The Arts

Whether it’s All-West competition or an AP Art Class, USJ students are given many opportunities in the fine arts.

Lower School
Our extensive fine arts program starts in the Lower School where students begin art and music lessons. Each grade, starting with junior kindergarten, stages an annual musical production. The new cafetorium in the Lower School, with its stage and auditorium seating, is a perfect setting for Lower School productions. Read more about lower school productions...

Middle School productions
The Middle School performs two musicals each school year. This fall production is Schoolhouse Rock Live! Jr., September 9-13.

Upper School productions
Upper School students present several productions each year...
• Students, parents, and faculty will have roles in the fall musical, Peter Pan, November 3-5.
• Drama students will perform one to two plays this school year.
• The spring musical is February 26-28, 2010. The production’s live orchestra will include USJ students.
• The annual fashion show, where students wear student-designed fashions, will be this spring.

Honor Choirs
A large number of Middle and Upper School students are selected for honor choirs each year.

Visiting Artists
USJ invites artists to share their talents with students. Recently, a nationally-known sculptor helped Upper School art students complete a life-size work.

Band Program
Our growing band program includes several performing groups, and students often perform at community events. Our students earn seats in the All-West Band, Jazz, and Orchestra competitions and are selected for All-State. Several students play in the Jackson Youth Symphony.

Art Awards
USJ is well represented in local, regional, and even national art competitions.

Advanced Placement Classes
USJ is one of only a few West Tennessee schools that offers AP Music Theory and AP Studio Art. Many of our students go on to attend college on fine arts scholarships or receive college credit because of their AP scores.

Master Teachers
USJ’s art teachers – Darlene Tanner for Grades PreK-1; Kay Thomson for Grades 2-5; Anna McPeake, Middle School; and Libby Lynch, Upper School – have master’s degrees in art and/or education. Thomson was named Outstanding Elementary Art Teacher for 2007 from the Tennessee Art Education Association.

Fine Arts productions present a collage of talent

Everyone has a role they can play in USJ’s Fine Arts productions, and that role isn’t necessarily on stage.

Talents from across the fine arts work in harmony on any production. For example, in the fall 2009 Middle School musical production of “Beauty and the Beast, Jr.,” the cast included students from grades six through nine. The theater department designed the sets, Middle School art students created the props, and Upper School Introduction to Theater students handled the lighting design and the sound.

“Our situation at USJ and in our fine arts department is truly unique,” said Dr. Tammy Grant, who is in charge of producing the musicals in the Middle and Upper schools. “We all work together for a common goal that provides such a sense of community and ownership. The students, whether they are on the stage; in the band; or involved with sound, lighting, or set and prop design, get to see their work in action.”

The collaboration of efforts involves the Lower School, too. Students from kindergarten through 12th grade join forces to put on a halftime show at one of the high school football games. This huge show is possible because of the efforts of many people, from classroom teachers to music teachers to the students, Grant said. “It is rare to find that many teachers who are willing to work together. It speaks volumes as to how well our staff works.”

Fine Arts productions are also a place to find the talents of many USJ faculty members, parents, and friends. The 2009 Upper School fall musical “Smokey Joe’s Café” had a cast that included faculty, parents, and students. As with many of the Upper School productions, a live band provided the music — something that is unique for a high school play. “We use both student and professional musicians in our orchestra,” said Grant. “This gives our students a wonderful opportunity to learn from others by creating master class situations.”

Fine Arts Guild Corporate/Patron Partnership 2011-2012

Please contact Suzanne Boyd at 668-8071 or email her about becoming a partner of this exciting program for USJ’s Fine Arts Guild!

MEDALLION LEVEL: $2,500 Program back cover for EACH and EVERY Upper and Middle School production; Sponsor booklet back cover, full page ad; USJ website Fine Arts page corporate sponsor listing; USJ website business directory listing with link to business website; listing in all production print advertisements and press releases; name displayed on Sponsor Board at productions and various fine art events; 10 tickets with priority seating to each production.

PLATINUM LEVEL: $1,000 Full page ad in sponsor program booklet; USJ website Fine Arts page corporate sponsor listing; USJ website business directory listing with link to business website; listing in all production print advertisements and press releases; name displayed on Sponsor Board at productions and various fine art events; 10 tickets with reserved seating per production.

GOLD LEVEL: $500; One-half page ad in sponsor program booklet; USJ website Fine Arts page corporate sponsor listing; USJ website business directory listing with link to business website; name displayed on Sponsor Board at productions and various fine art events; 6 tickets with reserved seating per production.

SILVER LEVEL: $300; One-fourth page ad in sponsor program booklet; USJ website Fine Arts page corporate sponsor listing; name displayed on Sponsor Board at productions and various fine art events; 4 tickets with reserved seating to each production.

Why are the arts important?

According to the Tennessee Art Education Association, the arts are a mark of excellence in American schooling.
• Studying the arts helps students achieve in the arts and in other academic disciplines.
• The arts teach us to understand our visual culture.
• Arts education is important to America's ability to compete internationally.
• The arts are a significant part of the United States economy... 6 percent of the Gross National Product is based on the arts.
• The arts encourage students to follow through and come up with engaging solutions to problems.
• Arts activities bring parents into schools.
• The arts build business and community connections.
• The arts teach us about human nature and cultures.
• The arts are one of the main ways that humans define who they are.
• The arts are basic to life and teach cross-cultural communication.

The Arts

Fine Arts productions present a collage of talent

Fine Arts Guild Corporate/Patron Partnership 2011-2012

Why are the arts important?

Fine Arts Guild

2011-2012 Fine Arts Calendar