Performing Arts

Slideshow of Jan. 2010 Trinity Pawling/Westover Joint Cocert

Slideshow of "25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee"-Nov. '09

Slideshow of the Music Trip to Europe during Spring break '09

Slideshow of "Arsenic and Old Lace" performance

Slideshow of the Westover Gospel Choir Concert on Dec. 7 and the Holiday Open House.

Slideshow of "Little Shop of Horrors" performance!

Whenever our students perform – whether at home or away, whether singing, playing music, dancing, or acting – audiences remark about their level of poise and self-confidence. This comes from their having been nurtured by the right environment: Westover.

The Glee Club is joined by a choir from a boys' school.

Let there be music:

Westover has two formal singing ensembles – the Glee Club and Chamber Chorus; two student-led groups – Overtones and Chanterelle; three handbell groups, and several instrumental ensembles. Private voice and instrument lessons are also available. Music raises the spirituality of our weekly non-denominational services in our on-campus chapel.

We offer a special program in collaboration with The Manhattan School of Music Precollege Division in New York City for gifted musicians and vocalists. Click here to Contact Us for more information about this program.

Let there be movement:

Ballet, modern dance, hip-hop and jazz … from beginner to pre-professional: Westover is proud to feature one of the strongest dance programs at the secondary school level. Dance Ensemble is a year-long, highly dedicated, audition-based group that treats the school and our community to pieces throughout the year as well as a major performance in the spring. The six-member dance faculty’s educational backgrounds include Vaganova based ballet; Humphrey, Graham, and Cunningham based modern dance; and Hatchett and Fosse jazz. Rhythm tap and composition classes are also included in the dance curriculum. Westover is also proud to be the summer home of the renowned Bolshoi Ballet.

Beginning in Fall 2009, Westover is excited to announce a new joint program with Brass City Ballet to provide students with a rigorous dance program with a ballet emphasis. Westover students can audition to become members of Brass City Ballet's Performing Company and have the opportunity to perform in major productions such as The Nutcracker and Spring Gala. Members of this high-level ballet group will take six dance classes a week, five in ballet and one in modern dance.

For the last five years Westover and Brass City Ballet, a leading pre-professional dance school in Middlebury, have enjoyed a collaborative relationship to further advance the level of dance in both organizations. For additional information, email Westover's Director of Dance, Patti Buchanan at pbuchanan@westoverschool.org.

Let there be drama:

Our Drama Department offers three full-scale productions each year: the Fall Musical, Winter Play and Spring Shakespeare play. Our state-of-the-art Performing Arts Center features professional-grade lighting and sound equipment to fully enhance each show. For those who prefer the excitement behind the scenes, students may study Technical Theatre - lighting, sound, set design and construction, and stage management. In addition, professional actors, playwrights, and directors are routinely invited to collaborate on Westover projects. Current productions include: "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" and "The Diary of Anne Frank." For information, please contact Marla Truini, Director of Drama at mtruini@westoverschool.org.