Performing Arts

Bethany Christian Schools provides students with many opportunities to participate in performing arts. In addition to courses listed in the instrumental and vocal music sections, students may participate in various extracurricular opportunities. Middle school students can participate in a handbell choir or a drama. High school students can participate in a drama or musical. Over half of high school students choose to participate in Spring Arts Day, a day-long celebration of the arts and competition between classes in various fine and performing art categories.

[view:all_news_stories=2=Performing Arts]

Dramas and Musicals

YearDrama (HS)Musical (HS)Drama (MS)
2007-2008Dead Man Walking
Godspell
Winnie the Pooh
2006-2007Over the River, Through the WoodsThe Adventures of Tom SawyerZink
2005-2006The CrucibleBrigadoonRomeo and Juliet: Together (and Alive) at Last
2004-2005 Charley's Aunt WorkingThe Princess Plays
2003-2004The ChosenYou're a Good Man Charlie BrownThings My Mother Said
2002-2003Play On! Cotton Patch GospelThe Somewhat True Tales of Robin Hood
2001-2002Do Not Go Gentle Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Stuart Little
2000-2001The Foreigner Amahl and the Night VisitorsSnow White
1999-2000Twelve Angry Men Fiddler on the Roof Alice in Wonderland
1998-1999 January Thaw Godspell The Wizard of Oz
1997-1998 Quiet in the Land The Sound of Music James and the Giant Peach
1996-1997 The Orphans Anne of Green Gables  
1995-1996 You Can't Take It With You    
1994-1995 Lost in Yonkers    
1993-1994 The Diary of Anne Frank    
1992-1993 Nicholas Nicholby    
1991-1992 Curious Savage    
1990-1991 Our Town    
1989-1990 The Miracle Worker    
1988-1989 The Ready-Made Family    
1987-1988 Up the Down Staircase    
1986-1987 The Carpenter    
1985-1986 Belles on Their Toes    
1984-1985 Cheaper by the Dozen    

 

Scenes from recent performances

Dead Man Walking

Godspell

Zink

In addition to these performance options, juniors and seniors may take the following drama course:

Theater Arts (grades 11-12)

This course explores dramatic forms such as theater, public speaking, debate, film, and the mass media.

Instrumental Music

The instrumental music program offers classes (course descriptions listed below) and private instruction for beginners and advanced students. The annual Mennonite regional orchestra festival provides an opportunity to perform with musicians from other schools.

Agape Ringers

This extracurricular handbell choir is open to any interested student in grades 7 and 8.

Beginning Instruments (grades 6-8)

This course is for any middle school student who wants to learn to play a woodwind, brass, or percussion instrument. The course focuses on playing the instrument and basic music theory skills.

Orchestra (grades 6-8)

This class combines strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion instruments into an ensemble that performs at fall, Christmas, and spring concerts. Students explore a variety of musical styles and skill levels.

Chamber Ensemble (grades 9-12)

The Chamber Ensemble includes string and wind players who want to perform in small group settings. These groups perform at concerts as well as other outside events.

Bruin Jazz Ensemble (grades 9-12)

The Jazz Ensemble plays music from many different styles, including jazz, swing, rock and funk. This group performs at the fall and spring concerts and home basketball games.

Orchestra (grades 9-12)

Orchestra is open to all students. This instrumental group consists of strings, woodwinds, brass and percussion instruments, and performs a wide variety of literature. Students from the orchestra perform in fall, Christmas and spring concerts. Each spring Bethany joins with Mennonite schools from Ohio and Iowa for the Mennonite Regional Orchestra Festival. Hosted on a rotating basis, Bethany will host in spring 2010.

Schedule of Events

High School

[view:eventlist=100=Music and Drama HS]

 

Middle School

[view:eventlist=100=Music and Drama MS]

Spring Arts Day

Spring Arts Day is an all-school competition in the fine arts. Art and writing categories include writing, drawing, painting, and program cover design. Performance categories include drama, readings, poetry, instrumental music, and vocal music.

Faculty leader J. D. Smucker says, "The emphasis is on trying and through the experience possibly become more involved in the arts at school, at church, or in the community. And at times when students are less than perfect in their performance, their peers (the audience) applaud, affirm, and encourage in a way that is life giving."

