WELCOME TO NEW WORLD SCHOOL OF THE ARTS!
REWARDING WORDS FROM OUR ADMINISTRATION
“Once the robes have come off, the tassels have gone from the right to the left, and the family photos have all been taken, graduation officially signals the end of the school year. At NWSA we get to experience this joyful ritual twice, first with college and then high school graduates. This culmination of years of hard work gives us the time and the perspective to look back, and doing so shows us what an incredible collection of moments we all experienced in the 2023-2024 academic year. The articles before you capture the essence of excitement and achievement that inhabited every moment at New World School of the Arts. These are your stories, capturing and showcasing the endless talent and spirit of the institution we love and its incredible faculty and students. Enjoy this look back and celebrate with us the amazing year we accomplished together.”
Dr. Jeffrey Hodgson
“The performances this year were breathtaking and phenomenal – the stuff that dreams are made of! As a principal and artist, I found each of the works so inspiring. You left performances with songs in your heart and on your lips. Each exhibition challenged your thinking and allowed you an advanced viewing of where the art world is headed. New World School of the Arts is the real dream factory with a long history of preparing some of the best and most influential artists of the day. It’s great to see these artists first as high school students knowing that every one of their dreams to be on stage, in galleries, and on the screens will come true! They have the proof in our alumni. To a spectacular year of performances and exhibitions – BRAVO!”
Dr. Contessa S. Bryant
RISING STARS SHINES ON
New World School of the Arts placed the spotlight on more than 250 students in the Broadway-style production, Rising Stars, NWSA’s signature arts showcase. The popular event, directed by NWSA Dean of Theatre, Alan Patrick Kenny, is a professionally staged, energy packed, one-of-a-kind show which offers audiences of all ages a rich artistic program of carefully selected excerpts from dance, music, and theatre performances. The show opened with two powerhouse singing actors, one from NWSA high school and one from NWSA college, in a duet that jump started the show. From the NWSA dance division, guests were treated to works by outstanding professional choreographers including Martha Graham’s powerful work, “Prelude to Action,” and Michelle Manzanales’ “Paloma Querida,” set to the music of Chavela Vargas. The music division beautifully interpreted the powerful “Allegro-Presto from Symphony No. 5,” one of Beethoven’s most famous works written between 1804 and 1808, while under the direction of NWSA faculty Jim Gasior, guests enjoyed the Grammy Award-winning composition, “First Circle,” by Pat Metheny, a piece which jazz aficionados quickly recognized due to the transition to played music by the ensemble’s clapping of hands! The theatre division enthralled the audience with selected excerpts from the award-winning musical Once on This Island, directed by Jennifer de Castroverde, and The Book of Will, under the direction of Silas Hoover, among other performance offerings. Interspersed throughout the show were visual arts video projects, presented by the NWSA visual arts division, rounding out an evening of artistry in motion. A highlight of the evening each year is the New World School of the Arts Rising Stars Alumni Awards, which recognizes a graduate who is successfully contributing to their art form. This year, the honor was presented on stage to nationally acclaimed, award-winning musician, Alex Lacamoire, who offered warm greetings and a heartfelt welcome message to guests, students, and faculty, reminiscent of his time at New World School of the Arts and the many relationships he built as a student, which continue to enrich his life.
Just one week prior to the performance, the Rising Stars Exhibition gave way to the signature showcase at the New World Gallery. With more than three dozen artworks curated specifically for the popular exhibition, the success of the visual arts Rising Stars opening was palpable as over 300 guests attended the show, admiring the work and congratulating the young artists who participated in the celebration, along with their families and friends.
“This showcase is a great opportunity for students and faculty to highlight the best of the best while celebrating those students that have gone the extra mile with their practice and artistic research.”
