Class of 2013 - Celebrating ChiArts' 15th Anniversary

CHIARTS 15TH ANNIVERSARY

2009 - 2024

HONORING THE FIRST GENERATION OF SCHOLAR-ARTISTS ChiArts’ founding 124 scholar-artists enrolled in Chicago’s first public arts high school before it even had a building to call home. Driven by trust in ChiArts’ bold vision and the promise of a creative community, these students and their families took a leap of faith, helping to shape a model of equity and access in arts education.

DREAMERS WHO DARED. TRAILBLAZERS WHO DELIVERED. THE GRADUATES OF 2013.

15 years later, they’re thriving as trailblazers in the arts, business, tech, and beyond—living proof that daring to dream and access to opportunity transforms communities. With your support, ChiArts will continue to fuel the next generation of changemakers.

VISIONARIES REDEFINING MUSIC: JOEL & JOSHUA ROSS Twin brothers Joel and Joshua Ross (left to right) are reshaping the music world—Joshua as an acclaimed drummer and co-founder of Staj, an app revolutionizing artist and fan connections, and Joel as a celebrated vibraphonist with four Blue Note albums and faculty roles at Manhattan School of Music and The New School. Balancing entrepreneurship and artistry, they exemplify how ChiArts serves as a launchpad for world-class creatives.

TEACHING ARTIST ACTOR & DIRECTOR

JANYCE CARABALLO

Dedicated to transforming lives through theater, Janyce uses her platform to foster empathy and make the arts accessible to all.

In the last 15 years of ChiArts history, more than 1,600 alumni have emerged as changemakers in the arts, business, technology, medicine, education, and more, demonstrating that ChiArts isn’t just about creating artists—it’s about fostering leaders and visionaries.

ARTISAN-PAINTER & CREATIVE COLLABORATOR

HARLAN BALLOGG

Regardless of income or prior exposure to arts education, ChiArts sets students up to thrive in high school and beyond. Today, ChiArts remains the only public arts high school in the nation that prioritizes students with no prior arts training and makes pre-professional arts programming accessible to ALL scholar-artists.

A boundary-pushing painter and craftsman known for his unique aesthetic, Harlan has collaborated with world- renowned brands like Nike, Levi’s, Coca-Cola, and Louis Vuitton.

GENRE-DEFYING DANCER

BEN MARSHALL

From novice to professional, ChiArts’ transformative power has led Ben to Chicago’s premier dance studios, the University of Michigan, and most recently the iconic Hiplet Ballerinas where he is a company member redefining classical and contemporary dance.

Join us in continuing the legacy of our first graduating class by creating opportunities for the next generation of artists and visionaries to create and inspire.

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