Mission: Madeira Arts prepares students for the ever-evolving world by bolstering creativity, collaboration, curiosity, and resilience.
Vision: Every artistic endeavor, whether it be visual or performing, encourages and celebrates excellence in each student at Madeira. Coursework challenges students to discover connections across disciplines, while practicing traditional and contemporary techniques in making art.
1-block course; Open to grades 9-12
Drawing is the foundation course for students interested in visual arts and eager to expand their creative abilities. Students will be instructed in the use of the design elements and principles through projects such as mark making, perspective drawing, and still-life composition. Prerequisites: None
1-block course; Open to 9-12
Intended for students looking to further their foundational drawing skills, this class allows students to build upon their existing drawing experience through the study of contemporary artists. Students will incorporate contemporary art practice as inspiration for projects that could include Adobe illustrator drawings, still life drawings, and mixed media art. Prerequisites: Studio Art: Fundamentals of Drawing
1-3 block course; Open to grades 9-12
Painting is for students who are eager to advance their painting skills and develop greater understanding of selected painting styles and mediums. Students will learn to create using acrylics, watercolors, and oil paints. Prerequisites: Studio Art: Fundamentals of Drawing
1-block course; Open to 9-12
Intended for students looking to further their foundational painting skills, this class allows students to build upon their existing painting experience through the study of contemporary artists. Prerequisites: Studio Art: Painting
1-3 block course; Open to grades 9-12
Printmaking is a course intended for students who are interested in advancing their understanding of the elements and principles of design through medium of printmaking. Students will work with a wide range of materials and processes such as block printing, linoleum cut , drypoint, silkscreen, and relief printing. Prerequisites: Studio Art: Fundamentals of Drawing
1-3 block course; Open to grades 9-12
3D Design is a course for students eager to advance their understanding of 3-dimensional art across a variety of media. Students will use various materials and techniques such as ceramic handbuilding, carving, modeling, and armature building to create 3-dimensional works of art. Prerequisites: None
1- or 2-block course; Open to grades 9-12
Advanced Studio Art: 3D Design is a hands-on course in which students will further their sculpture skills. Projects may include advanced ceramics on the wheel, large-scale sculpture for the human body, soft sculpture techniques, and wire armature-building. Prerequisites: Studio Art: 3D Design
1-3 block course; Open to grades 9-12
Digital Drawing is for students interested in developing skills using digital media for artistic creation. Students will learn current software (Adobe Design Suite) used in creating visual art, posters, publications, marketing materials, film and animation. Projects will be student centered, with real world applications. Prerequisites: Studio Art: Fundamentals of Drawing
1-3 block course; Open to grades 9-12
3D modeling is a course for students eager to advance their understanding of the intersection of technology and 3-dimensional art. Students will use various 3D modeling software such as TinkerCad, Fusion360, Meshmixer, and more to create 3D printed works of art. Prerequisites:Studio Art: Fundamentals of Drawing.
3-block course; Open to grades 11 and 12
In this advanced level course, students work towards developing mastery in: problem-solving skills; the elements and principals of 2-D or 3-D design; specific art mediums; art techniques; and related content. This course encourages and expects creative and systematic investigation of formal and conceptual issues in 2-D and 3-D design. Students will address the narrative voice in and of creating artworks. All art created will be assembled into a portfolio (hard bound and on-line) for college submission applications. Prerequisites: At least three blocks of Studio Art classes (Drawing, Painting, Sculpture, or Ceramic Studio)
1-block course; Open to grades 9-12
This course is an introduction to computer programming within the context of the visual arts. Utilizing the processing language, students will learn basic coding techniques, explore the fundamentals of computer graphics and create interactive drawing programs. Prerequisites: Studio Art: Fundamentals of Drawing
*Special Note: This course satisfies the coding requirement.
1-block course; Open to grades 9-12
This is a portfolio-based course intended for students wishing to further their understanding and practice of generative art using the processing language. Students will research digital artists, studying their approach and techniques. Projects will cover a series of advanced skills incorporating media (images, fonts, vector files) and data into digital artwork, while being tailored to individual areas of interest. Advanced students will also periodically act as Teacher Assistants to the Programming for the Visual Arts class, providing help and support to novice programmers as needed. Prerequisites: Programming for the Visual Arts
1-block course; Open to grades 9-12
Students will visit a variety of museums over a five-week period. Discussion and activities will take place in the museums and classroom. Observation and research of original works, understanding of the curatorial process, art conservation, and presentation will be explored. The use of museums as a classroom space will be discussed. The creation of a prototype museum will be the final project for this class. Prerequisites: 1 block of a visual arts course and an interest in art, art history, and/or museum work. Offered in alternate years. Not offered in 2021-2022.
