Music and Drama

Our Performing Arts program provides students an opportunity to pursue excellence through music and drama.  Our goal is for every student to have a fundamental grasp of music.  We regularly sing hymns and other challenging pieces collectively as a school.  We also train younger students in general music theory.  Our drama program is designed to train students in the art of Shakespearean language, as well as to build confidence and oratory skills for our Rhetoric program and thesis defense.  We also value Speech Meet to keep students confident and capable of oratory.

Our programs include:

• Grammar School Choir
• Children’s Chime and Bell Choir
• Devoveo Choir (Upper School Choir)
• Beginning Orchestra
• The Ambrose Orchestra (Audition out of Beginning Orchestra)
• Honors Orchestra (Audition Only)
• High-school Jazz Ensemble
• High-school drama
• Jr. High Drama
• 5th grade Shakespeare Troupe

Our performances include:

• The Annual Traditional Christmas Concert:  Our most popular and well-attended program draws an audience of over 1000 every year.  Performed in the Brandt Performing Arts Center on the campus of NNU, the program is known for its excellence, variety, and the traditional sounds of Christmas from the middle ages through the early 20th century.  Bells, strings, timpani, children and youth voices join to create an evening of Christmas joy.  The evening concludes with refreshments and fellowship, bringing our community together.

• The 5th Grade Shakespeare Play:  A long running tradition, this program may surprise you.  First time attendees are often amazed by what 5th graders can do.  Students perform a slightly abbreviated Shakespeare play, though the language remains “Shakespearean.” 

• The Annual High-School Play:  In the spring, our high-school drama program provides an evening of entertainment, sometimes associated with our annual auction/dinner.  We typically do some play of significance to the classical theatrical tradition.  Often, we do Shakespeare, but we also may do ancient Greek plays or, occasionally, 20th century works.
•  The Spring Concert:  Grab a chair and some food.  Usually outdoors, our annual Spring Concert is a favorite social activity.  The Honors Orchestra, Ambrose Orchestra, and Jazz Ensemble are the entertainment for the evening.