O. Gustavo Plascencia, Dean of Visual Arts
SPIRIT DAY SHOWS OFF SCHOOL SPIRIT
Spirit Day is a long-held tradition in the high school program of New World School of the Arts. While its name implies only one day, the event is a week-long celebration of our students, our school and our traditions which culminates in field day – the NWSA way! The celebration begins with an outdoor assembly complete with a stage, costumes, DJ, and noisemakers. Each class, sporting their class color, is introduced to their peers while members of the class respond with enthusiasm using instruments, signs, and screams. In true NWSA manner, the seniors “run” into the assembly to indicate their final Spirit Week at NWSA while the high school SGA introduces the theme for the year’s Spirit Week through clues. Classes garner points throughout the week through friendly competitions including wall decorations, games, and costumes. While on the surface Spirit Week appears to be classes competing for bragging rights, a closer look allows one to see the increased spirit that students, faculty, and administration hold dear for New World School of the Arts.
“New World School of the Arts is a place of wonder and dreams grounded in professional arts training. It has taught me to pursue my craft through the lens of who I am. As a college theatre student it’s easy to lose oneself in other characters and forget one’s roots… but not here. NWSA places emphasis on finding your essence and shaping your art according to you. It has equipped me with the tools and experience I need to succeed in the professional arts world, as well as connected me to working artists already in the field.”
Dena Barros, college musical theatre
“Becoming a dance artist, as a performer or choreographer, requires passion, courage, and dedication to push the boundaries of creativity. We work to support students as they develop their unique artistic voices on this path to discovery.”
Mary Lisa Burns, Dean of Dance
AUTUMN DANCES
This year’s Autumn Dances performance was a dynamic program of the work of today’s most interesting and evocative choreographers including world-renowned dancemaker Paul Taylor’s dramatic masterwork, “Piazzolla Caldera,” set to the tango-inspired score by Astor Piazzolla; Robert Battle, NWSA alum and Artistic Director of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Company’s powerful contemporary work, “Rush Hour;” and local choreographer and NWSA dance faculty, Gentry Isaiah George‘s showy and engaging dance, “Blue Skies”, set to the soaring music of Josephine Baker. The concert offered NWSA high school and college dancers the opportunity to launch the dance season with performances in Aventura and in Miami. The program also included Lara Murphy‘s dazzling contemporary ballet work, “Be Mused,” which fuses the technique of classical ballet with the rock music of British composer/performer Matt Bellamy and Jeffrey Lloyd Smith‘s powerful new work, “Tear Away.” Murphy and Smith are both dance faculty members at New World School of the Arts.
“The dancers work with such enthusiasm and respect, and they worked with a clear commitment to learning and growing in the process. In fact, I was so impressed by their overall professionalism.”
Francie Huber, staged Paul Taylor’s “Piazzolla Caldera”
COLLEGE SPRING DANCES
This program annually presents works by professional faculty choreographers as well as guest choreographers from the professional world of dance. New World School of the Arts college dancers worked closely with these choreographers as they created or staged these outstanding works. This year’s program included works by three guest choreographers including Martha Graham’s tour de force “Prelude to Action,” Michelle Manzanales’ poignant work depicting the life of Frieda Kahlo “Paloma Querida,” and Helene Simoneau’s work “Paper Wings.” Professional faculty works included Jeffrey Lloyd Smith‘s powerful work “against the current,” and a new work by Donna Goffredo Murray “Meet Cute”.
“The long-term significant relationship between the Martha Graham Dance Company and New World School of the Arts was evident with NWSA high school and college alumna, Mariya Dashkina Maddux, serving as the regisseur and stager of this work.”
Peter London, dance faculty
“Learning a dance (“Prelude to Action”) that is considered as a very valuable piece of history for the dance world is wonderful, but performing it is surreal! Being that NWSA has played a principal role in this passage, I feel extremely honored to be a student at an institution that actively participates in the preservation of this legacy.”
Yanil Pabon, college dance sophomore
COLLEGE BFA DANCE CONCERT
“Becoming” – an evening of works choreographed by the NWSA dance college seniors, brought their innovative and unique voices to the stage and was the culmination of the students’ choreographic training at New World School of the Arts and an extension of the BFA Dance Production course. The program encompassed a diverse and exciting range of dance styles and perspectives, based on the fresh vision of these nine dancers showcasing their choreographic skills, varied life experiences, and outstanding artistic training. The College BFA Dance Concert was the culmination of the students’ choreographic training at New World School of the Arts and an extension of the BFA Dance Production course taught by dance faculty Lara Murphy. Supported by the faculty, this program provided young choreographers with the opportunity to realize their vision in a fully produced, public presentation in which they oversee all aspects of the program including the theme, publicity, programming, and direction and development of their own works. In addition, the students assumed the roles of professional choreographers, selecting dancers for their works, developing a creative process, seeking feedback on their work as it evolved, and working with the lighting designer and production manager to see their choreography fully realized.