1-block course; Open to grades 9-12
Students will learn how to use and control a school-supplied 35mm SLR film camera, develop negatives, create contact sheets and print photographs. In the process, they will learn how cameras work as well as the fundamentals of composition. Prerequisites: None
1-block course; Open to grades 9-12
A portfolio-based course intended for students interested in exploring advanced darkroom techniques and expanding their black and white film photography skills. Students will experiment with techniques (such as multi-negative printing, masking and selective development), study the techniques of professional film photographers, refine their own personal style, and be guided to create projects of their own interest. Additional portfolio critiques and the work of current artists will be explored. Prerequisites: Photography: Darkroom
1-block course; Open to grades 9-12
Students will further their photography skills by learning how to use their own 35mm SLR digital camera (see below). The course includes an overview of shooting modes and how these relate to the manual exposure settings learned in Photography: Darkroom. A variety of photo editing skills and the use of Photoshop will be explored, in addition to color printing and beginning portfolio development. Prerequisites: Photography: Darkroom
*Special notes: Students must supply their own 35mm DSLR camera with the following modes: aperture priority (A, Av or Portrait), shutter priority (S, Tv or Sport), and exposure compensation (+/-).
1-3 block course; Open to grades 9-12
This is a portfolio-based course. Advanced digital and photo-editing techniques will be explored. Students will be guided to create projects of their own interest. Additional portfolio critiques and the work of current artists will be explored. Prerequisites: Photography: Digital and Photography: Darkroom
*Special notes: Students must supply their own 35mm DSLR camera with the following modes: aperture priority (A, Av or Portrait), shutter priority (S, Tv or Sport), and exposure compensation (+/-).
1-block course; Open to grades 9-12
Narrative photography is the practice of combining story-telling with digital images. Digital stories can be instructional, persuasive, historical, or reflective. In this course students will use digital cameras and/or smartphones to capture digital images. They will also learn to use a variety of photo editing applications to correct and create interesting effects. Students will learn basic photographic principles of composition and exposure. Prerequisite: None
1 block course; Open to grades 9-12
Students will learn techniques and develop acting skills using classical works. Through Greek Tragedy, Commedia D’ell Arte, Elizabethan and Shakespeare drama, and Restoration comedy, actors will gain an understanding of ensemble work, script analysis, character development, and voice and body awareness through monologue and scene work. Prerequisites: None
1 block course; Open to grades 9-12
Building on skills learned in Acting I, students explore contemporary approaches to acting from Realism to Theatre of the Absurd. This class will survey the teachings of Stanislavsky, Chekov, Misner, Adler, Hagen, and others to create active and grounded performances. Through warm-ups, voice and movement exercises, script analysis, and monologue and scene work, actors will apply modern acting techniques in performance. Prerequisites: Acting I or permission of the instructor.
1-3 block course; Open to grades 9-12
Students will learn the best practices for working with actors on a scripted work. Focusing on script analysis, concept development, design integration, preparation, casting, blocking, and working with actors, this course will culminate in a presentation of scene directed by the students. Prerequisites: One acting course and one theater production, or permission of instructor.
1 block course; Open to grades 9-12
From casual announcements to formal presentations we are tasked with public speaking daily. Students will learn techniques for harnessing their authentic presentation style to engage an audience including projection, articulation, body language, vocal tone, and eye contact. Focusing on the link between public speaking and storytelling, the class will culminate in students giving a speech in the Ignite style. Prerequisites: None
Special Note: This course satisfies the Student Life elective requirement.
1 block course; Open to grades 9-12
An actor’s instrument is her body and voice. This course will focus on movement and vocal practices for healthy and supported performances. Voice work will build on the principles of Linklater to develop vocal range, quality, energy, and projection. Movement work will include LeCoq, Viewpoints, and Alexander technique to create greater awareness, ease of movement, carriage, and variety of expression on stage. Prerequisites: None. Offered in alternate years. Not offered in 2021-2022.
1-3 block course; Open to grades 9-12
Students will explore the elements of creating a new work. Play-building will expose students to two approaches in creating a play for the stage. Students will learn the basics of playwriting including dramatic structure, character development, and plot creation working on writing a short play script. They will then learn the ensemble-based creative approach to play creation of devised theatre, where they will combine improvisation, movement, and writing to create their own short work on a topic of their choice. Prerequisites: None
1 block class; Open to grades 9-12
This introductory class offers students a chance to experience a variety of aspects of theatre arts and determine areas of interest. Students will actively engage in all aspects of the creative process from developing a director’s concept, to creating design elements, and acting in a scene. Prerequisites: None
Open to grades 9-12
Mods 1 through 6 on Tuesdays, 6:30 - 9:00 p.m. Additional hours required for play and musical set builds and tech weeks.
