Fine Arts
Students at St. Ambrose Academy are encouraged to pursue fine arts education through their elective studies and extracurricular involvement during Junior and Senior High.
Art
Art studies include historical and modern works of art, medium technique study, basic anatomy, 3-dimensional study, and cultural art. Art curriculum at St. Ambrose is designed to complement and enhance the core subjects. Students learn creative methods to reflect on, explore, and apply material from their language arts, religion, history, and science classes.
Junior High Art
Students are taught to use a wide range of media to complete projects that demonstrate their understanding of key concepts in Saint Ambrose Academy’s larger curriculum.
Senior High Art
Students are introduced to a variety of media with an emphasis on fine arts skills. Freshmen and sophomores work on principles of design, form, and space to have a solid foundation for visual expression. Juniors and seniors develop techniques for college art classes and create pieces suitable for a portfolio.
Band
Band electives include individual instrument lessons, group lessons, end-of-semester performances, and other opportunities for playing publicly. Students in these programs also prepare for Solo/Ensemble competitions. Band is offered as an elective in Junior and Senior High the Overture Band Program.
Director: Nadine Kerl
Drama
Drama is offered as a Senior High elective course. The first semester of this course focuses on acting skills. Students will develop concentration, characterization, physical agility, and creativity through the use of improvisation, pantomime, monologues, and directing. The second semester focuses on bringing great literary texts to life, from Greek tragedy to Shakespeare to modern theater, using the skills built in the first semester. The year will culminate in presenting rehearsed scenes.
Music
Music courses offer students an opportunity to focus on choral, solo, and ensemble singing. Music theory and the history of music in the Church is also taught.
At the Senior High level, students may audition for the Chamber Choir. Students in Chamber Choir will grow in technique, theory, and ensemble singing at an advanced level. This ensemble is expected to have prior musical knowledge. The Chamber Choir will perform in two concerts throughout the year: Lessons and Carols in the winter, and a spring concert.
Concert Choir is a non-auditioned choir at the high school level. Students in Concert Choir will grow in technique, theory, and ensemble singing at an intermediate level. This ensemble will perform in two concerts throughout the year: Lessons and Carols in the winter, and a spring concert. Students are always welcome to audition the following year for Chamber Choir or continue to grow in their skills in Concert Choir.
Through a four-year cycle, students will learn music, theory, and techniques at different levels from following genres/periods: Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Modern, Sacred music, American, South American, and European composers.
Theater
Theater is offered to students through St. Ambrose Academy’s annual musical theater program. Students can become involved on stage, backstage, or in the pit orchestra. The musical is offered to students in Junior High and Senior High as an extracurricular. Students must be in Senior High to participate in backstage management or to audition for a seat in the pit orchestra.
Musical Director: Angela Hineline