Bit by BitPutting It Together

A recent report from the Surdna

Foundation, Powerful Voices, noted

common elements in the most

successful arts programs…

• Students are art makers, not only

audience members. Students are

responsible for presenting, install-

ing, and/or performing the arts.

• Students have a sustained par-

ticipation throughout multiple

years or long-term projects.

• Students have training with pro-

fessional artists and often appren-

ticeships with adults.

• Students are held to rigorous

artistic standards and

expectations.

• Students are provided with safe

spaces for their physical and

creative security. (Dana Founda-

tion’s Arts Education in the News

January 2007).

Northwood High School

offers a wealth of such arts educa-

tion opportunities for students.

Coursework, extracurricular activi-

ties, competitions, concerts, and

clubs provide a wide variety of

learning and performing experi-

ences for a diverse student body.

Lori Major Carlin chairs the

NHS Arts Education Department

and heads the Drama program.

Eugene Cottrell heads Instrumen-

tal Music and Leslie Burwell is

Northwood’s Visual Arts teacher.

Newest department members are

Dance teacher Leah Smith and

Vocal Arts instructor Amy Loch.

We know that arts education

“makes a tremendous impact on

the developmental growth of every

child and has proven to help level

the ‘learning field’ across socio-

economic boundaries” (Catterall,

1998). In addition to discipline-

specific knowledge and mastery,

arts education strengthens

problem-solving skills, helps stu-

dents develop a sense of crafts-

manship, quality task perform-

ance, and goal-setting skills (Busi-

ness Circle for Arts Education in

Oklahoma, 1999).

This report offers a short ret-

rospective of arts education and

celebrates accomplishments of the

NHS students and faculty during

the 2006–2007 school year.

NORTHWOODARTS2006–2007

Mystery & Magic Highlight NHS Theater Arts Program

Classes, Clubs & Camps• Introduction to Theatre—32 students (per semester)

• Technical Theatre I —32 students

• Technical Theatre II —27 students

• Acting I—17 students

• Acting II—14 students

Extracurricular

• Players Club (improvisation & fundraising),

leadership opportunities, field trips

• Technicians for community events in auditorium

• NHS Annual Spring Musical

• Summer Drama Camp (Two 1-week sessions for

students ages 8-13. Leadership opportunity for drama

students who participate as counselors. Students work

on technique, stage presence, general movement &

characterization, and improvisation. Camp culminates

with a show produced for family & friends.)

Program ResourcesThe Drama classroom is located adjacent to audito-

rium with connecting doors to hall, stage, & exterior.

Two small costume closets are located on the 800 hall.

The Benjamin Lee Auditorium seats 535, one of the

largest performance spaces in Chatham County. Much

work by the Drama Department in recent years has

enhanced sound for productions. Resources now in-

clude 9 lapel mics, 3 floor mics, 4 hanging mics,

1 cordless, and 2 corded mics.

Highlights of the Year

Disney’s Beauty & the Beast marked Ms. Carlin’s 10TH

Anniversary of Spring musicals. Though she began

with a $3000 deficit in 1997, through careful budgeting

and successful shows, she now has an annual operating

budget of nearly $10,000. This year’s production re-

quired almost all reserves, but proved so successful,

funds have been replaced for the coming year. Partici-

pation in the musical is open to the entire student body.

After December auditions, rehearsals begin in January

[~12 hours/week from January through March]. This

year, over 150 students participated, along with five

faculty members and community volunteers. Student

positions included performers, technicians, grips, pub-

licity designers, set decorators, makeup artists, cos-

tumers, and box office and concession workers). A pre-

view was added this year for a total of four perform-

ances. Two shows were sold-out. The company toured

area primary and middle schools with a musical pre-

view and a presentation highlighting NHS Arts oppor-

tunities.

Recent auditorium upgrades include the installa-

tion of a projector screen and front house lights main-

tenance. The program received grants from Chatham

Education Foundation [as it has for eight of the past

ten years] and the Fearrington Arts and Crafts Club.

Chatham Arts Council provided scholarships for NHS

2

Creating the

Royal Court, Part 2

Once again this year,

artisans and builders,

musicians, dancers,

students, and

teachers have

gathered to create a

home for the royal

court in residence at

the Benjamin J. Lee

Auditorium. Disney’s

Beauty & the Beast

followed irreverent

re-telling of the

Princess & the Pea

in Once Upon a

Mattress, the 2006

production.