“This program was the result of the process of development of these talented creative artists and provided audiences with a glimpse into the exciting next generation of choreographic voices.”
Mary Lisa Burns, Dean of Dance
HIGH SCHOOL SPRING CONCERT
The 2024 NWSA High School Spring Concert showcased choreography by guest artists Yusha Marie Sorzano and Amy Hall Garner. Sorzano, herself an NWSA alumna, re-staged her compelling work for 19 dancers “Aesop’s Children.” Hall Garner created a new contemporary ballet “Influence,” set to the stirring Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto #2. The program also included premieres of Peter London‘s elegant and powerful work “Inner Ritual,” Jeffrey Lloyd Smith‘s contemporary work “A Study on Conversational Gestures,” Rebecca Krumel Sanchez‘s dance “Let Go,” and Gentry Isaiah George‘s tribute to the music of Nat King Cole entitled “Game of Love.”
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT CHOREOGRAPHY
The High School Student Choreography performance featured new works by outstanding NWSA high school choreographers. Mentored and selected by NWSA faculty, this program was an exciting opportunity to experience a variety of dance styles and choreographic approaches, with outstanding dancing. The program featured Isabella Bolivar Lopez’s poignant solo for dancer Zolan Laird “Over and Over,” and her thought-provoking and humorous work “See Evil, Hear Evil, But Speak No Evil.” Thalia Smith’s work “The Perfect Place,” was a rollicking and witty group work while Emilia Cohen’s work “Other Dance,” set to music by Caroline Shaw, offered a lovely contemporary ballet work.
“Success in dance requires perseverance and a commitment to improvement. Important qualities for NWSA students include, first and foremost, a passion and love for dance, a respect for the history and values of the art form, and the demonstrated prowess in creative adaptability.”
Gentry Isaiah George, dance faculty
“The process of creating “Over and Over” was significantly special to me because I was able to watch the dancer, Zolan Laird, come out of his shell as an artist. I found my ideas truly bouncing off of him, making this a much more collaborative effort than I was used to. This led me to grow as a choreographer in ways I never even imagined were possibilities.”
Isabella Bolivar Lopez, high school dance senior
GUEST ARTISTS AND CHOREOGRAPHERS
The New World School of the Arts dance division welcomed a variety of guest master teachers as well as guest choreographers throughout the 2023-2024 year. Among the distinguished dance artists was NWSA’s founding dean of dance, Daniel Lewis, NWSA alumni Jacoby Pruitt and Maleek Washington, renowned contemporary ballerina Christina Johnson, and NWSA dance alumna Mariya “Masha” Maddux, who returned to stage the Martha Graham master work “Prelude to Action.” About her experience working with the dancers she said, “Throughout the process I was so impressed by the remarkable professionalism and dedication of the dance students. Their commitment to the process of re-staging a work of such complexity was truly admirable. “Prelude to Action” demands not only a deep understanding of the core idea which inspired this work but also exceptional physical stamina and a solid grasp of the intricate musical score. From the very first rehearsal, the dancers eagerly embraced the challenge and worked at their highest potential to comprehend and execute all physical and musical nuances of this work. Working with these dancers was an absolute pleasure.”
“As an alum of NWSA, it has been an absolute joy to return and re-stage my work, “Aesop’s Children.” Originally created in 2019, this choreography calls for theatricality, technical skill, and a great deal of heart. The students of NWSA possess this and more. Their commitment to the process brought “Aesop’s Children” to life. I’m so thrilled to have worked with them at this stage of their journey and can’t wait to see what they continue to do onward.”
