Fine Arts

Here at the Ann Richards School, we believe that our girls should have the opportunity to express themselves creatively.  We offer the following fine arts options during the school year:

Art

Currently we are offering art classes at varying levels to all Ann Richards School students. For the 2011-2012 school year we added a 2-D Studio Advanced Placement Course for our high school students.

In November, 2010, ARS was the first and only school to display the work of their art students at Shoehorn Gallery on East 11th Street during the 9th Annual East Austin Studio Tour. In January four students entered the Scholastic Art and Writing Competition at St. Stephen's, where two pieces were chosen for display. One student received Honorable Mention and the other received a "Gold Key," moving her image to compete nationally in New York City.  In February, 22 art students competed in the Visual Arts Scholastic Event (VASE) in San Antonio, 11 students scored a “4”, the highest score possible in the competition, and the rest scored a “3”.  In May, 24 students competed in the VASE competition in Round Rock, where 16 students scored a “4” and the rest scored a “3”.

Band

Band programs begin in the 6^th grade with extensive mouthpiece testing to make sure your daughter has selected the appropriate instrument.  Once an instrument has been selected, we begin a thorough, systematic curriculum to help our students develop into well-refined musicians.  We prepare students to perform in small ensembles or in a larger ensemble setting.  Presently our program includes marching band, color guard, concert band, and small ensembles. As we develop, future plans include Winter Guard, Winter Percussion, and a Jazz Band.

Choir

Beginning Choir is open to any interested 6^th grade students; Intermediate Choir for 7^th and 8^th, Advanced Choir for 7^th and 8^th grade students with prior musical training and audition. In high school there are two divisions; Non-Varsity Chorale for any interested high school students, and Varsity Chorale students with prior musical training and audition. The ARS Choral Department hosts the annual Follies Show, a school-wide talent show where students and teachers are welcome and encouraged to participate, as well as Fall, Winter, and Pre-U.I.L. Spring Concerts.

Accomplishments: Advanced Choir was awarded Sweepstakes at the Spring 2011 U.I.L. competition, naming it a Varsity-level choir, and Chorale was awarded a Sweepstakes at the Spring 2011 U.I.L. competition, also naming it a Varsity-level choir. 

Orchestra

Students who begin their studies in the 6^th grade perform a concert in the spring.  The 7^th through 12^th grades assemble in large and small ensembles. Our goal in the upper level orchestras is to give as many opportunities as possible to perform throughout the Austin community as well as here at the Ann Richards School.

Theatre

Theatre is an elective course beginning in the 6^th grade. In the fall, Ann Richard’s theatre students participate in Austin ISD’s Middle School One Act Play Festival.  Last year students performed “I Never Saw Another Butterfly” by Celeste Raspanti. Middle School students also performed plays throughout the year such as “Domingo Siete” by Leo Heska, “The Hysterical History of the Trojan War” by D.M. Carson, and a one act play-“Dental Dilemma” by Carol Wise.  Last Spring, High School theatre students performed “Clara’s on the Curtains,” by Arthur Lovegrove, and “B R O K E N,” which was based on a original script researched and written on sex trafficking by high school students.  These students used statistics, organized an outline, and articulated a thesis for this production. High school students also performed “Trojan Women,” a classical text by Euripides.