Where Creativity Takes Center Stage
The Performing Arts are designed to inspire creativity, foster self-expression, and cultivate a lifelong appreciation for the arts in students of all ages. All students through grade 8 participate in music each year, exploring rhythm, harmony, and performance while discovering what brings them joy. As an integral part of student life, all students through grade 8 are required to enroll in at least one music class each year, giving them the opportunity to explore different aspects of the arts and discover what they enjoy. These foundational courses introduce students to rhythm, note reading, and ensemble collaboration, building both confidence and musical skill. As students move into the upper grades, the program expands with a broader range of performing arts electives that allow them to deepen their talents and pursue individual passions.
Students who wish to extend their artistry can audition for regional and state festivals, performing alongside talented peers from across Connecticut. Theater also thrives at Rectory through the annual Spring Musical, open to all students in grades 4–9, offering roles both on stage and behind the scenes in set design, lighting, and sound.
All performances come to life in the P.Y. & Kinmay Tang Performing Arts Center and George S. Brewster Odeum—home to practice rooms, rehearsal spaces, and the 236-seat Scripps Auditorium. Here, every student finds their voice, takes creative risks, and discovers the joy of performing together.
9th-Grade Ensemble
The ninth-grade ensemble is one of the ninth-grade related arts choices. This group consists of instrumentalists with several years of experience on any woodwind, brass, string, percussion instrument, or piano. Students in this group focus on playing in chamber ensembles, in duets and solos. Students have the opportunity to utilize classtime in order to practice their instrument of choice or to prepare for state-wide music festivals. This group performs in three concerts during the school year: The Fall Family Weekend Prism Concert, December Winter Concert and the Spring Family Weekend Concert.Ā
Jazz Band
Rectory's middle school jazz band is an audition-basedĀ group consisting of woodwind, brass, percussion, and string players with prior experience. The jazz band meets one morning per week before school startsĀ and prepares a variety of repertoire for three concerts throughout the year including the Fall Family Weekend Prism concert, the December winter concert, and the Spring Family Weekend Spring Concert.Ā
Blues, Bop, and Beats
Blues, Bop, and Beats is one of three eighth-grade music Related ArtsĀ offerings. During this course, students have the opportunity to learn about a smattering of topics within music history and appreciation such as: the history of jazz, pop music, rock, fusion, the art of sampling, and many more!
Beginning Band
The beginning band is part of the fifth and sixth-grade music curriculum at Rectory. During the fifth-grade year, students select a band instrumentĀ (woodwind, brass, or percussion) to study during their fifth and sixth-grade years as they learn the basics of musicianship.Ā
World Drumming
World Drumming is one of three eighth-grade music Related Arts offerings. Throughout this course, students learn how to play the djembe (a type of drum originating in West Africa) as well as a variety of traditional songs, instruments, and dance throughout the world including Japanese taiko drumming, steel pan from Trinidad and Tobago, American sea shanty and many more. This group plays during the Fall Family Weekend Prism concert.
Ocarina
Ocarina is one of three eighth-grade music Related Arts offerings. During this course, students receive an ocarina (an ancient vessel flute) and method book. Through the course of the term, students learn how to play the ocarina, the basics of rhythm and note reading as well as student-selected music. This group plays during the Fall Family Weekend Prism concert.
Orchestra
Rectory's middle school orchestra consists of students in grades 5-9 with several years prior experience playing a musical instrument (woodwind, brass, string, or percussion) and who have an interest in playing in a large ensemble! The orchestraĀ meets three times per week and prepares a variety of repertoire for three concerts throughout the year including the Fall Family Weekend Prism concert, the December winter concert, and the Spring Family Weekend Spring Concert.Ā
Guitar Class
The Guitar class is one of the ninth-grade related course offerings that students can choose from. This class is for students of all levels, as students set their own goals with the teacher and learn everything from basic chords and strumming patterns to more advanced tablature and other fingerpicking styles. Students work in group instruction as well as on individual projects, choosing their own music and working together to perform at several concerts throughout the year.
RECapella
RECapella is Rectory's audition-based acapella group of 12-16 students. This group meets one time per week before the start of the academic day. They are a highly motivated and talented group of students who sing more complex music in four part harmony. The group participates in the song selection process and sings mostly pop songs. In addition to performing at the three Rectory school-wide concerts, the group is often asked to perform at special events such as Board meetings, alumni weekends, and other special ceremonies.
Spring Musical
Each year, Rectory does a Spring Musical which is open to all students in grades 4-9. All are welcome, but specific parts are determined through an audition process in January. Throughout the winter and spring terms, students work together to learn music, choreography, and blocking for their final production in May. There are also opportunities for students to help with lights, sound, set design, and costumes. Whether students come with prior experience or are simply curious to try something new, the annual spring musical has proven to be a fun, creative, and safe place in which students can explore the many aspects of theater. Past shows have included Annie, Willy Wonka, Guys and Dolls, Beauty and the Beast, Alice in Wonderland, Aladdin, Once On this Island, and many more!
Chorus
The Rectory Middle School Chorus meets three times a week and is open to all students in the grades 5-9Ā Students learn a variety of repertoire ranging from pop and musical theater styles which are performed at the fall Prism Concert to more traditional choral music which is performed during the Holiday Service of Lessons and Carols and the Holiday Pops Concert. We pride ourselves on working on three to four-part music in which students can improve their reading skills as well as their ability to hear and sing harmony while developing healthy vocal techniques. There are opportunities for students to sing short solos both within the ensemble and at the many on-campus performing venues such as monthly chapels and open-mic events.