Yusha Sorzano, guest choreographer
“My time at NWSA so far has provided such a range of connections to the professional dance industry. With the guidance of professional professors, you are encouraged not only to secure connections but also to maintain them. It is an environment where connections to the professional world are both established and nurtured. It’s been a great experience being at NWSA.”
Jeona Pinnock, college dance sophomore
“New World School of the Arts students are encouraged to construct, define, mold, test, prove, dream, inspire, learn, fall and get back up, to become the best versions of themselves. Once they complete the rigorous program, they are prepared to shine all over the world.”
Dr. Daniel Andai, Dean of Music
AN EVENING OF ITALIAN OPERA SCENES
The New World School of the Arts Opera Theater Ensemble presented an evening of Italian opera scenes. Throughout the evening, the college voice students performed fully staged trios, duets, and quartets by different composers including Mozart, Donizetti, and Verdi to name a few, accompanied by NWSA music alumna and collaborative coach and pianist, Maria Zdralea and Dr. Megan Barrera, NWSA alumna and faculty who directed the fourteen participating singers.
“Our goal is that through these performances our students feel empowered to continue to learn different operatic languages and that they continue to explore the art of storytelling through these different languages.”
Dr. Megan Barrera, music faculty
Many voice students spend hours rehearsing their own solo music for juries or solo performances and while studying scenes, they experience true collaboration with their scene partners and pianist. Furthermore, students explored character development as they staged their scenes in preparation for the fully staged opera which was presented during the spring.
HANSEL AND GRETEL TAKE AN OPERATIC WHIMSICAL TWIST
New World School of the Arts Opera Theatre Ensemble presented Engelbert Humperdinck’s “Hansel and Gretel,” a classic German fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm. Under the direction of NWSA voice and opera faculty, Dr. Megan Barrera, this interpretation of the popular classic opera, which follows the story of two siblings who are lost in the woods and encounter a witch’s gingerbread house, was infused with a fresh and imaginative approach by drawing inspiration from the whimsical worlds of Tim Burton and Dr. Seuss. The Opera Orchestra, conducted by music faculty Dr. Hyunjee Chung, created a magical soundscape, with eerie undertones and playful melodies that enhance the fairy tale atmosphere. Though written in German, the NWSA production was sung in English and young audience members were treated to candies so they could participate in the magic of this classic fairy tale.
CONCERTO COMPETITION WINNER’S CONCERT
Dr. Hyunjee Chung continued with one of the music division’s most popular concerts during the fall’s Concerto Competition Winner’s Concert. The repertoire included some of the most important classical music repertoire with various instrumentation and featured a total of three winners from both the NWSA college and high school programs.
“For our students to grow as musicians and performers, it is crucial that they gain performance experiences beyond classroom rehearsals and activities. The Historical Lyric Theater is a beautiful venue where we enjoy showcasing our talents.”
Dr. Hyunjee Chung
HIGH SCHOOL CHOIR HOLIDAY CONCERT
NWSA’s 2023 music performances concluded with the annual favorite, NWSA High School Choir Holiday Concert, bringing audiences of all ages the popular seasonal works we have all come to love. The concert, which featured its members in a variety of solo appearances under the direction of music faculty Dr. Leslie Alan Denning, presented well known holiday carols from the 14th and 15th centuries as well as works by Mozart, selections from the Bach Magnificat, Handel’s “Messiah,” and more contemporary holiday favorites such as a 2023 arrangement of In the “Bleak Midwinter” by Dan Forrest, Tchervanow’s “The Sleigh” (a la Russe), a wildly popular, breathless, composition interestingly used in the Woody Woodpecker cartoons Woody Plays Santa Claus and Ski for Two. The concert concluded with John Rutter’s famous arrangement, “Esta Noche.”
