ARTS at GUERIN PREP

Performance Arts Booster

The arts ARE essential to human existence. When people create in sounds, images, gestures and words, they discover ways to shape and share their thoughts and feelings with others. The arts enrich the quality of life.

All students deserve access to the arts through creation, performance and study. [Illinois State Board of Education] Guerin Prep provides that access through a curricula focused on the Illinois Learning Standards in the Fine Arts which address the language of the fine arts, sensory elements, organizational principles and expressive qualities and how the arts are similar, different or related to each other.

Guerin students also learn about production and performance in the arts and the role of the arts in civilization. When students study the arts at Guerin, they become informed audience members and informed consumers of the popular culture including electronic media. Guerin Prep’s Fine Arts Program defines a comprehensive arts education and reflects a commitment to a quality education for every Guerin Prep student.

Click here for a list of classes and information on the Fine Arts teachers.

MUSIC at Guerin Prep

Band Performs at High Levels

Guerin Prep Band Web Site
The concert band program at Guerin Prep consists of beginning, intermediate and symphonic bands.  These classes meet daily, and private instruction is available on all instruments.  The jazz education program meets after school and consists of two ensembles and an improvisation class.  For more information about band, contact www.guerinprepband.org.

Activities & Field Trips
The concert and jazz bands participate in contests and festivals, locally and across the country, throughout the year, providing rich and diverse musical experiences for our students.

Band Concerts
During the year, the band holds two concerts:winter and spring concerts.  They include performances by the beginning/intermediate band, the symphonic band and the jazz band.  At the spring concert, the winners of the Louis Armstrong and John Philip Sousa awards are announced.

Orchestra Plays an Important Role at GP Activities

Guerin orchestra meets after school; all skill levels.  String Ensemble is a performance-oriented group that offers a performance opportunity for students who play or is interested in learning to play a stringed instrument— violin, viola, cello, bass, and guitar. As an ensemble, we explore many musical genres.

ACTIVITIES & FIELD TRIPS
Performance opportunities for the String Ensemble include playing at Guerin Prep liturgical services, music invitationals, and winter and spring concerts.

Members of String Ensemble are encouraged to audition for Illinois Music Educators Association District Festival and to play for Illinois High School Music Associations Solo and Ensemble Contest. We are always looking for new members, new music and new playing opportunities

Chorus Provides Many Musical Opportunities for Guerin Prep

Chorus meets during school both fall and spring semesters and is geared for students of all skill levels.  The Chamber Singers is the advanced choir and meets for the full year with placement by audition.  The Schola Cantorum sings at all-school masses and meets after school.   
 
ACTIVITIES & FIELD TRIPS
The choir has sung at Brookfield Zoo, A Capella Festival in Skokie, IHSA Solo & Ensemble Competition, Museum of Science & Industry, IMEA All-State Festival in Peoria, Great America, Chicago City Hall, Sears Tower Christmas Tree Lighting and at nursing homes & community churches.

HONOR SOCIETY
Tri-M Modern Music Masters is a nationally recognized music honors society.  Tri-M sponsors field trips to shows and has guest artists perform at meetings.  To be inducted, students must be involved in the music program either by being in music classes or by being in liturgical choir or the Spring Musical.  Tri-M also sponsors Music Week, which includes trivia contests, music in the halls and games centered on all types of music.

THEATRE at Guerin Prep

The theatre classes at Guerin Prep offer a performance element. The Introduction to Theatre class, which is the beginning performance class, presents a children’s show to area grade schools. The Acting Class, which is the intermediate performance class, presents an evening of one-act plays for the public.  The Advanced Acting/Directing Class is an honors class and may be taken more than once.  That class also presents an evening of one-act plays for the public.

HONOR SOCIETY
International Thespian Society is a nationally recognized society that honors excellence in theatre.  Students inducted into the society have participated in several productions on stage or behind-the-scenes and have shown excellence in their work.

ACTIVITIES & FIELD TRIPS
Fall Play;  Spring Musical;  Festival of One-Act Plays;  Evening of One-Act Plays;  Children's Show;  Fall & Spring Pot-Luck Dinner;  Illinois High School Theatre Festival;  Induction/Awards Dinner;  trips to see plays; trips to New York; classes offered after school to fifth-eighth grade students - Kids Take The Stage.  Students regularly attend professional productions in Chicago and every other year a trip to New York is offered where participants can attend theatre workshops and see productions.

HONORS
Chosen to perform at the Illinois High School Theatre Festival six times in the last decade; chosen to perform at the American High School Theatre Festival in conjunction with the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1997 & 2003.  Guerin Prep was the first Illinois school to be chosen to perform at this festival and is the only Illinois school to perform twice.

Performance Arts Booster
The Performance Arts Booster sponsors several events throughout the year, including the Potluck Dinner. The Potluck Dinner is a great chance for the families of the performance arts members to get to know one another and to learn about upcoming events such as the music trips, concerts, productions, and competitions.

ART at Guerin Prep

Visual Arts classes consist of drawing, painting, 3-D art, ceramics, photography, graphic art and AP art, serving beginning to advanced students.   Facilities include space dedicated to ceramics, a photography lab and, drawing and painting studios. 

ACTIVITIES & FIELD TRIPS
The department sponsors an Emerging Artist Show and a Spring Art Show.  A president’s award and a principal’s award are given at the Spring Art Show and the works of these winners are placed in the school’s Art Gallery.

Regular field trips are sponsored to downtown Chicago, including the Art Institute.  An active Art Club meets regularly and assists with various art projects on behalf of the school.

HONOR SOCIETY
The National Art Honor Society recognizes excellence in the visual arts.  Students inducted into the society have achieved excellence in the art classes they have taken.  Guerin Prep artists enter the annual Triton art competition and regularly bring home awards.