Ensworth Arts | 2023-2024 High School

Mission

In Search of Truth Ensworth is a kindergarten through twelfth grade, coeducational independent school. The School promotes academic excellence and inspires students to be intellectually curious, to use their talents to the fullest, to be people of integrity, and to be contributors to society.

Vision We envision a school community dedicated to following the highest principles with the greatest love, as characterized by moral integrity, intellectual vitality, discipline, compassion, humor, and joy.

STATEM EN T

O N

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion In order to realize the goals of our Mission and Vision, Ensworth must actively strive to be a diverse and inclusive community of learners that engages collectively In Search of Truth. The presence of different perspectives and life experiences plays a vital role in the development of our students, enhancing classroom and extracurricular experiences in meaningful ways. As a school, we are committed to cultivating an environment in which all members of the Ensworth community experience a true sense of belonging and are empowered to be active participants in the life of the school. These efforts are essential if we are to foster the growth of all students in line with their potential, and to equip them for lives of purpose that extend far beyond their time at Ensworth.

One school, two campuses Come visit! Tours available daily. Call to schedule.

RED GABLES CAMPUS 211 Ensworth Avenue, Nashville, TN 37205 | 615.250.8916

FRIST CAMPUS 7401 Highway 100, Nashville, TN 37221 | 615.250.8905

Follow us: ENSWORTH.COM Cover Art: Sofie Whiting ’25

ENSWORTH ARTS

2023-2024 HIGH SCHOOL

Visual Arts

COURSES: Photo 1, 2, 3, 4 Studio 1, 2, 3, 4 AP Studio Ceramics 1, 2, 3

| Artwork by Mei Mei Dellinger ’23

| 2023 Spring Play: “The Fantasticks”

Theater

COURSES:

PRODUCTIONS:

Acting 1, 2, 3

Fall Play Spring Play The Musical Student-Directed One Acts

Music

COURSES:

ENSEMBLES:

Guitar 1, 2, 3 Music 1, 2, 3, 4 AP Music Theory

Rock Band Jazz Band Chamber Orchestra Chamber Singers Encore

| 2023 Choral and Orchestral Concert

Dance

| 2023 Dance Concert

COURSES:

ENSEMBLES:

Dance for Athletes 1 & 2 Music Video Dance 1 & 2 Dance by Design

Dance Company

| 2023 Creative Coffee Shop

Academic Arts Ensworth students take a minimum of four academic art courses to complete their

for the first time. Students choose classes from several different programs—Visual

graduation requirement. With a wide variety of choices, depth of pedagogy, and

Arts, Theater, Music, and Dance— and are encouraged to diversify and explore in

technologically advanced facilities, Ensworth provides a remarkable curriculum for the

order to discover new talents and interests.

dedicated artist seeking an immersive experience or the beginner trying something new

Performing Arts Ensembles In addition to their academic arts courses, students can enroll in a number of exciting performing arts ensembles. Ensembles meet as regularly scheduled classes during the school day alongside academic courses. This provides an excellent opportunity for students to use their talents to the fullest while allowing the individual choice of diversifying and deepening their arts experience. For example, students can join the

| 2023 Spring Encore Concert

Rock Band while pursing Studio Art, study Acting while singing in Chamber Singers, or dedicate their time to a specific discipline by taking courses such as Music Video Dance while joining Dance Team, or by performing in the Orchestra while taking AP Music Theory.

| 2023 “Shrek: The Musical”

Theatrical Productions Outside of the academic school day, students can be involved in several different theatrical

including Shakespeare, to new works created by students and guest artists, in

productions staged throughout the year. Rehearsals for the Fall and Spring Play and the

addition to musicals such as “The Addams Family” and “Freaky Friday”. Students can

Musical are held after school. These productions serve as a great point of convergence for

also join our Technical Theater Crew to help stage manage the overall productions

the larger student body as many participate who may have dedicated their academic time

while learning through the hands-on experience of working with lighting, set design,

elsewhere. Students come together onstage for productions ranging from the classics,

audio, and video.

Auditions

Ensworth School of Music

Every student can audition for an ensemble or a theatrical production regardless of prior

The Ensworth School of Music is available to all students at the end of the school day.

experience. Auditions for the Musical and Fall Play take place during the first semester,

We offer private lessons and group ensemble classes conveniently located on both

while performing ensembles and Spring Play auditions are held during the second

campuses. Our instructors range from local university professors to touring artists

semester. Criteria for auditions are specified by the director of the ensemble and are

and legends in the Nashville music scene. We have instructors who have toured and

communicated in advance of the audition date. To inquire about the audition process for

played with artists such as Aretha Franklin, Tyler Childers, Randy Travis, and Lauren

a specific ensemble or production, please contact the director for further information.

