Middle School Arts
Music
Middle School Teachers
Michael Hough and Leslie Clowes, Directors of MS Bands
Stephanie Smeltzer, Director of MS Choruses
Adrian Gordon and Ashley Flower, Directors of MS Orchestras
Jamie Hutteman, MS Theatre Director
Jordan Ellis, MS Theatre Teacher
6th Grade Band:
The 6th Grade Band Grade Band expands from the basic instrumentation used in 5th grade band to a full concert band instrumentation. The group performs both a Winter and Spring Concert each year in addition to an adjudicated performance at the Carowinds Festival of Music.
6th Grade Chorus:
Offered both as a semester class and a year-long option, this class provides a wonderful transition from 5th grade chorus to middle school chorus. Singers move from two-part harmony to three-part harmony and are able to sing with more confidence and understanding. The Winter Concert provides an opportunity to share the stage with the 7th/8th Grade Chorus as well as the Upper School Chorus. The Spring semester includes a trip to Wingate University to participate in the MPA choral event and to Carowinds to participate in the Festival of Music. Both of these performances are adjudicated events. The Spring concert is a celebration of choral music that includes the two middle school choruses and the middle school A Cappella group.
7th and 8th Grade Band:
The 7th and 8th Grade Band performs in the Winter and Spring Concert each year in addition to adjudicated performances at the North Carolina Music Educators Music Performance Assessment and the Carowinds Festival of Music. Along with the orchestra, the group also performs an annual Halloween concert for the Lower School Students.
7th and 8th Grade Chorus:
Offered both as a semester class and a year-long option. Singers are challenged with music that requires both three-part and four-part music. Genres range from traditional choral music appropriate to the season to Broadway or pop music. The Winter Concert provides an opportunity to share the stage with both the 6th Grade Chorus and the Upper School Chorus. Spring semester includes a trip to Wingate University to participate in the MPA choral event and to Carowinds to participate in the Festival of Music. Both of these performances are adjudicated events. The Spring concert is a celebration of choral music that includes the two middle school choruses and the middle school A Cappella group.
Middle School Orchestra:
Ensembles study a wide range of literature with a strong focus on music literacy and instrumental technique. Students collaborate to learn to play together in an ensemble setting.
Other offerings:
- Middle School Jazz Club
- Middle School Chamber Club
- Middle School A Cappella Group:
- Selected by audition and rehearses during lunch twice a week. This group performs periodically at assembly, other various campus events, as well as at the Spring Middle School Choral Concert.
- Selected by audition and rehearses during lunch twice a week. This group performs periodically at assembly, other various campus events, as well as at the Spring Middle School Choral Concert.
Theatre
FINDING NEMO JR.!
Congratulations to the 45 talented Middle Schoolers who were cast in this year's musical, Finding Nemo, jr.!
Performances will be February 8 and 9 at 7:00 p.m. and February 10 at 2:00 p.m. in the McMahon Fine Arts Theatre!
In lieu of admission, we will be accepting donations of the following art supplies for the Freedom School Supply Drive: construction paper, felt, tissue paper, crayons, colored pencils, paintbrushes, acrylic paint, and markers.
Set Builds
Productions
Productions
MS students produce one mainstage show each year, alternating between plays and musicals.
Recent productions include:
The Three Musketeers (2023); Bye, Bye Birdie (2020); The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon (2019), The Lion King, Jr. (2018), Alice in Wonderland (2017), and Get Smart (2016)
All School Musical:
Every fourth year PDS Theatre produces an all-school musical. This production is open for any 4th-12th grade student who would like to audition. The All-School Musical has become an integral part of the school’s identity as the only event of its kind on our campus or among area private schools. Students of all divisions work together in this community event.
Recent all-school productions include:
The Wizard of Oz (2018), Seussical the Musical (2014), A Christmas Carol (2013), Fiddler on the Roof (2012)
Faculty
Mrs. Jamie Hutteman, Teacher and Director
The Middle School Theatre program offers beginning to advanced acting classes for 6th-8th graders. Students explore physical movement, vocal production, delivery, and expression in a collaborative, supportive environment. Students interpret and analyze plays concentrating on characters and their portrayal. Advanced students explore character psychology and styles of acting from a variety of time periods and countries. Students mount in-class performances at the end of every unit and each class ends with a final showcase performed for an invited audience.
Middle School Stagecraft: Mr. Jordan Ellis, Teacher and Director
Middle School Stagecraft teaches problem-solving skills which are integral in helping theatre come to life. Through the art of technical theatre, students will actively be participating in the area of scenic construction, scenic design, lighting for the stage, lighting design, sound for the stage, sound design, prop construction, prop design, costume construction and costume design.
Current Course Offerings:
- Theatre Arts (6th grade)
- Theatre I, Modern Performance (7th/8th grades)
- Theatre II, From Hamlet to Hamilton: Theatre through the Ages (7th/8th grades)
- Theatre II, Advanced Performance (7th/8th grades)
- Middle School Stagecraft (7th/8th grades)
Visual Arts
In sixth grade, Art explores observational drawing and compositional techniques in dry media and collage. Students are introduced to selected art history topics and art criticism. With emphasis on creativity and craftsmanship, each assignment is simultaneously challenging and fun. Also, the process of self-evaluation begins in this course with the introduction of critique sessions.
In seventh and eighth grades, the objectives of the instruction are in the major areas of painting and drawing, three-dimensional work, design, and printmaking, with emphasis on drawing skills. Students may take this course only once.
The experienced middle school artist demonstrates originality and creativity in all assignments. Imagination, manipulation of media, and effective self-evaluation are vital parts of this course. Students verbally discuss their work and those of their classmates in critique sessions. Major units of study include drawing, painting, clay hand building, and printmaking techniques and processes. Students may enroll in this course only once in middle school. Several art projects include art historical references.