HIGH SCHOOL INSTRUMENTAL ENSEMBLES CONCERT
The High School Instrumental Ensembles Concert featured the NWSA Camerata String Ensemble and High School Philharmonic Orchestra directed by Dr. Hyunjee Chung and the High School Wind Ensemble, directed by Brent Mounger. The program highlighted wonderful works by Felix Mendelssohn, Edvard Grieg, W.A. Mozart, Morton Gould, and many more. “Playing in an ensemble requires multitasking,” explained Dr. Chung. “The students must interpret the composers’ instructions in their parts, listen to their own section and other sections, all while staying connected with the director. I hope that all our students develop sensitivity in their listening and learn how to create music together as a group through this performance. Having a performance opportunity like this one is important for all our students. They will not only get the chance to showcase the music they’ve learned but also learn how to perform in a large ensemble.”
SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA WITH GUEST SOLOIST LEAH HAWKINS
New World School of the Arts returned to the iconic Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts to celebrate the annual NWSA Symphony Orchestra concert, under the baton of NWSA conductor and music faculty, Dr. Hyunjee Chung. Featuring guest soloist and internationally renowned soprano Leah Hawkins, joined by the NWSA High School Choir (Dr. Leslie Alan Denning, choir director) and College Opera Theatre Ensemble (Dr. Megan Barrera, opera director), the evening of music was a resounding success for the performing students and a special operatic gift for the audience. “Having Leah Hawkins share her powerful artistry with our students during her residency at NWSA was undoubtedly inspirational,” said Dr. Daniel Andai, dean of music at New World School of the Arts. “Her career is unfolding in impressive ways and her visit is a demonstration of the talent, high caliber artistry we aim to surround our students with.”
“The bookended overture and symphony serve not only as a musician’s study for a lifetime, but the promotion of the well-rounded artists we educate daily, so that they too may develop a greater appreciation for the ways in which these composers changed the course of music for future generations.”
Dr. Daniel Andai, Dean of Music
“The fiercely talented students at New World School of the Arts are truly rising stars. Your invaluable support helps them realize their dreams, on and off stage.”
Alan Patrick Kenny, Dean of Theatre
THE BOOK OF WILL
Without William Shakespeare, we wouldn’t have literary masterpieces like Romeo and Juliet. But without Henry Condell and John Heminges, we would have lost half of Shakespeare’s plays forever! Under the direction of NWSA faculty Silas Hoover, the New World School of the Arts high school theatre students opened the Theater Division’s season with Lauren Gunderson’s life-affirming play, The Book of Will. Written by one of America’s most-produced playwrights, the characters work to safeguard Shakespeare’s work and rescue it for posterity three years after his death. The Book of Will infused the bustling energy of Elizabethan London with an unforgettable true story of love, loss, and laughter, shedding new light on a man you may think you know.
“This show specifically touches on human connection. It is about humans being real and dealing with each other in different ways. This show helped me channel with inner experiences in theatre”
Madison Louk, high school acting senior
“Shakespeare is the beginning of theatre,” said Gabe Sklar, high school theatre junior in the role of John Heminges. “It is where everything splits from a lot of people and different presentations. Without Shakespeare’s shows, we would not have any of the work that we have today.”
CYRANO DE BERGERAC
Under the direction of NWSA Dean of Theater, Alan Patrick Kenny, the NWSA college theatre students presented the “breathtakingly exciting” theatrical tour-de-force, Cyrano de Bergerac. A radical new adaptation of Edmond Rostand’s masterwork by Martin Crimp, which recently premiered to acclaim featuring James McAvoy in the title role, this new version rendered the timeless story through spoken word, contemporary poetry, and raw physicality. Cyrano seduces in raps and rhymes, using his linguistic brilliance to help another man win the heart of his one true love—above all—championing his own unbridled love for words. “For our version, we’ve worked to honor Crimp’s intentions and language, with a cornucopia of UK and European dialects that celebrate the rhythms, rhymes, and moments of British humor, in a democratic production that puts a diverse community on stage, telling this story not for the posh, privileged few, but instead for the underdogs,” said Kenny.
“This creative and modern adaptation provides an experiential learning opportunity unlike any other for our students, blurring the lines between classic and contemporary storytelling, traditional dialogue and verse drama, spoken word and hip hop, as well as learning dialects and behaviors from other cultures.”
