News From The Arts

The Princeton Public Schools Visual and Performing Arts department is pleased to share an electronic newsletter with information about recent and upcoming events. We are grateful for the tremendous community support for our programs and invite you to attend our many events so that you may experience the incredible and inspiring work of our students. If the cost of admission would present a financial hardship for your family, please contact us at patricklenihan@princetonk12.org . For more information, please visit our website at: www.princetonk12.org/TheArts .

Active participation in an arts program is a critical component in every child’s education. Arts programs enrich students’ lives and provide a vehicle for them to communicate and express human emotion and ideas. In addition, the study of the arts prepares students to be successful in a twenty-first century world that demands innovative thinking and creativity in an increasingly competitive global society. We believe that all students are capable of growth in the arts and that there are skills and concepts inherent in the arts that cannot be taught in other disciplines. Participation in an arts program allows students to make connections across content areas and cultural boundaries. The arts enable personal, intellectual, social, economic, and human growth by fostering creativity and providing opportunities for expression beyond the limits of language.

We support this mission through our instruction aligned to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards (NJSLS) and to the National Core Arts Standards. We are a nationally-recognized program, and Princeton High School has been designated a New Jersey Model School in the Arts. Our distinguished faculty members provide sequential instruction in each arts discipline, challenging each student to reach his or her potential.

Our PHS team had an incredible day at the STANJ Theatre Arts Competition on Saturday, January 11, 2025. Congratulations to the following students who were awarded top honors during the Awards Ceremony:

• Maxime DeVico - Dramatic Monologue Finalist
• Jadon Neal & David Seliger - Comedic Pairs Finalists
• Gretchen Martin & Luke Gitterman - Comedic Pairs Finalists
• Jimmy McAloon & Peter Niforatos - Improv Pairs Finalists
• Anna Kaufman - Musical Solo Finalist
• Zoe Nuland & Peter Niforatos - Dramatic Pairs, 6th Place
• Konrad Hedges & Anna Kaufman - Musical Pairs, 6th Place
• Jacob Zacks & Noa Zacks - Improv Pairs, 4th Place
• Quinn Gallagher - Contrasting Monologues, 3rd Place
• Act I scene from Rumors, with Sylven Waldman, Alexandra Sandt, Konrad Hedges, Serafina Joseph, Anna Kaufman and Maxime DeVico - 6th Place in the Best Scene category
• Act II scene from Rumors, with Noa Zacks, Sebastian Bongiovi, Luke Gitterman, Peter Niforatos, Gretchen Martin, Quinn Gallagher, Etienne Garcia, Ivy Cordle, Jadon Neal, and Jacob Zacks - 3rd Place in the Best Scene category
• Noa Zacks - 2nd Place in Best Actress for the Rumors, Act II scene
• Peter Niforatos - 3rd Place in Best Actor for the Rumors, Act II scene
• Konrad Hedges & Peter Niforatos - Pantomime Pairs, 1st Place
• Grace Waldman - Stage Manager, 1st Place
• Stephanie Liao - Communication Media Arts, 1st Place
• Anna Kaufman & Luke Gitterman - Improv Pairs, 1st Place and Governor's Award Winners
• Our Musical Ensemble number “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown,” featuring Sylven Waldman, Anna Kaufman, Konrad Hedges, Emily Suttmeier, Serafina Joseph and Luke Gitterman - 1st Place in the Musical Ensemble category

Congratulations to all of our students on their efforts to prepare for the competition and for their performance during the event. This year’s great success is a reflection of their hard work, teamwork, dedication, and talent in our theatre program.