TH

EA

TE

R A

RT

S L

ori

Ma

jor

Ca

rlin

Drama Camp. Arts Education patrons/sponsors grew

to more than 40 individuals, families, and businesses.

Drama students created several short films shown

at the NHS Spring Film Festival, and, along with cho-

ral students, took a field trip to the NC Theatre/

Broadway Series South production of High School Musi-

cal with local Wake County student cast.

Drama awards included the 2007 Technical Thea-

tre Award to Eli Burke and the 2007 Theatre Arts Di-

rector’s Award to Stephen Shore. (Shore has been ac-

cepted into Tisch School of the Arts, Stella Adler

Drama Conservatory at NYU. His only training has

been NHS & Governor’s School.]

Professional Development • Admitted to PhD Candidacy Nov 2006. (Disserta-

tion: Expecting Success: The AVID Teacher’s

Perspective). Completion date/graduation De-

cember ’07. Major area of study – Educational

Research & Policy Analysis with a concentration

on cultural studies and curriculum.

• Elected to Phi Kappa Phi

• International Grad. Student Dean’s List (’01–’07)

• Who’s Who Graduate Students

• Who’s Who Among American Teachers (4 years)

• ADK Chatham County Honor Society for

Teachers (1 year)

• Member Kappa Kappa Gamma Educational

Advisory Council

• Attended NCCAT ’99 – “At the Movies”

• Duke University Summer Southeastern Media

Studies Institute ’99 (scholarship recipient).

• Attending NCCAT ’07 “Treasures by the Sea”

• Site-Based Management Representative

• Strategic Planning Committee for District ’05–’06

• Arts Ed. Department Chair ’05–Present

• Mentor Teacher

• NovaNet Site Director ’06–’07

3

2006–2007 Productions

• Rehearsal for Murder

• Disney’s Beauty & the Beast

Building a Tradition

of Excellence

Among Carlin’s students

are ten Governor’s

School attendees and

three NC School of the

Arts Graduates. Five

students have attended

school for theatre exclu-

sively and four are pro-

fessionally employed.

Countless others con-

tinue to be involved in

school and community

productions.

HeartBeat is Centerpiece of Stellar Musical Season

Classes, Clubs, & Camps• American Music History—30 students

• Marching Band—74 Students

• Concert Band—40 Students

• Symphonic Band—30 students

• Percussion Ensemble—18 students

Extracurricular

• Jazz Band—17 students

• Christmas Ensemble ~12 students, self-directed

• Musical pit ~12 students

• Summer Marching Band Camp—74 students

• All-District/All-State

2006–2007 Productions• Heartbeat!, Program for Marching Band Competition Season and

NHS Football Halftime Shows

• Pittsboro & Siler City Holiday Parades

• Fearrington Village Christmas Music Ensemble

(Ronald McDonald House fund raiser)

• Winter Concert (CORA’s largest food drive, 6TH year)

• Jazz band at various community functions

• Middle school tour with concert and jazz band

• Parent preview concert

• NC Central District Bandmasters’ Association

Spring Music Festival competition

• Memorial Day Concert

• Jazz band invitational festival in VA

4

These kids have really outdone themselves

this year. This is a strong group with lots of

very good leaders. We will graduate twenty-

three seniors at the end of this season,

some of which I have had in band for seven

years including their tenure at Horton.

Leadership that strong will not be easy

to replace.

–Eugene Cottrell

INS

TR

UM

EN

TA

LMUSIC

Eu

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ne

Co

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ll

Major AccomplishmentsMarching Band Competition Results

Dixie Classic | Danville, VA

a. Class AAA 1ST Place Band

b. Rating Superior

c. 1ST Place Drum Major, 1ST Place Colorguard,

1ST Place Percussion, 1ST Place Music,

1ST Place General Effect, 1ST Place Marching

West Stokes Wildcat Invitational | King, NC

a. Class AAAA 1ST Place Band,

Band of the Day Grand Champions

b. Rating Superior

c. 1ST Place Drum Major, 1ST Place Colorguard,

1ST Place Percussion, 1ST Place Music,

1ST Place General Effect, 1ST Place Marching

Yamaha Cup Competition | Giant Stadium,

the Meadowlands, NJ

a. Group 4A, 2ND Place band by .005 of a point

b. Best Overall Effect Caption Award

c. 11TH place out of all 50 bands from around the country

regardless of band size.