See results/photos from 2008

Spring Arts Day 2008

 

Results

Cake Decorating Points

  1. Grade 12: 4
  2. Grade 9: 3
  3. Grade 11: 2
  4. Grade 10: 2

Creative Writing

Poetry

  1. Grade 11 Lynelle Yoder: 4
  2. Grade 10 Sara Klassen: 3
  3. Grade 11 Elyse Morgan: 2
  4. Grade 12 Emily Bowman: 2

Prose (Short Story)

  1. Grade 11 Mary Roth: 4
  2. Grade 11 Jonny Shenk: 3
  3. Grade 9 Ben Mast: 2

Participation

  1. Grade 11: 4
  2. Grade 9: 3
  3. Grade 10 and Grade 12: 2 + 2

Visual Arts

  1. Grade 9 Ben Mast 4
  2. Grade 11 Erin Helmuth: 3
  3. Grade 12 Jay Mast: 2

Creative DrawingsCreative Drawings

Participation

  1. Grade 9: 4
  2. Grade 10: 3
  3. Grade 11: 2
  4. Grade 12: 1

Performing Arts

Poetry

  1. Let America Be America (grade 10): 6
  2. Once I Believed (grade 9): 4
  3. Yertle the Turtle (grade 12): 3

Let America Be AmericaLet America Be America

Reading

  1. Rich Woman... Poor Woman (grade 10): 6
  2. Ain't I A Woman? (grade 9): 4
  3. The Wonderful Tar Baby (grade 12): 3

Rich Woman Poor WomanRich Woman Poor Woman

Ain't I a WomanAin't I a Woman

The Wonderful TarbabyThe Wonderful Tarbaby

 

Vocal

  1. God of Justice (grade 10): 8
  2. When You Believe (grade 11): 6
  3. Songs of Justice (grade 9): 4
  4. America (grade 12): 4

Vocal 10: God of JusticeVocal 10: God of Justice

Vocal 11: When You BelieveVocal 11: When You Believe

Songs of JusticeVocal 9: Songs of Justice

Vocal 12: AmericaVocal 12: America

 

Instrumental

  1. Waltz (grade 9): 8
  2. Trio Sonata (grade 11): 6
  3. You Are Salt (grade 10): 4

Instrumental 9: WalzInstrumental 9: Walz

 

Drama

  1. Laramie Project (grade 12): 10
  2. Jonah, the Reluctant Missionary (grade 10): 3
  3. In the Garden of Eden (grade 9): 6
  4. Network (grade 11): 6

Laramie ProjectLaramie Project

JonahJonah

In the GardenIn the Garden

Overall Results

1st place with 42 points, Grade 9, 10, and 11

2nd place with 31 points, Grade 12


 

Vocal Music

All students in grades 6-9 take choral music and students in grades 10-12 can choose further training and performance (course descriptions listed below). The annual Mennonite high school choir festival provides an opportunity to perform with musicians from schools throughout the U.S. and Canada. Students also have opportunities to learn to lead worship in chapel, participate in school musicals, and take private lessons. Jubilate Singers, the select high school choir, has received first-place ratings at district contest each year since 1997.

Music 6

An introductory music course in which students sing, play, and create music while learning music fundamentals.

Grade 7 and 8 Choir

All grade 7 and 8 students meet together both as a group and in by gender groups and perform in the Christmas and spring concerts each year.

Junior Chorale (grade 9-10)

A requirement for all frosh, sophomores may elect to participate in this group as well. There is no audition required.

Class Voice (grade 10)

Class Voice is designed for sophomores and is a prerequisite for the second semester of Jubilate Singers. Class Voice is a preparatory course offering vocal technique, reading rhythms, using handbells, music theory, and sight reading.

Jubilate Singers (grades 11-12)

Second semester memership is by audition. The choir performs in local churches, district choral contest, and takes an annual tour. Each April the choir joins twelve Mennonite high schools across Canada and the U.S. for the Mennonite Schools Council choir festival. Participating schools host the event on a rotating basis. Bethany last hosted this festival in April 2003 and will next host April 11-13, 2014.

Listen to the Jubilate Singers

Selection from Mi'kmaq Honour Song
Selection from For the Beauty of the Earth

You will need an mp3 player to hear the above tracks. If your browser does not automatically play the sample, download a .mp3 player or .

CDs of the 2003-04 Jubilate Singers and Cornerstone Singers may be purchased for $10 (plus $2 for shipping). CDs of prior groups may also be available. Contact us at info@bethanycs.net.

Cornerstone Singers (grades 11-12)

Cornerstone Singers is a select group of 10-12 from Jubilate Singers. The group performs in local churches for youth groups.

Listen to the Cornerstone Singers

Selection from The Welcoming Table

You will need an mp3 player to hear the above tracks. If your browser does not automatically play the sample, download a .mp3 player or .

CDs of the 2003-04 Jubilate Singers and Cornerstone Singers may be purchased for $10 (plus $2 for shipping). CDs of prior groups may also be available. Contact us at info@bethanycs.net.