BPS VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS CENTER FOR CREATIVITY
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    • Music >
      • Band Instruments
      • Band Book Play-a-longs >
        • 1. Improvise: Concert F
        • 6. Improvise: Concert E flat
        • 12. Improvise: Concert D
        • 20. Improvise: Concert C
        • 26. Improvise: Concert B flat
        • 32. Improvise: New Rhythm Workout
        • 37. Improvise: Put It All Together
        • 43. Improvise: Concert G
        • 50. Improvise: Concert A
        • 56. Improvise: Put It All Together
        • 70. Improvise: New Rhythm Workout
        • 71. Improvise: Concert A flat
        • 77. Improvise: New Rhythm Workout
        • 78. Improvise: New Rhythm Workout
        • 80. Improvise: New Rhythm Workout
        • 87. Improvise: E natural
        • 93. Improvise with Let's Go Band
        • 95. Improvise: Concert A low
        • 101. Seven Nation Army
        • 102. Improvise: Concert G and F low
        • 103. Improvise: How Low Can You Go?
        • 119. Improvise: Feeling Bluesy
    • Visual & Media Arts
    • Theatre
    • Virtual Learning >
      • Virtual Field Trips, SY 22-23
      • Virtual Field Trips, SY 21-22
      • Virtual Field Trips, SY 20-21
      • Virtual Center for Creativity
      • Virtual Citywide Arts Festival
  • Partner Connection
  • BPS Arts Expansion
BPS Visual and Performing Arts Department
Annual Citywide Events

Citywide Arts Festival
WHEN: May 31st, June 1st, and June 2nd, 2023 | 9:300AM-1:00PM
WHERE: Parkman Bandstand, Boston Common | 
139 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02108
(rain location TBD)


BPS students will present three jam-packed days with music, dance, and theatre performances from all across the district. Join us as actor and theatre educator Naheem Garcia once again hosts the Citywide Arts Festival as our emcee!

Creativity is alive in the Boston Public Schools! BPS students have access to a wide range of arts opportunities, both in schools and through our arts partners. Together, arts teachers and community artists help Boston youth to think creatively and critically, discover possibilities, and express ideas. The BPS Visual & Performing Arts Department supports this work through district-wide resources, BPS Arts Expansion, and a host of partner programs.

This Year's Participating Ensembles 
​
Blackstone Elementary Chorus
Boston Latin School Big Band
Boston Latin School Gospel Choir
Boston Latin School Jazz Standards
Boston Arts Academy Honors Dance Students
Channing Elementary Ensemble
Charlestown High School Dance
Curley K-8 Ambassadors of Theater
Curley K-8 Chorus
Curley K-8 Dancers
Dudley Street Neighborhood Charter School Choir
Dudley Street Neighborhood Charter School Dance Club
Edison K-8 Altezzas Step Team
Edison K-8 "Change Sings" Ensemble
Eliot K-8 Instrumental Ensemble
Ellis Elementary Dance
Ellis Elementary Theatre
Everett Elementary Dance
Grew Elementary Theatre Ensemble
Haley Pilot School Chorus
Hernández K-8 Ukulele Ensembles
Josiah Quincy Elementary Chorus
Josiah Quincy Upper School Band
Kenny School Singers
Mather Movers (Mather Elementary)
McKay K-8 Musical Theatre
Mildred Avenue K-8 Dance Troupe
Nathan Hale Elementary Percussion
New Mission High School Titans
Sumner Elementary Music+
Warren Prescott Musical Theatre


​CONTACT    
Emmanuel Toledo at etoledo@bostonpublicschools.org
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Summer Arts Programs
Summer 2022 featuring the exciting return to our in-person summer programming and included the following events in July:

Boston Symphony Orchestra Days in the Arts (DARTS) at BPS
  • location: Boston Latin School and Tanglewood
  • grades: 6-8
  • one week of music, visual arts, and theatre

BPS Concert Band, Choir, and String Intensive
  • location: Boston Latin School
  • grades: 7-12
  • two weeks of instrumental and vocal ensemble training

Summer Arts at Boston Arts Academy
  • location: Community Academy of Science and Health
  • grades: 7-9
  • one week of film and dance
​
​Information about our summer offerings will be available in the spring. Stay tuned!
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Previous Events
CANCELED - Day of Piano at BAA
WHEN: Friday, May 12th, 2023 | 10:00AM-12:30PM
WHERE: Boston Arts Academy — Recital Hall | 174 Ipswich St, Boston, MA 02215

Join us at the new state-of-the-art Boston Arts Academy building in Fenway as we enjoy piano performances from musicians across BPS!
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Day of Dance at BAA
WHEN: Thursday, May 9th, 2023 | 10:00AM-12:30PM
WHERE: Boston Arts Academy — Auditorium | 174 Ipswich St, Boston, MA 02215

Join us at the new state-of-the-art Boston Arts Academy building in Fenway for an extravaganza featuring dance programs across BPS!
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High School Theatre Festival
WHEN: Thursday, May 4, 2023
​WHERE: Boston Arts Academy — Auditorium | 174 Ipswich St, Boston, MA 02215


The High School Theatre Festival features school-based theatre ensembles from across the district in a performance and workshop setting. Get ready for a thrilling evening!