Central NC Band Festival | Elon, NC

a. Class AAA 2ND Place Band

b. Rating Superior

c. 1ST Place Drum Major, 2nd Place Percussion,

2ND Place General Effect

Brick Capital Classic | Sanford, NC

a. Class AA 1ST Place Band Grand Champions—

regardless of class or size

b. Rating Superior

c. 1ST Place Percussion, 1ST Place Colorguard, 1ST Place Music,

1ST Place General Effect, 1ST Place Marching,

2ND Place Drum Major

Other Highlights

This year, Chatham County Commissioners’ issued a Proclama-

tion to honor the accomplishments of the 2006 Marching Band.

Joe Graybeal was named All-District (1ST chair). Robert McCraw

was named All-District and received the John Philip Sousa Award.

Michael Harriss received the Semper Fidelis Award and Eric Ramsey

Award. Seniors Kevin Harrison (bass clarinet) and Michael Harriss

(percussion) were accepted by the UNC-Greensboro School of

Music as music majors for Fall 2007 semester.

The band booster program instituted a volunteer service

award [the Richardson Award] to honor a parent or community

member who provides meritorious service to the NHS Instrumen-

tal Music Program. The inaugural award was presented to, and

named for, Jerry Richardson.

Professional Development

✦Member—

• National Association for Music Education

• NC Music Educators’ Association

• NC Central District Bandmasters’ Association

✦2006–2007 Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers

(4TH consecutive edition)

✦Acquired Pyware Visual Software (marching drillwriter

application) in order to create original drills for fall competition

programs.

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New Choral Ensembles Premier as Enrollment ExpandsLoch Adds Solo Performance Studies and

Show Choir with Choreography, Costumes

Amy Loch’s second year as director of the NHS Vocal Arts Program was

marked by increased student enrollment, more community performances,

and new opportunities for students as soloists, ensemble members, and

accompanists.

Classes &

Extracurricular Activities• NHS Concert Choir

• Voice Ensemble [audition required]

• Lyric Choir [audition required]

• Northwood Chorale [audition required]

• NHS Show Choir [audition required]

Extracurricular

• NHS Spring Musical [vocal audition required for leads & chorus]

6

VO

CA

LARTS

Am

y L

oc

h

Show Choir and Voice Ensemble

are two new class opportunities

for Northwood singers.

Program ResourcesStudents rehearse in the Choral Music

classroom or the Benjamin Lee Audito-

rium. The program purchased a Yamaha

Clavinova at the beginning of the 2005–

2006 school year that is used in rehearsals

and performances. Ensembles use choral

risers and acoustic panels for concerts.

The program has NHS choral robes and a

library of approximately 1100 works on

file.

2006–2007 Productions• Fall semester choral students sing

National Anthem at the NHS

Homecoming football game.

• Northwood Chorale performance at

Fearrington in December.

• Holiday Cheer, annual winter concert

with NHS Bands. Largest fundraiser

of the year for CORA Food Pantry.

• Winter Voice Recital

• Lyric Choir performance for CCCC

Child Abuse Awareness Month event

• NHS Show Choir performance for

Spring CCCC Wellness event

• Spring musical, Disney’s Beauty & the Beast

• Spring Voice Recital

• Spring Choral Concert,

That’s Entertainment!

• NHS Graduation performance by Spring

choral students, accompanied by

NHS’ foreign exchange student.

Annual HighlightsFall 2006 marked the premier season for

NHS Voice Ensemble. The NHS Show

Choir was introduced in Spring semester.

Increased community performances were

a feature of many of the groups. During

the winter break, students Kevin Harrison

and Liz Alderman along with Ms. Loch

traveled to Spain for a choral concert tour

as members of the Duke University

Chapel Choir.

A major focus of Spring 2007 was the production of Disney’s Beauty & the Beast, with

more than 150 student performers, musicians, technicians, and artisans. Ms. Loch pre-

pared all singers and conducted the band for the four performances at the end of March.