Please join us in congratulating the following theatre students who

won top awards from the New Jersey Thespian Festival:

· New Jersey Governor's Award for Lighting Design: Florencia Curchitser

· Superior Acting: Monologues: Sylven Waldman

· Superior Acting: Monologues: Mani Martinez

· Superior Lighting Design: Florencia Curchitser

· Superior Sound Design: Colin Lansky

· Superior Props Design: Robyn Wachtel

· Superior Musical Solo: Serafina Joseph

· Superior Musical Solo: Anna Kaufman

· Superior Musical Solo: Sylven Waldman

· Superior Musical Theatre Dance: Jacob Zacks

Please join us in congratulating the following PMS music students who qualified for Region and All-State honors ensembles:

· Adam Allaway, CJMEA Region Orchestra

· Yochin Chang, CJMEA Region and All-State Orchestra

· Claire Hodgson, CJMEA Region and All-State Orchestra

· Sophie Huang, CJMEA Region and All-State Orchestra

· Katherine Lee, CJMEA Region Band

· Emily Tang, CJMEA Region and All-State Orchestra

· Luke Taylor, CJMEA Region Band

· Luciana Velez, NJAJE All-State Jazz Band

· Hannah Wang, CJMEA Region Band

· Anna Yang, CJMEA Region Orchestra

We were able to take seven ensembles to the National Jazz Festival in Philadelphia on March 22 for performances and clinics. We had an outstanding day. Below are the results:

· Princeton Studio Band - 1st Place

· Princeton Studio Combo - 2nd Place

· Princeton Studio Vocals - 2nd Place

· Judges' Choice Award: Olivia Hegedus, Alto Sax - Nassau Band 1

· Judges' Choice Award: Atharva Desai, Drums - Nassau Band 2

· Judges' Choice Award: Nicholas Kopaliani, Bass Trombone - Princeton Jazz Ensemble

· Judges' Choice Award: The Entire Rhythm Section - Princeton Studio Band

· Judges' Choice Award: Raima Srivastava, Voice - Princeton Studio Vocals

· Judges' Choice Award: Sebastian Bongiovi, Piano - Princeton Studio Combo

· Overall Outstanding Soloist: Raima Srivastava, Voice - Princeton Studio Vocals

· Overall Outstanding Soloist: Sebastian Bongiovi, Synthesizer - Princeton Studio Band

A special thank you to everyone who supports the band students in all of their endeavors at PHS, and a huge thank you to all of the PHS chaperones for accompanying us to Philadelphia!

Come view how inspiration combines with the hard work and dedication of K-12 artists from across Mercer County in this artfully curated gallery of student work. The following PHS students submitted work for the exhibition: Pearl Agel, ChengHai Cordle, Anya Haeberli, Ann King, Besa Liese, Olivia Qian, Eli Reardon, and Grace Waldman.

Reception & Awards on Friday, April 4, 2025, at 1:00 PM

Artworks of Trenton, 19 Everett Alley, Trenton, NJ

Artwork on display until April 10 during regular hours.

Middle School Jazz Festival: Friday, April 4, 2025, 5:00 PM

High School Jazz Festival: Saturday, April 5, 2025, 5:00 PM

Princeton High School Performing Arts Center

Please join us for a two-day educational jazz festival featuring area middle school and high school jazz ensembles. Our special guest artist this year is Charlie Rosen from The 8-Bit Big Band. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students/seniors. To purchase tickets in advance, please visit our Ludus ticket website. If the cost of admission would present a financial challenge for your family, please contact us at patricklenihan@princetonk12.org. For additional information, please visit our Jazz Festival website.

Please join us for the district-wide elementary strings concert, featuring the orchestras of CP, JP, LB, and RS.

Tuesday, April 8, 2025

7:00 PM

PHS Performing Arts Center

Thursday, April 24, 2025

7:30 PM

PHS Performing Arts Center

Please join us for a concert featuring all of the choirs and a cappella groups at PHS. Free admission.

4th and 5th Grade Choir Concert

Tuesday, April 29, 2025

6:30 PM

CP Gymnasium

All are welcome!

