The Arts
Drama
The purpose of Drama at Schaeffer is to teach our students truth, beauty and goodness through the medium of dramatic literature, whether the material is comical or serious. We normally stage two productions per year in our Violet Wright Memorial Gymnasium and Auditorium. Every other year students perform a musical involving a large cast drawn from many grades, a production crew and a pit orchestra.
Our Drama program began in 1996 under the direction of faculty member Mr. Jim Kluth. Productions have included serious plays like The Miracle Worker and Number the Stars, as well as amusing Shakespeare like The Comedy of Errors. Musicals performed include The Sound of Music and Fiddler on the Roof.
Band
The Schaeffer Academy Instrumental Program is directed by faculty member Mrs. Jody Pederson. Instrumental Music starts in fourth grade with Beginning Band, progressing to Advanced Elementary Band, and continuing through the senior year with the Middle/Upper School Academy Band. For students who are interested, there is also an Upper School Jazz Band which meets outside of class time.
Stringed instrument players have their own ensemble and practices. In both band and strings, students learn and play a wide variety of musical styles including classical, marches, sacred band literature, and folk music, as well as modern music in jazz band and pep band. The seven different ensembles perform at concerts 2-4 times per year. Academy Band members can also play in the Pep Band at home basketball games.
The Academy Band participates in MSHSL large group and small group contests and many different honor bands and festival bands throughout the year.
Choir
Under the direction of Schaeffer faculty member Mrs. Mary Vogel, Middle and Upper School Choirs have become a popular elective. The Upper School Choir includes 40-50 students who perform selections from both classical and modern repertoires at the Christmas and Spring Concerts.
Choir students learn technique and musical history, as well as stage presentation. Choir students typically travel to the ACSI music festival in Chicago every other year in addition to competing in MSHSL choral ensemble events.
Strings
The Schaeffer Academy Strings, directed by faculty member Mrs. Jody Pederson, begin in fourth grade when students may choose to learn violin, viola, cello, or double bass. Various string ensembles are offered from that point continuing through the Upper School. The students are exposed to many genres, including classical, sacred, modern, folk, jazz and fiddle music. The Upper School Academy Strings perform at school concerts and also participate in MSHSL large group and small group contests as well as many different honor and festival orchestras throughout the year.