Daigle to name a few... as well as conservatory-trained classical musicians. We offer

They will make sure to add your contact to the communication sent prior to audition time.

lessons on a wide variety of instruments including Piano, Guitar, Bass, Drum Set, Percussion, Strings, Brass, Woodwinds, and Harp.

For more information on fees, schedules, and policies, visit ensworth.com

| 2022 Fall Rock and Jazz Concert

Creativity Creativity is an essential part of any vibrant and bold endeavor. Inherent and

each student a willingness, a courage, and a true fascination with the world around

universal, creativity allows us to better understand ourselves as individuals and

them. The creative act exists where we personally and collectively strive to grasp

as community members. The Ensworth Arts Department creates a supportive and

and express a greater idea. By this work, students become active participants in their

enlightened environment where our K-12 students can discover, develop, and use

learning experience. From pirouette to potter’s wheel, paintbrush to photograph,

their talents to the fullest. We encourage beginning interests and advanced abilities

instrument to prose, theory to performance, we come together as a community to

alike, through traditional and contemporary practice, with the aim of fostering in

celebrate our students’ creative expression and rejoice in their search for truth.

| Photo by Sebastian Cabrera Gutierrez ’25

Faculty Profiles JIM AVENI

K-12 Arts Director Director of Instrumental Music

“Music is a profound and important part of our lives.

The Ensworth music program educates our students about this universal language through the study of music theory, history, performance, and technology.

We encourage our students to learn about and perform music that speaks to who they are as individuals, and use their talents for creative expression and discovery.”

JC JOHNSON

Director of Photography and Digital Arts

“As a part of the Ensworth Arts faculty, I strive to provide students a well-rounded and thoughtful approach to photography and studio art. My hope is that each student realizes the importance of making intentional images while recognizing the relevance and use of art as a necessary part of our everyday lives. My courses integrate processes such as analog and digital photography, film and video, art history, and new digital media. I believe all courses should include technique, concept, understandable relevance, problem-solving, experimentation, and a little bit of magic.”

DAVID BERRY

Director of Theater

“The Ensworth theater program extends into and beyond the classroom. Theater classes exercise the Core Skills through in-depth scene studies from dramatic literature, including Thornton Wilder, Tennessee Williams, Samuel Beckett, and Shakespeare. Main stage and studentdirected theatre productions embrace storytelling as an essential vehicle in a community’s search for truth and as a time-honored forum for exploring and practicing the highest principles with the greatest love.”

CATI BLITZ

Director of Ceramics and Studio Arts

“The visual arts program at Ensworth allows students first to explore, then to specialize in three distinctive tracts of study: photography, ceramics, or studio art. We investigate the creative process through idea development, planning, and technique mastery within an expansive range of media and subject matter. My goal is to help my students develop a passion that will sustain them through adulthood, whether as a professional artist, amateur, or collector!”

ELIAS SALAZAR

Director of Choral and Orchestral Music Director of Private Music Lessons

“The choral and orchestral program here at Ensworth is an exciting catalyst for students to explore the age-old mysteries of classical music and to develop their appreciation for one of the richest arts. Through their performances of exciting repertoire and, most importantly, the rehearsal process leading up to performances, our young musicians learn the values of teamwork, musicianship, responsibility, and reaching their highest potential.”

BRANDON LUCAS

High School Music Teacher After-School Lesson Instructor

“Collective humanity is channeled through the creation of art– our strengths, joy, vulnerability, and humor. At Ensworth, when a student expresses themselves artistically, they are endowed with a wealth of useful advice, technology, training, and the support of everyone in our school. The collaboration between our students and teachers enriches the meaning of their work, as well as their lives.”

ARIEL STRONG

Visual Arts Teacher

“As a new faculty member, I feel greatly energized by Ensworth’s dedication to the arts. I believe creative education plays a vital role in developing minds that are perceptive, innovative, and compassionate. My goal in the classroom is to help students invest in themselves through self reflection, technical skill advancement, and evolution of their unique visual “voices.”

JILLIAN DUKE

Arts Program Coordinator

“I have long held a deep value for arts education and its place as the building blocks of creativity and individuality.

My hope is to share knowledge from my work as an artist and a lifelong learner so that I may continue Ensworth’s ideal of a well-rounded education. “

CODY ALLEN

Technical Theater Director

“When you go to a play, the opera, the ballet, or even a concert, you may happen to notice the lighting effects, audio effects, costuming, makeup, and the sets the performers are on. All of these things are part of the world of technical theater. With my experience at Disney, I am excited to bring a sense of Technical Theater “magic” to our many Ensworth productions. “

LINDSAY WHITE

Director of Dance

“Ensworth dance students grow creatively, physically, and intellectually as they explore a variety of dance genres and collaborate to create works of their own. Whether refining their technique at the ballet barre, lacing up their tap shoes for a percussion-packed class, or perfecting a fast-paced hip hop routine, these young men and women are growing in confidence every step of the way. They are simultaneously challenging themselves as athletes and artists, which is a gift that is quite unique to the art of dance. The dance program at Ensworth allows students of all ages, genders, and abilities to discover that movement is not only a beautiful vehicle for self-expression, but it’s loads of fun, too!”