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K-8 Theatre Festival

WHEN: Thursday, April 13, 2023
​WHERE: Hibernian Hall | 184 Dudley St #200, Boston, MA 02119

​
​
CONTACT
Paul Sedgwick at psedgwick@bostonpublicschools.org or 617-635-6581.

Youth Art Month Celebration
WHEN: March 2023 | 12:00-2:00PM
WHERE: Boston City Hall

Each year we showcase the work of BPS artists from across the district. The featured works of art reflect the quality instruction of our teachers and the dedication, skill development, and creativity of our students. Students, families and the general public may view our video compilation from 2021 or explore individual galleries by using the
YAM 2021 Exhibition Directory. 

View Last Year's YAM Virtual Exhibition
* Another Course to College
* Boston Arts Academy
* Boston International Newcomers Academy: PESO Video, Hobin Video
* Charlestown High
* Clap Elementary
* Condon School: Artsteps, Video
* Curley K-8: Freiburger Video, Freiburger Artsteps,
* Curley K-8: Pizzi Video
* Excel High
* Harvard Kent School
* Henderson Upper: Gsell Padlet, Gsell Video
* Henderson Upper: Zaremba Art at Home, Brush Ninja, and YAM Video
* J.P. Manning School
* Joseph Lee School
* Josiah Quincy Elementary
* Kenny Elementary: Slideshow, Video
* Kilmer Lower School
* Lila G. Frederick Middle School
* Mattahunt School
* McCormack School
* O'Bryant High 
* Tynan Elementary
* Warren-Prescott School
* Winship Elementary

CONTACT: Amy Wedge at atatreau@bostonpublicschools.org or 617-635-9278.

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40th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration
WHEN: Thursday, January 12th, 2023 | 6:30pm to 9:00pm
WHERE: Jeremiah E. Burke High School

 
The Boston Public Schools (BPS) invites the public to attend the 40th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration featuring dance and music performances from BPS Students. We're excited to host this year's event at the Jeremiah E. Burke High School in Dorchester with Boston 25 News' Crystal Haynes as our emcee! The event will be livestreamed on the Boston 25 News website (URL will be available soon — stay tuned).
 
The performances will celebrate and reflect on Dr. King’s words and legacy as we live it today, and connect with the civil rights leader’s overarching themes of non-violence, justice, hope, community, and equality.

American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation will be available.

PROGRAM ORDER AND GROUP BIOS
​Burke High School JROTC

Boston Latin School Big Band

Directed by Paul Pitts
Soloists for "Across the Track Blues": Aiden Dogherty (clarinet), Sofia Daffin (trumpet), Justin Gao (trombone)
Soloists for "E's Flat and Ah's Flat Too": 
Kenny Kotsalidis (bass), Favour Ekong Ndah (baritone saxophone), Okeoghene Ogege-Abedi (vocals), Ian Bhatt (alto saxophone)

Burke High School Dance Team
Burke Dance Team works on dance technique and artistry. As a group, students build community, confidence, positivity, and friendships. There are also multiple opportunities throughout the year to perform.

Members: Rejahn Brown, Marie Cime, Melissa Dias, Destiny Fisher, Zyasua Kemp, Angela Orielen, Alicia Rose, Valdira Semedo
Choreography and Dance Team Leader: Janelle Gilchrist


DEAFinitely Crew — Horace Mann School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
DEAFinitely, Inc. is a non- profit organization that serves Deaf and hearing youth representing multi-lingual, cultural, racial, and socio-economic diversity. DEAFinitely youth learn to communicate and work together as a team, expressing positive messages through dance and American Sign Language. Connections developed between youth transcend through the performing arts, mobilizing diverse communities of all ages and backgrounds to bridge cultures, languages and differences.

Members: Joao Paulo Nunes Magalhaes, Larissa Robbins Vang, Omar Vladi, Giovanni Camarro, Ivan Ramirez Lopez, Inaky Calmo Mendoza, Eylyn Carranza Constancia, Junior Mendez, Luis Merida Merida, Kaneil Foreshaw, Edward Veras, Safa Alsabahi, Elian Caba Sanchez, David Evans, Deibyn Orozco Mauricio, Kelvin Guzman Castillo, Cora Neate-Harris, Ashon Laforce, Cash Bailey, Lucy Howard-Karp, Reilly Siman, Emmett Shrier, Maria Apolinaris-Cruz

Choreography and Coaches: Jamie Robinson, Felicia McGinnis, John Ying, Ivy Chow, DEAFinitely’s ASL Translation Crew

Boston Arts Academy Dance
Kyre Ambrose, soloist/choreographer, 12th grade

Edison K-8 Altezzas Step Team 

Lovely Hoffman, Coach

BPS History and Social Studies Department MLK Jr. Essay Contest Winners

O'Bryant School of Mathematics and Science

Shaleeca Joseph (solo piano/composer) is in 11th grade at the O'Bryant. She has been learning piano for 3 years in school, at church and at home and can already play several original compositions!