Stagecraft is a year-long, hands-on course in technical theatre and production design. Students will have the opportunity to learn scenic construction, scenic painting, properties and costume construction, lighting and sound engineering principles, technical drawing, and the production design process for theatre. Students will experience a variety of projects from sketches to building to deconstruction and along the way will learn to solve problems in creative and collaborative ways. Earns three academic credits. Course may be repeated. Prerequisites: None
Open to grades 9-12
Mods 1 through 6 on Mondays and Wednesdays, 6:20 – 7:20 p.m.
This large vocal ensemble class provides both beginner and advanced singers the opportunity to develop their choral and solo singing in a group experience, exploring a broad repertoire of music – from classical to contemporary, both accompanied and a cappella. Students prepare for two-to-three concerts and/or festivals per year. Earns three academic credits. Course may be repeated. Prerequisites: None
Open to grades 9-12
Chamber Orchestra: Mods 1 through 6 on Mondays and Wednesdays, 6:20-7:20 p.m.
Advanced Chamber Orchestra: Mods 1 through 6 on Mondays and Wednesdays, 7:20-8:20 p.m.
Chamber Orchestra is open to all instrumental musicians including but not limited to strings, winds, brass, percussion, piano, and traditional instruments. The group prepares both large and small ensemble of music for four to six concerts per year while exploring and learning a wide range of musical styles, idioms, and historical contexts. Section I musicians will gain experience in instrumental techniques and basic music theory while Section II students build technical mastery and collaboration skills while learning to analyze musical forms. Required in-class rehearsal time is not to exceed two hours most weeks. Students must participate in all dress rehearsals and performances. Earns three academic credits. Course may be repeated. Prerequisites: Section I – None, Section II - Permission of the instructor.
3 credits
Sasha Newman began teaching at Madeira in 2010. She earned a Bachelor's of Fine Arts degree in Scene Design from Boston University and a Master's degree in Art Education from the University of Florida. She teaches Technical Theater, Advanced Theater Production, and STEAM in addition to designing the Fall play and Winter musical.
Ms. Crespo started working at Madeira in 2002. She a bachelor's degree in Music from University of Central Arkansas and a master's degree from University of California at Irvine.
Adalia V Tonneyck has been designing costumes for the Madeira Theater Department since 2014 and now has join the faculty as the Production Manager. For the last 9 years Adalia has been the working in D.C. Metro area as a freelance theater artist, at such companies as The Folger, Traveling Players Ensemble, GWU, Howard University, Constellation, Signature and Adventure theater. She holds a B.A.F in Fiber Arts from S.C.A.D University of Creative careers and M.F.A in Production Design from George Washington University.
Master of Music candidate at George Mason University and received her Bachelor of Music from Vanderbilt University.
Jason Oestenstad joined Madeira as the Director of Orchestra in 2020. He previously served as the Associate Conductor for the Oakland Civic Orchestra. He has a Master's Degree in conducting from San Francisco State University.
Jerien Okoh-Tisch brings her passion for music education, conducting, and performing to the Madeira school as the Director of Choral Music. She holds a degree in Music from the Johns Hopkins Peabody Institute and a Standard Professional Teaching Certificate from the state of Maryland in Music Education. Her additional studies have taken her to the Royal College of Music in London, the New England Conservatory, and Vanderbilt University. Highlights of Ms. Okoh-Tisch's performance career include a tour in 2005 with Grammy award winning artists Kanye West and 2006 with Grammy nominated Gospel artist, Joe Pace. She has since conducted and performed in several ensembles and choruses in the U.K. and the United States while maintaining a private teaching practice specializing in classical and contemporary vocal instruction. Having studied under the award-winning music pedagogue, Peter Howard, she also teaches and plays cello, piano, and violin.
Mr. Priore became Director of Dance at The Madeira School in August of 2021. He studied dance at Point Park University and has been working professionally in the DC area since 2010. Mr. Priore is also an Artist-In-Residence at CityDance Conservatory and an adjunct professor at George Mason University in the dance program. Mr. Priore's choreographic work has been seen on stages from the John F. Kennedy Center to the Joyce Theater in Manhattan as well as over thirty countries internationally. For the last ten years, Mr. Priore has worked with Company E as a cultural ambassador with the US Department of State to bring American Modern Dance to near and far corners of the world.