The arts curriculum at SBS equips students in the creative process to explore the richness and complexity of God’s creation.
Fine arts encourages our students to integrate multiple academic disciplines to discover more about themselves and other cultures and to pursue the beauty of God.
Middle School Arts
At the middle school level, students may choose between the Visual Arts, where they are exposed to a wide array of visual arts mediums such as clay, painting, drawing, and ceramics, and the Performing Arts, where we offer courses in the instrumental Chamber Ensemble and the choral group that specializes in concert and chamber styles of music. The performing arts classes in the middle school also incorporate extensive theater and improv training, exposing students to the breadth of artistic performances. These immersive experiences cultivate their creative talents and encourage a lifelong engagement with the art, while also adequately preparing talented and driven students to succeed in the advanced arts offerings in the Upper School.
Private Music Lessons
The Stony Brook School offers a wide range of private music lessons during the school day for most instruments and vocals. A customized schedule arranged during students' free periods and study halls is annually offered to maximize the opportunities for students to grow in their musical passions.
Theater
Involvement with theater and drama enhances perception, sensitivity, critical ability, commitment to participation, and recognition of the potential for artistry. All those who choose to participate learn transformation and transcendence. At The Stony Brook School we treasure the education of young artists. Students are encouraged to explore their interest in theater through acting, directing, set design, light and sound crew, stage crew, and playwriting.
Past performances include: Freaky Friday, Hello, Dolly!, The Addams Family the Musical, Clue, All Shook Up, Pride and Prejudice, Into the Woods, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Steel Magnolias, The Sound of Music, An Ideal Husband, Godspell, Much Ado About Nothing, The Time of Your Life, Fiddler on the Roof, The Winter's Tale, Our Town, West Side Story, The Lilies of the Field, The Taming of the Shrew, and The Wizard of Oz.
Visual Arts
There is perhaps no more effective method to cultivate an admiration and appreciation for beauty than through the process of creating it on your own. The visual arts curriculum at The Stony Brook School focuses on the comprehension and use of art elements in a variety of media. Students learn essential definitions and skills are learned in a foundations program that are further developed as the student completes higher-level courses. Art history is an integrated part of each studio class, with visits to major museums in New York City and abounding art offerings in our mini-course program.
In visual arts, courses in Studio Art, 3D Studies, and Ceramics form a foundation for upper electives such as Advanced Art, AP Studio Art, or advanced seminars in new media. Our growing digital arts offerings include Photography, Graphic Design, Videography, and our yearbook course Advanced Digital Arts.
Ensembles
Music has played an integral part in the School’s rich history and expression and is considered an indispensable part of the college preparatory experience. Our Concert Choir is one of three vocal ensembles at The Stony Brook School. The group of students in grades 9-12 specializes in concert and chamber styles of choral music. Concert Choir performs fall and spring concerts, a service of Lessons and Carols, numerous chapel services and Music in the Parks.
Chamber Singers is an auditioned group comprised of students in grades 9-12 and specializes in madrigal, concert, and chamber styles of choral music. In addition to fall and spring concerts, a Christmas service of Lessons and Carols and a Maundy Thursday Service, SBS Chamber Singers perform at numerous chapel services on campus and in the local community. The reach of our Chamber Singers extends far beyond our community as they have performed at presidential inauguration ceremonies, national competitions such as the prestigious National Music Education conference., and in regional competitions in New York City and the tri-State area.
Chamber Orchestra is comprised of students in grades 10-12 and specializes in concert and chamber styles of orchestra music. They perform at the fall and spring concerts, a Christmas service of Lessons and Carols, and an Easter Service for Maundy Thursday. Chamber Orchestra has competed at Music in the Parks, where they consistently receive superior ratings and overall first place. This ensemble will occasionally have specialized pull-out ensembles to create a Chamber Strings or Chamber Wind Ensemble.