In conjunction with the NHS drama classes, choral students traveled to Raleigh to

see a collaborative effort of Wake County Schools, NC Theatre, and Broadway South.

The sold out performances of High School Musical, featured a cast of Wake County stu-

dents. In May, NHS Show Choir members performed selections from this show at their

That’s Entertainment! Concert.

Awards were presented at commencement to Outstanding Male Chorus Member,

Zach Wood and Outstanding Female Chorus Member, Danielle Reynolds.

This marked Amy Loch’s final year at Northwood. She and her husband have

moved to California.

Looking AheadRyan Ostrander joins the faculty in 2007 as NHS’ new choral teacher. He is a graduate

of James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA where he majored in piano and

music industry. Previously, Mr. Ostrander was the Director of Choral Activities at

Waynesboro High School in Virginia, where he was named as one of the “Superinten-

dent’s Exemplary First Year Teachers.”

7

Choral music enrollment

increased by 50% from

2005–2006 to 2006–2007

with 3 class periods a year

increasing to 6 classes

(3 each semester). During

the ’05–’06 school year,

39 students participated in

choral ensembles. That

number increased to 80 the

following year.

Concert in the Barn

Northwood Chorale performs seasonal works for their neighbors at Fearrington Village.

Student Artists Excel in School, in Community, and Beyond

The goal of an active arts education program is to

spread beyond the classroom and provide students

with art experiences in the community. Activities

and involvement with artists in our town has lead to

committed art students. Art club has actively partici-

pated in ChathamArts for Hearts. At the Pittsboro

Street Fair, students paint faces and Henna tattoos.

Each year ChathamArts has chosen a NHS student to

work at their gallery as an intern. Students have also

attended field trips to local and state museums. Stu-

dents attend Governors School for Visual Arts--

George Lemontangue & Jessica Heinz (2002), Abbey

Wilson & Mark Gusman (2003), and Daryn Lane &

Lilly Smith (2004). In the past six years many students

have pursued visual arts degrees. Abbey Wilson,

Gretchen Niver and Katie Hobbs are majoring in

Visual Arts Education. Claire Fahrbach, Melanie

Jansen, Karyn Devinney, Luey Bright, Abby Taylor,

and Sarah Simmons are all NHS alumni attending a

North Carolina college for visual art, design or

architecture. George Ultramontane, Mark Gunman

and Stephanie Jansen are attending NC State School

of Design. This very competitive design school ac-

cepts only 100–105 students each year. Molly Carlson

has just graduated from Brevard College with a BFA

in Painting. She plans to continue with an MFA in

painting at Chicago Institute of Art. We celebrate the

success of these students educated in Chatham

County.

As technology has increased the need for visual

artists and designers, so has the demand to prepare

our graduating high school students with skills to pur-

sue the highly competitive field of Art. The increased

demand by our students to enroll in art classes calls

for an investment to provide additional space, re-

sources, and instructors for this vibrant program.

Classes &

Extracurricular Activities• Art I –Introduction to basic drawing, painting, 3-D

design, stop-motion animation and art history.

• Drawing & Painting (prerequisites: Art I and a

portfolio packet.) Students refine drawing and

painting skills preparing for a portfolio. Includes

a study in the History of Painting.

• Fine Crafts (prerequisite: Art I) Students develop

skills in the following fine crafts: Clay Sculpture

and Hand Building, Printmaking, Glass Fusion,

Shibori and Book Arts. Study of the NC crafts

traditions at Penland, Campbell School of

Crafts, and Black Mountain College.

• Senior Exhibit (prerequisite: completion of 3 art

courses) Students in this a class interview a

community artist, exhibit work at a community

gallery, and research an artist in history. They

create a portfolio of work with a theme or me-

dia concentration, write a senior statement,

8

Spring Art Show

An annual NHS event, this year’sshow was held in

conjunction with the NHS Film Festival.

The show featuresSenior Exhibitions as

well as work fromstudents in each of

the visual arts classes.

VIS

UA

LARTS

Le

slie

Bu

we

ll

create show invitations, learn to hang artwork,

install, attend and break down an art show. Stu-

dents spend 25 hours outside of class to com-

plete all course requirements.

