Performing Arts
The Performing Arts Department offers educational and performance opportunities in music, theatre, and dance to all students regardless of prior experience. Students are encouraged to explore the performing arts in an effort to understand how they reflect multiple cultures and trends, both past and current, as well as how they can affect and enhance their own life experiences.
Hawken School, as an institution, sets itself apart through its commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice. These pillars lend themselves to our department's established three core values: joy, integrity, and equity.
These values are essential for every professional artist, performer, creator, or listener. The method to achieving these values is outlined in our Hawken principles, two of which state that we “truly know our students as learners and individuals” and we “help students make choices and develop ownership for their learning.” In the Performing Arts Department, highly experienced faculty members intentionally provide students with several choices and find innovative ways to challenge them to use their choices to spread hope and joy. The student learning experiences therefore lead to more than exciting and pleasant-sounding performances; they make a positive impact on our diverse audiences.
The Early Childhood music program at Hawken School is based on the belief that every child has the innate potential to learn music. Children begin their musical journey at Hawken School by absorbing, responding, experimenting, and imitating the musical sounds in their environment. Early childhood students attend a special music session once every 5-day cycle with an early childhood music educator. Classroom activities are designed to build or reinforce a love towards music and to provide a basis for the development of musical concepts and skills.
In the Lower School, our music program helps to develop a positive attitude toward and understanding of music concepts and skills. In third grade music, students are introduced to the soprano recorder. In fourth and fifth grade, students select a string, woodwind, brass, or percussion instrument for musical study; each student participates in at least two public performances each year. Students in fourth and fifth grade can choose to participate in electives that include vocal music, group piano class, drama, pep band and Fiddling Hawks. After school opportunities include Orff Ensemble, Choir, and the Hawken Kids Players' Society spring musical.
In the Middle School, Chorus, Strings and Band are offered as part of the curriculum. Electives opportunities offered include Drama, Guitar, Percussion Fusion, Musical Theater, Ukulele, and Music Production and Technology. Additionally, students also have the opportunity to be part of the Jr. Hawken Players’ Society through participation in the Middle School musical, either on stage, behind-the-scenes, or in the pit orchestra.
High School students enjoy a variety of music and theater courses including Theater Fundamentals, Advanced Acting, Concert Choir, Concert Band, Mix Tape, Jazz Band, Stage Craft, and String Ensemble. Hawken Harmony, Chamber Strings, Jazz Combo, and Pep Band provide additional opportunities in musical performance. The Hawken Players’ Society is open to all students and produces at least one play and one musical each year. Independent study opportunities for students to write, direct, and perform their own compositions in any of the disciplines are strongly encouraged.
Hawken Players' Society
An independent, coeducational, college preparatory day school, toddler through grade 12
Early Childhood, Lower, and Middle Schools, 5000 Clubside Rd, Lyndhurst, OH 44124
Birchwood School of Hawken, 4400 West 140th Street, Cleveland, OH 44135
Upper School, PO Box 8002 (12465 County Line Rd), Gates Mills, OH 44040
Mastery School of Hawken, 11025 Magnolia Dr, Cleveland, OH 44106
Gries Center, 10823 Magnolia Dr, Cleveland, OH 44106
Early Childhood, Lower, and Middle Schools, 5000 Clubside Rd, Lyndhurst, OH 44124
Birchwood School of Hawken, 4400 West 140th Street, Cleveland, OH 44135
Upper School, PO Box 8002 (12465 County Line Rd), Gates Mills, OH 44040
Mastery School of Hawken, 11025 Magnolia Dr, Cleveland, OH 44106
Gries Center, 10823 Magnolia Dr, Cleveland, OH 44106
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