ENSWORTH | School of Dance The Ensworth School of Dance is an after-school dance program committed to providing quality dance education in a positive, loving environment. Our goal is to instill in students a lifelong love of the art, technical proficiency, poise, creativity, and respect for self and others. The Ensworth School of Dance specializes in teaching ballet, hip hop, jazz, tap and tumbling to anyone ages 4–18.

For more information on fees, schedule, attire, and policies, visit ensworth.com/dance

RACHEL TOLBERT

Associate Director of Dance

“The Ensworth School of Dance creates a forum for personal development and professional experience by bringing together athleticism and artistic expression in an enriching experience for dancers to connect their mind and body into an art form. It is our mission to both challenge and enlighten students in the storied and ever-evolving art of dance. Drawing from a historical foundation with particular attention to current trends and stylization, we strive to empower students with the necessary tools to be successful and creative in the world of performing arts.”

| 2023 Dance Concert

Ingram Arts Center Gallery The Ingram Arts Center Gallery serves as a place of community and education

ArtWalk — a building-wide art exhibition for student engagement across campus,

to showcase the Visual and Performing Arts. Formed by four spaces

Spring and Fall Art Shows, Teaching Artists exhibitions, Singer-Songwriter

throughout the Ingram Arts Center — main gallery, student gallery, hallway

Nights and more. Our yearly K-12 cross-campus art show, VISIBLE, highlights

galleries, and upstairs gallery, several large-scale exhibitions are curated

the visual arts through a series of unique and stunning programs displaying the

throughout the year. A variety of programming in this space brings real-world

gallery in its whole dimension.

educational opportunities to the students, such as the Coffee Shop series — an interdisciplinary Ted Talk-like forum for artists from all areas and media, the

| 2023 VISIBLE Pop-Up Gallery, Ensworth Theater

| 2023 Direction and Video Production: Teaching Artist Gabe McCauley

Visiting Artists Expanding beyond the traditional classroom experience is a vital part of any real education. The Ensworth Visiting Artist Programs foster such learning by inviting active, creative professionals to share their current ideas and exciting methodologies with our students. These yearly programs are curated by the Arts Faculty to support the activities within the classroom. These unique educational opportunities augment our curriculum through collaborative, experiential learning dedicated toward a specific arts area. Visiting Artists educate students by working with them on shortterm and long-range creative projects. Recent Visiting Artists include: Director Gabe McCauley, Ceramicist Audry Deal-McEver, Photographer Jack Spencer, Ceramic Sculpturist Susan Beiner, and Actor Garrett Hedlund.

| 2023 Middle School Musical Intensive: “Matilda: Junior”

Summer Arts Programs Ensworth Arts Summer Programs are a great opportunity for students Grades 6 –12 to

the summer and have something for every artistic student. This is a fantastic

learn new abilities, deepen skills, and engage with teachers and their peers through

way to spend the summer as our diverse offerings include a three-week Middle

an immersive arts experience. Enhance and broaden skills learned during the school

School Musical Intensive, Visual Art, Printmaking, Stone Carving, Photography,

year, try new things, discover new concepts and ideas, and encounter projects for your

Digital Art, Dance, Music Technology, Rock Band, Vocal Arts, and more. Students

portfolio with the feedback and consultation of our dedicated instructors. Whether

are encouraged to use this summer opportunity to explore and grow their love of

you are looking to try something new, develop aspects of your craft, or to simply use

art and artistic expression.

your talents for fun and greater experience, these week-long offerings run throughout

For more information on fees, schedules, and policies, visit ensworth.com

Ensworth Theater

Facilities Ingram Arts Center The Ingram Arts Center is a hub for creative works containing art studios, a darkroom, a graphics lab, gallery spaces, a music rehearsal hall, a black box theater and a dance studio. The 642-seat theater offers a spacious venue for drama, music and dance performances, as well as assembly space. The theater has capable production facilities that include a set-construction workshop, exceptional sound, video, and lighting, an orchestra pit lift, dressing rooms, and a green room.

Play a Role Support the Arts at Ensworth by naming a seat in the Ensworth Theater.

For more information contact Bedell James in the Advancement Office, at 615-250-8919 or jamesb@ensworth.com. All funds raised directly support the Arts at Ensworth.

| 2022 Fall Rock and Jazz Concert