Extracurricular

• National Art Honor Society- Meets the 2ND

and 4TH Wednesday of each month. Provides

members access to NAHS scholarships and

juried art shows. Students must have com-

pleted one semester of art with a 3.0 GPA.

• Art Club- Meets 3RD and 4TH Wednesday of the

month. Open to all students interested in art.

• Set Painting for Spring Musical- Open to

any art student. Saturdays and after school.

Program ResourcesThe art classroom accommodates 30 students per

class period. Resources include digital cameras, clay,

slab roller & stop-action animation software, a kiln,

relief and screen printmaking, painting, drawing,

glass fusion, batik and bookmaking supplies. Lack-

ing permanent gallery space, portable gallery boards

are used for temporary art exhibitions.

2006–2007 Productions• Winter & Spring Student Art Shows at NHS

• Fall CCCC Exhibit, Chatham Studio Tour

Opening

• Senior Art Exhibit at Northwood.

• Spring Senior Exhibit at ChathamArts Main

Street Gallery

• Inaugural National Art Honor Society Induction

Ceremony

• Publicity Design, Set Design & Decoration for

2007 NHS Spring Musical

Highlights of the Year• Established NHS chapter National Art Honor

Society (NAHS)

• Student card and calendar sale

• Dinner & A Show—Dinner fundraiser held in con-

junction with Winter Art Show

• Entries, field trips to the Chatham County Fair

and the NC State Fair

• Art Club field trip to NYC Museum of Modern

Art and Broadway plays

• Received Chatham Education Foundation grant

for cameras & animation software

• Student intern at the ChathamArts Main Street

Gallery: Daryn Lane

• NAHS Senior Star Award Winners: Eli Burke,

Katie Hobbs, Gretchen Niver

• North Carolina Teaching Fellow Scholarship

Award: Katie Hobbs (Art Major)

• Accepted to North Carolina School of the Arts in

Winston Salem to study art: Kaitlyn Phillips

Professional Development • Attended NCAT for National Board Preparation

• Scholarships as a studio assistant at Penland

• National Board Certification Application

• Member, National Art Education Association

• Member, Americans for the Arts

Looking AheadContinuing growth in enrollment for art classes is

great enough to warrant an additional art teacher

and additional classroom/art lab space. This would

facilitate the much needed program expansion to

include higher level classes and art AP class offer-

ings. The addition of design & graphic art course-

work would enhance the program and more ade-

quately prepare students for future education and

career opportunities. Dedicated gallery space would

facilitate continuous exhibitions and public display

of student work.

9

Dance Students Study Technique,Choreography & Performance

Northwood’s dance program is the oldest in the NC public schools. It

began in 1974 when Superintendent Perry Harrison applied for a

National Endowment for the Arts grant to fund a proposal called Pro-

ject Entice. Since that initial three-year grant, dance has continued to

be an integral part of NHS arts education. This is Leah Smith’s sec-

ond year as dance instructor. Previously, she taught dance and art at

Eastern Alamance High School in Mebane. Smith is a graduate of

East Carolina University and will be sending several students there in

the Fall of 2007 to continue their dance studies. 

Classes• Dance 1: 60–65 Students per school year

• Dance 2: 28 students

• Advanced Technique: 25 students

• Dance Company: 15 students [audition required]

• Dance Ensemble: 17 students [audition required]

Program ResourcesClasses take place in the dance studio. It has a wooden floor that

mimics the auditorium floor so students get comfortable perform-

ing in bare feet, as they do during concerts. Dance performances

take place in the auditorium. Concerts make extensive use of the

sound system with onstage monitors for dancers in addition to the

house speakers for the audience. Lighting is a critical aspect of the

concerts and lighting design is part of the design concept when

pieces are choreographed. Recent upgrades include the purchase

of three portable, adjustable ballet barres for teaching the unit on

ballet and ballet history.

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In October, the Dance Company

traveled to Meredith College to

participate in a day of master

classes with professional dancers.

DA

NC

ESTUDIES

Le

ah

Sm

ith

2006–2007 ProductionsThe Dance Department mounts a Winter and a Spring Concert

each year. Concerts features original dance pieces choreographed

by Smith. Additionally, students in Dance 2 may audition to cho-

reograph a piece as well as for solos and duets. Concerts constitute

a portion of dancers’ semester grades.