4th and 5th Grade Choirs

Tuesday April 29, 2025

6:30 PM

LB All-Purpose Room

The Littebrook School's 4th and 5th grade choirs will present a concert on Tuesday April 29, 2025. Come join us in hearing a wonderful selection of children's choral literature.

Thursday, May 1, 2025

6:30 PM

JP Gymnasium

Thursday, May 1, 2025

6:30 PM

RS All-Purpose Room

Friday May 2, 2025

5:30 PM

PHS PAC

The New Jersey Association of Jazz Educators Vocal Jazz State Championships will take place at Princeton High School beginning at 5:30 PM on Friday, May 2. Princeton Studio Vocals will be performing and competing at this festival.

Saturday, May 3, 2025

5:00 PM

PHS PAC

The New Jersey Association of Jazz Educators will host the 2025 Jazz Band State Championships. Performances will begin at 5:00 PM. Both the Princeton Studio Band and the Princeton Jazz Ensemble will be competing in this year’s championship.

Wednesday, May 7, 2025

Art Show: 5:30-6:30 PM

Band Concert: 6:30 PM

Community Park School Lobby and All-Purpose Room

Thursday, May 8, 2025

5:30-7:00 PM

Friday, May 9, 2025

7:30 PM

PHS Black Box Theatre

Get ready for a thrilling, hilarious, and unexpectedly heartfelt journey with Goodbye, Charles by Gabriel Davis! “Jill’s world is turned upside down when her husband, Charles, mysteriously vanishes after she refuses to grant him a divorce. Determined to uncover the truth, Jill follows a trail of bizarre clues that lead her to a shocking secret Charles was hiding. Told through a series of sharp, poignant, and laugh-out-loud monologues, Goodbye Charles is a dark, one-act comedy that explores the messiness of love, loss, and the lengths we go to for closure. Full of twists, wit, and unexpected heart, Goodbye, Charles will keep audiences guessing—and laughing—until the very end!” (from Gabriel Davis)

Tickets are available at: https://princetondrama.ludus.com. Tickets are $5 for general admission seating. Doors will open 15 minutes before curtain time. If the cost of admission would present a financial hardship for your family, please contact us.

The PHS Studio Band will be teaming up with the Jazz Band and Jazz Ensemble from the Cranbury School for this annual performance. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for students, and all proceeds benefit the PHS Band Parents’ Association. If the cost of admission presents a financial challenge for your family, please contact us at patricklenihan@princetonk12.org. All are welcome to attend!

Friday, May 16, 2025

7:00-10:00 PM

Cranbury School

23 N. Main St., Cranbury, NJ

Friday, May 16, 2025, at 7:30 PM

Saturday, May 17, 2025, at 7:30 PM

PHS Black Box Theatre

“You have the power to change your story. Between the Lines, Jr. is a new Broadway Junior show based on the novel by international bestselling author Jodi Picoult and Samantha Van Leer, featuring a book by Picoult and Timothy Allen McDonald (Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach, The Big One-Oh!) and score by Elyssa Samsel and Kate Anderson (Apple TV+’s “Central Park”). Between the Lines, Jr. is an empowering and enchanting musical for anyone who has struggled to find their place in the world. An outsider in a new town and a new school, Delilah seeks comfort in the pages of her favorite book, where she feels heard and understood by the handsome Prince Oliver. But as the lines between fantasy and reality begin to blur in extraordinary ways, Delilah realizes her dreams in the real world are worth fighting for.” (from MTI)

Tickets are available at: https://princetondrama.ludus.com. Tickets: $10 Adults, $5 Students/Seniors. All tickets are general admission seating. Doors will open 15 minutes before curtain time. If the cost of admission would present a financial hardship for your family, please contact us.

Patrick Lenihan, Supervisor of Visual and Performing Arts

Princeton Public Schools

Email: patricklenihan@princetonk12.org
Website: www.princetonk12.org/TheArts
Location: 217 Walnut Lane, Princeton, NJ, USA
Phone: 609-806-4315