The Arts

The critically important role of the arts in the academy, as in life, is to enable us to see the world and the human condition differently, and in seeing the world through a particular work of art, to see a truth we might not have understood before.

– Tom Cronin, political scientist and educator

The fine arts department at St. George's is a place where students' inquiry and curiosity are met with opportunity and challenge. Student involvement and leadership are at the heart of our theatrical, instrumental, choral, and visual arts programs. From Kindermusik at Little Georgies to building sets for upper school plays, the fourth grade recital to national recognition in the Scholastic Arts and Writing competition, the Arts are center to our students' abilities to reflect on decisions, embrace healthy risk and learn from occasional failure. In this way, through a disciplined mind, adventurous spirit and a brave heart they are able to meet the world exactly as it is and leave it more beautiful than they found it.

We offer opportunities for many art mediums for lower, middle, and upper school students. In the lower school, Morgan Pattison teaches arts at the Germantown campus and Adam Woodruff teaches art/music at the Memphis campus. Allison Webb and Danny Broadway are our Artists-in-Residence in the middle and upper school. Access the middle/upper school course descriptions for visual arts.

Allison Webb

Fine Arts Department Chair

Let It Be - Modern Music Ensemble from SGIS Gryphons on Vimeo.

Theatre Arts

The arts department encompasses the performing, visual, and musical arts. All sixth grade students take an exploratory course in public speaking and speech writing. Throughout the rest of their St. George’s experience, opportunities to participate in a play, creative storytelling, or complete in forensics competitions abound. Courses in theater arts, speech, and acting are also offered in the upper school.

Musical Arts

All sixth grade students select chorus or band as class options, either of which may be taken as an elective course in seventh and eighth grade. In the upper school, students may elect to take classes in chorus, advanced chorus, or band.

Rebecca's Light Visiting Artists Program

Visual Arts

Visual art offerings are extensive. Most students take a visual art course every year in the middle school. In the upper school, students select from Introduction to Visual Arts, Visual Arts II, Advanced Painting, Advanced Drawing, Photography, Pottery, and Printmaking.