Arts

Beginning in kindergarten, students are introduced to many different musical and theatrical experiences aimed at enhancing and enriching their performance aptitude. As they progress through elementary, they dig deeper into acting, music, and movement while concentrating on developing more advanced public speaking skills. It all culminates in 5th grade, where each student leads their own All School Meeting, sharing their joys, talents, and passions with the entire school community.

Visual arts activities are integrated into classroom curriculum in the form of portraiture, abstract art, observational drawing, photography, pottery, and more. Students might create clay sundials as part of a first grade unit on Mexican culture, or call attention to less-recognized scientists, authors, and inventors by painting portraits of these “hidden figures” and presenting to classmates.

In addition to enrollment in Performing Arts elective courses, students who are passionate about theater can take part in the middle school or upper school productions, an all-school musical in the spring, student-directed productions, and the annual Drama Teachers Association of Southern California (DTASC) Theatre Festival. Beyond acting and directing, students have technical theater opportunities that include set construction, designing, running lights and sound, or working on costumes, hair, and makeup.

Wildwood’s music department offers students opportunities to compose, play, and perform music throughout the year in music classes and  concert performances. Wildwood offers an experiential creativity-based music curriculum rooted in the traditions of blues, jazz, and contemporary genres. Young musicians and singers and the Wildwood Chorus perform selected repertoire and their own compositions in concerts throughout the year, including Cabaret Night, Winter Concert, and Jazz Concert in the spring. 

Visual artists can exhibit their paintings, drawings, photos, and sculptures in the Student Art Gallery. Under the mentorship of a teacher, shows are curated by groups or individual students who design the exhibit and write artists’ statements that illuminate their vision. Every gallery show kicks off with an evening reception and artist’s talk, giving students the opportunity to present their work and meaning behind it to family and friends.