proficiency, private voice and instrumental lessons with accomplished instructors are available. Students and their instructors have access to acoustically enhanced practice studios and at least 10 pianos on campus to use for practice and recreation. Further, in addition to informal performances, such as Coffee Houses, these students might find themselves in the pit orchestra alongside professional musicians as they accompany Westminster’s talented singers during the fully staged winter musical.
  • Photography & Multimedia

    Students who are especially passionate about photography can apply for the opportunity to be Westminster’s sports photographer. Under the guidance of a faculty advisor, students are responsible for photographing home games through an after-school commitment that serves the school. Students’ efforts culminate in a slideshow for each term’s awards ceremony and photo contributions to Westminster’s student newspaper and yearbook. Additionally, especially motivated students may work with the director of marketing to bring some of their photos to print and web.
  • The Martlet (Art and Literary Magazine)

    An extraordinary magazine filled with student and faculty artwork, prose, and poetry, The Martlet requires creative students to manage the submissions, organize the texts, and get the magazine to the printer on time. Though working on The Martlet does not fulfill an afternoon requirement, students who are involved relish the opportunity to engage with written, drawn, painted, and photographed art.
  • The Westminster News (Student Newspaper)

    The Westminster News is a collaborative student run organization that strives to accurately and thoroughly report the news of both the local community and surrounding world. Writers seek to discern the relevance of global events on everyday life around Williams Hill. Typically, the Westminster News publishes four issues each school year. Every Westminster student is encouraged to write an article over the course of his or her high school career.
  • The Spectator (Yearbook)

    Westminster’s yearbook, The Spectator, captures the spirit, energy and camaraderie of the Sixth Form. Filled with pictures, superlatives, memorable anecdotes and, of course, senior pages, The Spectator functions as memories made tangible for the Sixth Form, as well as the rest of the students. While any interested Sixth Formers can help to organize and edit The Spectator, only the editor-in-chief may use his or her role to fulfill the afternoon commitment in the winter term.

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In keeping with our support for a diverse community, Westminster abides by all applicable federal and state laws and does not discriminate on the basis of any protected characteristic, including race, color, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national and ethnic origin, ancestry and/or disability in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. Westminster admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. 
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