Arts and Creativity

Theater

Drama at Orwell Park School develops with age: Nursery students rehearse Christmas productions while seniors stage elaborate shows featuring live orchestras and professional lighting. Fifth-graders perform Shakespeare in the campus woodland, exploring classical theater outdoors. As they advance, sixth-graders direct their own work and seventh-graders complete Film School by screening original shorts. The program includes expressive reading and public speaking competitions.

Music at Orwell Park School

Twenty-two ensembles operate here, from orchestras to jazz bands. The choirs tackle ambitious repertoire including Vivaldi’s “Gloria,” Mozart’s Requiem, and Bernstein’s “Chichester Psalms.” Students learn the full range of orchestral instruments plus harp, accordion, and bagpipes. Chamber groups rehearse weekly before annual concerts, while rock bands compete in the yearly Battle of the Bands.

Performances

The Orangery Recitals series gives young musicians regular opportunities to perform on a Steinway Model D in intimate venues, building their confidence from an early age. Graduates represent the school at Suffolk Festival and perform with Pro Corda and the National Children’s Choir and Orchestra. Many earn arts scholarships to senior schools, their talent honed through productions like “Bugsy Malone” and “Little Shop of Horrors.”

Facilities

The music department spans three campus areas: Pre-Prep houses an open stage, the mansion basement contains practice rooms, and three chamber halls offer pianos with excellent acoustics. The concert Steinway is available daily. A Digital Recording Studio and Music Technology suite support independent creativity, while 60 personal lockers secure instruments. Multiple pianos throughout campus allow dozens of students to practice simultaneously without scheduling conflicts.