The OB Hip-Hop Collective is led by O'Bryant senior and rapper Ajary Alexandre. A place to go to find your creative flow!
Members: Ajary Alexandre (vocals), Jaden Riley (vocals), Tanisha Belizaire (piano), Elisha Pritchard (drums)
Music Coach: Benjamin Drabkin

Kenny Elementary School Singers
Directed by Jerry Chu

Kenny Singers perform throughout the Boston school community and have performed for many meaningful events. Kenny singers today are mostly grade 4 including grade 5 and 6 students.
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Holidays at Bolling
WHEN: Friday, December 16th 2022 | 9:30AM to 12:45PM
WHERE: Bolling C. Bolling Municipal Building, 2300 Washington Street, Roxbury, MA | 1st floor lobby
​
Boston Public Schools (BPS) invites the public to attend the annual BPS Holidays at Bolling. This event features school-based ensembles and classes from across the district in a lunchtime concert in the main lobby. 

PERFORMING GROUPS:

Boston Latin Academy Chorus
Burke High School Dance Team
Curley Dance Group and Chorus
Edison K-8 Altezzas Step Team
Edison K-8 Shining Lights Choir
English High School Chorus and the Holiday Horns
Eliot K-8 Choir
Holmes Honor Choir & Friends
Josiah Quincy Elementary School Chorus
Kenny School Singers
Mather Movers
Mildred Avenue Dance Troupe & Break Dancers
O'Bryant High School — Shaleeca Joseph, solo piano
PJ Kennedy Grade 3 Holiday Chorus
Sumner Elementary Dance
Warren-Prescott Chorus
West Zone Super Star Dancers

CONTACT    
Emmanuel Toledo at etoledo@bostonpublicschools.org or 617-635-9278.
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Welcome Back Night for BPS Arts Educators
We are excited to reconnect as a department at the historic Hibernian Hall.  We will enjoy great food, hear some department updates, and connect in breakout groups within each arts discipline.  This is an in-person event and will not be on Zoom or recorded. 

WHEN: Monday, October 3rd from 4:30pm-7:00pm

WHERE: Hibernian Hall, 184 Dudley Street, Boston, MA 
BPS Arts educators can register here! Food allergy information can only be collected until Monday, September 26th so that the vendor has enough time to prepare the food requests. 
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BPS ARTS OFFICE
Campbell Resource Center
1216 Dorchester Ave.
Boston, MA 02215

OUR MISSION

The BPS Visual and Performing Arts Department aims to provide excellence, access, and equity in arts education for all Boston Public Schools students. Learn more

CONTACT US

617-635-9278
etoledo@bostonpublicschools.org
  • Home
  • District-Wide
    • BPS Arts Office Staff
    • Events
  • Summer
  • Gallery
  • Pedagogy
    • Professional Development >
      • SY 22-23
      • SY 21-22
      • SY 20-21
    • Transformative SEL in the Arts
    • Artist Spotlight
    • Dance
    • Music >
      • Band Instruments
      • Band Book Play-a-longs >
        • 1. Improvise: Concert F
        • 6. Improvise: Concert E flat
        • 12. Improvise: Concert D
        • 20. Improvise: Concert C
        • 26. Improvise: Concert B flat
        • 32. Improvise: New Rhythm Workout
        • 37. Improvise: Put It All Together
        • 43. Improvise: Concert G
        • 50. Improvise: Concert A
        • 56. Improvise: Put It All Together
        • 70. Improvise: New Rhythm Workout
        • 71. Improvise: Concert A flat
        • 77. Improvise: New Rhythm Workout
        • 78. Improvise: New Rhythm Workout
        • 80. Improvise: New Rhythm Workout
        • 87. Improvise: E natural
        • 93. Improvise with Let's Go Band
        • 95. Improvise: Concert A low
        • 101. Seven Nation Army
        • 102. Improvise: Concert G and F low
        • 103. Improvise: How Low Can You Go?
        • 119. Improvise: Feeling Bluesy
    • Visual & Media Arts
    • Theatre
    • Virtual Learning >
      • Virtual Field Trips, SY 22-23
      • Virtual Field Trips, SY 21-22
      • Virtual Field Trips, SY 20-21
      • Virtual Center for Creativity
      • Virtual Citywide Arts Festival
  • Partner Connection
  • BPS Arts Expansion