Arts Program | The Rivers School

The Arts Program at Rivers provides a connected, integrated approach through a variety of performing and visual mediums. There are, within the program, two parallel and equally comprehensive divisions: the visual arts and the performing arts.

Rivers' visual arts program offers a wealth of opportunities for students to experiment, explore and cultivate their creative vision in a variety of media. Foundation art courses are brief yet intense encounters with an artist-teacher who guides students through the often spontaneous, challenging nature of the creative process. The arts studios are lively environments where both structured classes occur and student artists return to work further on their projects and assignments outside the class environment. Student artwork is displayed throughout the Rivers campus in four different locations. Our formal exhibit area, the Bell Art Gallery, features numerous student art shows along with an annual arts faculty exhibition and select shows by invited professional artists.

From musical theater to musical ensembles, digital video making to play-writing, the performing arts at Rivers provides a plethora of creative avenues for students of all levels of abilities. Whether novice or virtuoso, students of the performing arts will find a wide array of courses and instructors to help them develop and refine their passions. In addition to numerous courses in theater arts, the school puts on three major productions a year: two Upper School productions (including a musical) and one middle school production. Several smaller productions are performed in the Black Box Theater.

The opportunities for music at Rivers are truly extraordinary. Student musicians will find a variety of vehicles for performance, including jazz chorus, jazz combos, big bands, chorus, orchestra, and chamber ensembles. Access to The Rivers School Conservatory's programs and instructors allows students from Rivers to develop and polish their talent through private lessons, theory classes and ensemble work.