The Arts

Every Child is an Artist and Every Artist Has a Voice

Whether your child is painting with upcycled materials in class, building a story through mixed media in the video elective, singing in harmony at Assembly, or standing in the spotlight of our Spring Musical, they’re growing in courage, creativity, and self-expression every day.

At Berkeley Hall, the arts are a vital part of every child’s education.

Learn More About:

Visual Arts

Art That Comes From the Heart

Step into our art studio and you’ll find joyful and focused young artists at work. This stunning space overlooking the mountains and ocean beyond our sports field, is where creativity takes shape. It’s where projects are built over time, layer by layer, thought by thought. Every piece is a rewarding journey of discovery.

From nursery through 8th grade, our visual arts program meets each child where they are, providing them with lots of inspiration and excitement along the way. Students learn the traditional techniques of light, shadow, color theory, and composition. And they do so from a contemporary lens that invites thought and awareness.

The curriculum connects students to their own world and beyond, drawing inspiration from folk and world art, music, history, and the legacy of artists past and present. They learn to be fearless creators and caring citizens.

What Makes the BHS Visual Arts Program Pop:

Emphasis on storytelling, identity, and cultural connections
Use of sustainable, upcycled materials
Projects that grow week by week, building depth and mastery
Exposure to contemporary artists from diverse backgrounds
A studio that doubles as a gallery where students reflect, revise, and celebrate each other’s work

Student coloring a picture with a marker in art class

Performing Arts

A Place to Shine, Speak Up, and Step Into Character

In Theater class, your child reaches beyond memorizing lines, to find their voice.

Beginning in first grade, students are immersed in a program designed to build confidence, curiosity, and empathy. They learn how to speak up with strength and clarity, collaborate with their peers, and bring stories to life on stage.

By middle school, students can choose to join our robust elective program and participate in the much-anticipated Spring Musical, a BHS tradition that brings together over half of our Middle School students. They rise to the challenge of professional-level productions with enthusiasm, taking on roles in acting, costuming, tech, and set design.

What Makes Our Theater Program Shine:

Starts in Grade 1 - years earlier than many other schools
Focus on collaboration, confidence, and leadership
High expectations met with enthusiastic commitment from students
Life skills like public speaking, improvisation, and team-building
Real-world rehearsal experience in our Uhlmann Center for the Performing Arts

Music

Learning to Listen, Play, and Explore

Music at Berkeley Hall is an invitation to discover and find expression. From the earliest grades, students build a foundation in rhythm, melody, and musical literacy by singing and moving.

Using a hands-on approach, students then learn to play a wide variety of instruments including percussion, ukulele, xylophone, and recorder. As they discover melodies and global traditions, they grow in their understanding of music as a language that brings people together.

What You’ll Find in Our Music Program:

Age-appropriate instrument instruction and ensemble work
Opportunities to create, improvise, and perform
Exposure to a wide range of genres and world music
Music theory taught through play and movement
Emotional expression and collaboration

Chorus

Where Voices Create Community

Our choral program offers students an uplifting way to connect through song. Beginning in the lower grades and expanding in Middle School, chorus nurtures vocal technique, musical expression, and teamwork. Our experienced teachers create a supportive, spirited environment for students of all levels for this yearlong elective that meets twice a week before the start of the school day. The ensemble performs at school assemblies, events, and celebrations, perfecting their skills and poise, and projecting joy throughout our campus.

Chorus Highlights:

Inclusive participation for all interested students
Performances that uplift the entire community
Training in harmony, breath support, and vocal tone
A blend of contemporary, classical, and global repertoire
An emphasis on joy, unity, and confidence

Digital Arts

Shaping Stories with Skill and Intention

Our Digital Arts offerings include photography and video production for Middle School, with students stepping behind the lens and learning how to frame, film, and tell stories that matter.

Students capture moments from nature on our beautiful campus and practice how to slow down and look closely. Using professional cameras, editing tools, and real-world production techniques, they explore the use of light, sound, imagery, and composition to influence meaning.

Our programs are designed to develop both technical skills and an artistic eye, and help students grow as creators, collaborators, and thoughtful communicators.

What You’ll Find in Digital Arts at BHS:

Hands-on experience with DSLR cameras and video production tools
Photo and video projects centered on identity, environment, and storytelling
Lessons in framing, lighting, pacing, and post-production editing
Creative roles from writer to director to editor
Gallery-style exhibitions and film showcases that celebrate student work

I tell our students to put their hearts into their art. If I can teach our young artists anything, it's to consistently look at the world through the lens of love and to see the similarities and beauty in everything.

Emily Green, Art Teacher

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