Performing Arts
Music
At Graded, cultivating a passion for music and developing musical literacy begins in Pre-Kindergarten. Our youngest learners explore music through singing, movement, listening, games, and hands-on experiences with simple instruments. For many students, the annual holiday concert marks their first performance opportunity.
As students progress through Middle and High School, they continue to develop their musical skills through choir, orchestra, band, and guitar. These courses integrate music theory, history, analysis, music reading, and performance techniques. Students perform throughout the year and have opportunities to participate in regional and international festivals.
Theater
Graded’s theater program empowers students to discover and express their voices by drawing on their own experiences and those of others. In Middle School, students build confidence, communication, and public speaking skills while developing a strong foundation in performance. In High School, they explore all aspects of theater production, from acting and directing to technical theater.
Theater students participate in school plays and musicals, performing on stage or contributing behind the scenes through costume, set, lighting, and sound design.
High School students may also enroll in IB SL/HL Theater Arts. Through research and critical analysis of theatrical traditions across cultures, time periods, and performance styles, the course challenges students to develop both their creative and technical skills while deepening their understanding of theater as an art form. Students build a portfolio that emphasizes collaborative work in the first year and independent research in the second, refining their abilities as actors, directors, designers, and theater-makers.