Upper School Performing Arts
Our performing arts program inspires our students to follow their passions as actors, singers, musicians, dancers, technicians and artists.
Upper School Performing Arts
Harker is deeply committed to arts education. That is why we include arts as a part of our upper school academic requirements. It helps our students develop creative expression, self-confidence and stage presence – strengths that support them in their overall education.
Our upper school performing arts program, the Harker Conservatory, cultivates our students’ artistic talents. It is led by our outstanding performing arts faculty, who actively practice their crafts as actors, singers, musicians, technicians and dancers. Beyond our academic courses, we offer abundant opportunities for students to practice and improve their artistic skills, including our Conservatory certificate program and extracurricular activities.
By The Numbers See more facts & stats
Academic Courses
Beyond our fundamental arts course requirement, we offer a variety of academic electives throughout the upper school experience in areas including:
- Acting
- Dance & choreography
- Directing
- Instrumental music
- Musical theater
- Technical theater
- Vocal music
Performing Arts Brochures & Booklets
Upper School Conservatory Brochure
Performing Arts Season Brochure
Conservatory Certificate Program
We encourage our students with strong interests in performing arts disciplines to join our Conservatory certificate program.
Conservatory CERTIFICATE Disciplines
- Dance
- Instrumental music
- Musical theater
- Technical theater
- Theater
- Vocal music
In our Conservatory certificate program, we guide students through a comprehensive, four-year performing arts course of study with special attention paid to evolving each student’s discipline, creating portfolios and performing in the senior showcase.
Working with our college counselors, students in the Conservatory certificate program highlight this experience in their college applications.
Performances
We offer a variety of performances each year, allowing our students to showcase their talents on stage. Watch your star shine in one of our annual performances including:
- fall play and spring musical
- winter jazz band concert and orchestra concerts
- fall and spring choral concerts
- dance production
- Student Directed Showcase
Join us for an upcoming performance. Contact our admission team to reserve your tickets.
For us, working with Harker is more like working with a professional touring company than a traveling high school. When we knew Harker was coming back in 2023, we knew that we had to improve the venue sound system, because we knew Harker would hear the difference. Same with the moving heads in the light grid and the double follow spots. And, I knew we had to get the wireless system installed because a professional touring company (Harker) was coming and expecting it to be in place. Even though the space had no wireless system before we arrived in Edinburgh, we needed it there for your crew and cast, who, even at an average age of 17, are well trained, know how to take the stage, how to use the tech equipment, and can hit the ground running (or singing and dancing) -- because your on-stage talent is the tops. In the end it's all about the show, about the audiences -- and the audiences loved your show. Your "Urinetown" was great, so we expected brilliance - and Harker delivered. Thanks for all you do to make this magic happen for so many.
Ray Nedzel, Live Arts Fringe program director, speaking about Harker’s "25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" performances at the 2023 Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Performing Arts Teachers
Our performing arts teachers are beyond passionate about their crafts. They live and breathe the arts, inspiring our students to do the same. All of our performing arts teachers dedicate their teaching time solely to performing arts instruction.
Performing Arts Achievements
We design our programs and offerings at Harker to inspire students to explore their passions, develop their strengths and share their talents with their classmates, teammates and the greater community. Our students are eager to make a difference, and we celebrate all of their accomplishments.