Highlights of the YearDuring the fall, the Dance Company traveled to Meredith College

to participate in a day of master classes with professional dancers.

After the classes, they performed a piece from their upcoming

Winter Concert for master class participants. Roughly 500–600

people attended each dance concert during the year.

Smith choreographed, and her dancers performed in, the

spring musical, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.

Student Awards

• Choreographer’s Award, Governor’s School for Dance,

Student Choreographer – Spring Concert: Heather Beau

• Overall Excellence in the Arts, Student Choreographer-Spring

and Winter Concerts: Jenna Arthurs

• Director’s Award: Sapphire Devore

• Seniors majoring in Dance Education: Jenna Arthurs,

Heather Beau, Kourtney Timm

Professional DevelopmentMaster classes every summer in various disciplines.

Looking AheadSmith plans to collaborate with arts education faculty to develop

works for future dance concerts. Other goals included increasing

the level of technique in concerts and including more student cho-

reography. By improving publicity, the program hopes to increase

attendance for each performance.

Needed auditorium improvements include a streamlined, easy

to operate, advanced lighting system; a refinished stage floor; and

an improved sound system.

Smith plans to increase volunteer opportunities to assist with

props and costumes in the coming year.

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2007–2008 Calendar of Events (tentative)

September

22 Marching Band Competition, Dixie Classic, Danville, VA

29 Marching Band Competition, Mid-Atlantic Contest of

Champions, Myrtle Beach, SC

October

20 Marching Band Competition, Central NC Band

Festival, Elon, NC

27 Marching Band Competition, Brick Capital Classic,

Sanford, NC

November

3 Marching Band Competition, TBA

15 Drama Performance, 7 PM

16 Drama Performance, 7 PM

17 Drama Performance, 7 PM

December

11 Choral Recital, 7 PM

13 Band & Choral Winter Concert, 7 PM

15 Dance Concert, 7 PM

16 Dance Concert, 3 PM

January

10 Art Show & Dinner, 6 - 9 PM

February

21 Band Middle School Tour

22 Band Middle School Tour

March

13 Spring Musical, 7 PM

14 Spring Musical, 7 PM

15 Spring Musical, 7 PM

April

22 Percussion Ensemble/Jazz Ensemble Concert – 7 PM

May

3 Dance Concert, 7 PM

4 Dance Concert, 4 PM

8 Choral Recital, 7 PM

22 Band Memorial Day Concert, 7 PM

June

7 Art Show & Film Festival, 6 - 9 PM

An Opportunity and a ChallengeThe performing arts are a powerful means of expression and a

valuable learning tool. Each year, our community has the oppor-

tunity to match the efforts of this dedicated cadre of students and

teachers. By investing our own combined talents, creativity, vision,

determination, and resources to this program, we can ensure that it

will continue to flourish in the decades to come.

All community members are invited the join the NHS Band

Boosters, a support group for the instrumental music program, as

well as the newly organized NHS Arts Education Foundation.

We encourage you to join us as a volunteer, patron, sponsor or

contributor to Arts Education activities at Northwood High

School. Make plans to attend a band competition, a drama per-

formance, a choral recital, a dance concert or art exhibit. We look

forward to seeing you!

Links of Interest1. Chatham County Schools

2. Northwood High School

3. Northwood Marching Charger Band Website

4. NHS Marching Charger Online Band Shop

NHS FacultyLeslie Burwell Visual Arts

lburwell@chatham.k12.nc.us

Lori Major Carlin Theater Arts

lmajor@chatham.k12.nc.us

Eugene Cottrell Instrumental Music

cottrell@chatham.k12.nc.us

Ryan Ostrander Vocal Arts

ostranderwr@chatham.k12.nc.us

Leah Smith Dance

lksmith@chatham.k12.nc.us

Make Your Contribution TodayContact

Lori Major CarlinChair, Arts Education Dept.Northwood High SchoolPittsboro, NC 27312919.542.4181lmajor@chatham.k12.nc.us

© 2007 Northwood High School Arts Education DepartmentNorthwood High School, Pittsboro, NC 27312Photos: Jerry Richardson, George Gregor-Holt, Amy Loch, & Gina HarrisonDesign & Layout: Gina HarrisonContact Lori Major Carlin for digital copies of this report.

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