Seven King School seniors became the first graduating class to earn the new Performing Arts Distinction, a specialized diploma track recognizing four years of dedicated training, creative exploration, and a deep passion for music and theater.
Launched this academic year, the Performing Arts Distinction is one of six specialized Certificate of Distinction programs at King, offering students a focused "minor" within the school's liberal arts curriculum. To earn the distinction, students must perform in productions or ensembles annually, complete advanced coursework, and undertake a capstone project showcasing their artistic growth and individual voice.
"The main purpose of this distinction is to help students who are interested in pursuing a performing arts career better prepare for the college audition process," said Garrett Mendez, Director of Performing Arts. "It's also designed to recognize performing arts students who have actively made performing arts a huge part of their upper school experience, even if they're not applying to college for it."
The program, which offers a theater and a music track, is highly individualized, with students collaborating closely with teachers, advisors, and program directors to tailor the experience to their interests and goals.
Isabella Kolenberg’s capstone project involved directing a student-run production of "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown."
"This was one of the hardest projects I could have picked," said Isabella, who also played Sally in the production. "You feel a sort of pressure that everyone is depending on you for everything. But it also changed how I think about performing and opened me up to directing future productions."
Isabella worked with performing arts teacher Amy Darnton on the project. Darnton has taught many of the distinction recipients since Middle School and noted the significance of the student-led production.
"As I watched 'Charlie Brown,' I was deeply struck by the memory of several actors in their Grade 5 and middle school productions," Darnton said. "They were so young and inexperienced, and so eager to learn. It is the greatest satisfaction I can have as a teacher to know I played some role in their love of the art form."
In addition to theater, capstone projects also highlighted musical innovation. Students created original works performed live, including Grace Anderson's three-song album, Madeline Scanlon's live DJ set before the upper school concert, and George McCormack's multitrack solo performance using a digital marimba and looper pedal.
"What I loved most was how unique and individualized each capstone was," said Mendez, who advised the music students. "It really reflected the students’ passions."
That creative freedom allowed students to take ownership of their work in ways that challenged them both artistically and personally.
"Being involved in the performing arts calls on students to be vulnerable, to take a chance on themselves and others, and to fully commit to something bigger than themselves," Darnton said. "Whether or not they pursue a career in the arts, they’ll carry that growth with them."
For Isabella, who will pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts in musical theater, the program provided invaluable preparation for college-level conservatory demands.
"Since I’m majoring in musical theatre in college, this distinction prepared me for the rigorous curriculum that’s involved in a BFA," she said. "I’ll be able to take away everything I learned in every class and production."
As the inaugural class of Performing Arts Distinction students donned their gold cords at commencement, Mendez expressed optimism for future success stories.
"We hope to evolve the capstone into a more formal performance space, like the Art Colloquium," he said. "But this first year showed us just how powerful this distinction can be when it reflects each student’s voice."
Congratulations to the following students who earned the Performing Arts Distinction:
Advisor: Garret Mendez, Tommy Weeks, and Colin Benn
- George McCormack
- Madeline Scanlon
- Grace Anderson
Advisors: Amy Darnton, Jamie LaJoie, and Eleanor Bach
- Adam Flynn
- Isabella Kolenberg
- Maria Sharavarny
- Zachary Louizos