Before spring break, 63 Upper School students went on the second annual Philadelphia Arts trip. Students had the opportunity to experience different aspects of performing and visual arts, and went in small groups to learn from professionals about music, film photography, ceramics, theater, and dance.

Robert Frazier’s music cohort went to the Kimmel Center and sat in on an Open Rehearsal of the Philadelphia Orchestra. They watched and listened to them prepare for a concert series with a guest conductor. The repertoire included Beethoven’s Symphony 3, Tilson Thomas’s Agnegram, and Ravel’s Piano Concerto for the Left Hand, featuring pianist Pierre-Luarent Aimard. It was a fascinating and beautiful music-making experience, providing a window into what happens in a professional orchestra rehearsal setting. Afterwards, their group walked to Reading Terminal to debrief, eat lunch, and visit a few Philadelphia landmarks.

Shannon Moriarty’s film photography cohort worked with The Halide Project, a volunteer-run non-profit and community darkroom in the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia. They explored their annual juried exhibition, Living Image, which showcases traditional/historic photographic processes, and then they learned about film photography with teaching artist Pat Blocher, who led them through a hands-on darkroom demonstration. Students mixed their chemicals, exposed and developed images, and challenged their understanding of what it can take to make a photograph. They concluded their time by creating photograms using personal objects, digital negatives, and drawings. 

Stephanie Wilhelm’s ceramics cohort returned to The Clay Studio of Philadelphia, an organization that works with artists and the community to build connections and educate through ceramics. Students spent time in the ceramic shop, viewed three current exhibitions in the gallery, toured classrooms, studios, the new 3D printing clay lab, and met the Artists in Residence who are professionals in the field. The highlight of the day was a two-hour workshop creating two handbuilt bowls, one of which the student kept and the other of which was donated to the PhilaBowl event! This event is an international project to fight hunger, personalized by artists and art organizations on a community level. What made this experience one-of-a-kind was that our students had the opportunity to experience the joy of working with clay while also giving back to the local community through the pieces they created. 

The Production and Theater Performance Cohorts led by Justin Baker and Shawn Rowley spent the day at the Walnut Street Theater, touring the country’s oldest professional theater, workshopping with theater professionals, and attending a special matinee of their current show, Hay Fever. Students brought a lot of curiosity and high energy to their engagement with these theater artists!

With Amy Grebe, dancers from Elements Dance Company and winter dance co-curricular enjoyed two intense classes at Urban Movement Arts led by Alexis Curiel. Alexis is a professional hip-hop and street dance artist and teacher and has performed alongside many up-and-coming hip-hop musicians. They started with a hip-hop class with a challenging combination and then moved into a house class, learning the history and technique of house dance and music. Our dancers maintained high energy and engagement levels throughout their three straight hours of dancing and were reluctant to leave! Between their classes and meeting our fellow Westonians, they enjoyed some well-earned ice cream and a stroll through Love Park.

Afterwards, all groups reconvened at Friends Select School, where they shared about their different experiences, relaxed, and ate dinner together before attending the opening of Swan Lake at The Academy of Music as a department.

The Performing and Visual Arts Department would like to thank the Upper School Office, Dining Services, Technology, Advancement, Communications, and Transportation for their collaboration. And a special thanks to the generosity of Deborah Cassady ‘57, who made this trip possible, keeping it free and accessible for all students to participate. Thanks also to our arts faculty who made it all possible: Robert Frazier, Shannon Moriarity, Stephanie Wilhelm, Justin Baker, Shawn Rowley, and Amy Grebe!