Hamden Hall Country Day School
Educating Students in PreSchool through Grade 12
Educating Students in PreSchool through Grade 12
Arts
The Arts Are Integral
The visual and performing arts are integral components of a Hamden Hall education as we weave our students' artistic visions and talents into daily campus life. Our students love to share their stories of risk-taking: trying out for the school play despite having never stepped foot on a stage; musicians putting aside their violins to instead hoist a trumpet; athletes finding their voice within our choral programs.
Our campus hums throughout the school year with concerts, art exhibits, performances, theater productions, and cross-curricular art shows across all three divisions.
Theater
We are dedicated to the process of creating dynamic theatre.
Focusing on essentials, students learn the art of theatre including character development, blocking, set design, choreography, costuming, direction, scene work, and rehearsal techniques. The process is as much about learning about theatre as it is developing life skills. From our elementary school division through our high school courses, students are challenged through classes and rehearsals to develop and refine skills such as collaboration, listening, public speaking, healthy risk-taking, sense of humor, empathy, problem solving, and perseverance to name a few. Hamden Hall takes pride in the importance of theatre education and has a rigorous and inspiring program in place.
Karl Gasteyer, Theater Instructor
The wide range of courses and experiences my colleagues and I are able to offer our students rival those found in university programs. Our students make this work meaningful; their talent, curiosity, and commitment more than justify the depth and breadth of our offerings. Beyond the classroom, students participate in a vibrant array of extracurricular experiences: plays, musicals, the 24-Hour Play, our annual Haunted House Project, and Mayfest. We also organize trips to Broadway and regional productions, providing students with the opportunity to experience professional theater firsthand. Sharing this list always brings me pride—it’s a testament to the creative community we’ve built and the extended family we’ve formed within the Hamden Hall Theatre Department.
Music
Joyful music fills our halls.
Hamden Hall has a comprehensive music program across all three divisions including our nationally renowned High School Choral and Instrumental programs, which are continually represented at regional, state and nationwide music competitions. Our music programs create opportunities for musicians of varying proficiency with comprehensive programming by our teaching-artist faculty. Students are immersed in an environment that expects excellence while maintaining a supportive community of like-minded young artists.
Matt Harrison, Upper School Choral Director
At Hamden Hall, students can explore all facets of their musical ambitions. Our vocal program fosters a deep understanding of music literacy through curated performance opportunities designed to meet our students' needs. History and theory are integrated into our daily discussions to broaden student perspectives. Hamden Hall musicians are student leaders in regional, state, division, and national honor ensembles and prize winners in vocal competitions. Students who have a passion for music can succeed at Hamden Hall regardless of their previous experiences.
Visual Arts
Explore the creative process through our visual and studio arts program.
Our youngest students enjoy a cross-curricular learning experience as their art units are integrated with the classroom curriculum. In Middle and Upper School, students continue their personal artistic journey with opportunities in a variety of materials, techniques and approaches via academic experiences that broaden individual talent and artistic abilities. Students at all levels work with faculty members who are active artisans and exhibiting artists outside of our Hamden Hall Community.
Our Moira Fitzsimmons Arons Art Gallery provides an additional educational experience for our students as we continually showcase regional and national artists in this premier exhibition space.
Meet the Art Department
List of 11 members.
1108 Whitney Avenue
Hamden, Connecticut 06517
Phone: 203-752-2600
Fax: 203-752-2651
admissions@hamdenhall.org
Hamden, Connecticut 06517
Phone: 203-752-2600
Fax: 203-752-2651
admissions@hamdenhall.org
Hamden Hall Country Day School, located less than two miles from Yale University, is one of the best private schools in Connecticut to enroll elementary, middle, and high school students. Our nurturing and inclusive community provides a dynamic learning environment that promotes academic excellence by understanding each child and fostering their individual growth.
