It doesn’t matter if it rains or shines because Senior Showcase is happening online! Our five arts conservatories have been hard at work adapting to remote learning and digital performance and exhibition opportunities. Today, Visual Arts is thrilled to launch their annual Senior Showcase as a microsite: https://chiartsseniorshowcase.com

The Visual Arts Class of 2020 presents selections from each graduate's yearlong thesis/concentration investigation as part of their Advanced Placement Studio Art Major. Artworks created in senior elective courses are also included in the exhibition. We're grateful for this passionate and creative graduating class!  Click here to enjoy this incredible virtual exhibition
Did you know you can still win a state championship while in quarantine?! On April 22, our Music Conservatory received this wonderful news from the Illinois High School Association. With a total of 675 points and a margin of 207 points, ChiArts Music defended their Class A championship title for the second year in a row! Huge congratulations to our instrumental and vocal scholar-artists who participated in the solo and ensemble competitions. We're grateful to celebrate you! For a list of the final results, click here .
Our teachers are heroes! They continue to persevere, show compassion, and work hard to ensure learning online is easier than the day before. In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week last week, ChiArts leadership and the Parent Support Organization (PSO) showered our academic and arts teachers with love via personalized videos and notes!  We asked Principal Terri Milsap what teaching practices have stood out to her during remote learning:

“At ChiArts, I have seen great teaching moments when teachers are challenging students to use their higher thinking skills, delivering their lesson with care and clarity, honoring student choice, creating safe spaces for students, encouraging students to give their best, using their creativity to engage students, and working diligently to provide the best opportunity to learn and develop in such an uncertain time in education. I appreciate the teachers’ dedication to ChiArts and our students!”
As we reflect and ground ourselves in the present, we’re feeling grateful for our past semester. In early March, we premiered HERE at our annual benefit Kerfuffle! This short film showcases five scholar-artists from each conservatory who embody our core values; thank you Jaden, Justice, Kylin, Gwen, and Seven.

We hope their stories of opportunity, perseverance, community, balance, and humility help you find comfort at home! Click to watch HERE , A 2020 ChiArts Short Film.
From the incoming 2020-2021 ChiArts class to our graduating seniors, we’ve been celebrating decision days this spring! As of early May, more than 160 eighth graders have accepted our offers to attend ChiArts in the fall. A future dance major shared his reaction to seeing his acceptance:

“When I first saw this, my heart dropped! I felt like a brand new person. Since 6th grade I knew I wanted to be in this school and for it to actually happen is unbelievably insane. Thank you ChiArts for the opportunity to be in the Dance Conservatory program. When fall arrives, I know where my focus will remain and I will continue to progress throughout the years!”

The Class of 2020 celebrated National Decision Day on May 1 and will continue the celebration with more announcements on June 1! Despite the challenges this spring, ChiArts seniors are committing to universities, professional training programs, accepting jobs, serving in the military, making gap year plans, and figuring out what best fits their future. We’re so proud of the resilience and passion this class has shown. Check out our Instagram for #ChiArtsDecisionDay highlights from May 1 and look out for the June 1 senior takeover! 
Celebrate 10 years of tuition-free and pre-professional arts training at ChiArts by making a contribution today. Every gift makes a meaningful impact.