Alan Patrick Kenny, Dean of Theatre
“A lot of people can understand what Cyrano is going through while feeling out of place in this world. The questionings of ‘How do you love someone?’ or ‘How do you feel loved?’ are questions that anyone can ask.”
Justin Cook, college acting senior in the role of Christian
“This production is a language-based play, so it’s all about not only getting the language and dialect down, but also being able to listen, respond, and stay on beat.”
Kai Ady, college acting senior in the role of Cyrano
ONCE ON THIS ISLAND
Under the direction of NWSA theatre faculty Jennifer de Castroverde, the NWSA college musical theatre students presented the popular mainstage production Once on This Island, which tells of peasant girl Ti Moune, a boy called Daniel, and a union that prejudice forbids; it is a musical story of love, grief, faith and hope.
“The journey into this musical has been a deeply spiritual, collaborative one for me and the cast of student actors from the college and the high school at NWSA,” explained de Castroverde.
“By challenging individualized points of view, the opportunity to see the world through the eyes of a different race, color, and class, becomes an opportunity for resolution, forgiveness, and love.”
Jennifer de Castroverde, theatre faculty
For student Rayhana Parris, college musical theatre sophomore in the role of Papa Ge, the musical added to her training as a young actor, “The play allowed me to be more collaborative with my director and cast mates. The excitement of this musical helped me bring the natural acting choices into the room and dive deep into my own character.” College musical theatre senior Nai Fairweather, who played Asaka, added “Ensemble work and creating an understanding of all aspects of how powerful a musical can actually have helped me grow as an artist.”
KENNEDY CENTER AMERICAN COLLEGE THEATER FESTIVAL 2024 (KCACTF)
This year for the first time, New World School of the Arts college theatre participated in the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF). In addition to having three college productions receive professional production responses from industry professionals, NWSA received an invitation to perform on the festival mainstage, providing twenty-one NWSA college theatre students the opportunity to attend and perform at the Region IV Festival in Albany, GA, presenting Cyrano de Bergerac. In addition, five students, nominated by KCACTF production observers and faculty directors, participated in competitions, including the Musical Theatre Initiative and the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Competition – a scholarship that provides recognition, honor, and financial assistance to outstanding student performers wishing to pursue further education.
The NWSA Region IV festival production of Cyrano de Bergerac received the following national awards:
. Kennedy Center Citizen Artist Award* 2023-2024: Cyrano de Bergerac, New World School of the Arts
. Distinguished Achievement in Stage Management: Carolina Ortiz-Ruis and Emily Woodhouse
. Distinguished Achievement in Performance: Kai Ady
. Distinguished Achievement in Ensemble Performance
*The Kennedy Center Citizen Artist Awards recognize programs in higher education using theatrical production to promote long-term societal impact in artistic terms, encouraging empathetic exploration of the complex cultural and physical world, and advocating for justice on campus and throughout the world.
“I am beyond grateful for this opportunity to tour our beautiful show up to Georgia. Performing in a historic theatre, knowing it was our hands that put the set together, and celebrating Cyrano once more. A major thank you again to the cast, crew, and the Albany Municipal Theatre.”
Kai Ady, college acting senior
SWEAT
New World School of the Arts brought Lynn Nottage’s award-winning play Sweat to life on the mainstage in the school’s black box theater. Directed by NWSA theatre professor James Randolph, the play put on display the talent of the BFA college theater students, including several seniors who were part of the 2024 college graduating class of NWSA. Sweat won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2017 as well as an Obie Award, and received three Tony Award nominations and a Drama Desk Award nomination. “This is a key part of the training for the students in the New World School of the Arts BFA theatre program,” explained Randolph. “It is a style of play not often performed on the mainstage and a refreshing change in terms of style and genre in the repertoire of the students’ experience in their training.”
“The play is talking 90% of the time, and things that are said are nasty. Some actors must play characters older than themselves or go outside of themselves. This is beneficial because it pushes them outside of their comfort zone.”
Eric Gospodinoff, college acting senior in the role of Jason
URINETOWN
A sidesplitting send-up of greed, love, revolution (and musicals!), in a time when water is worth its weight in gold. The Tony Award-winning musical Urinetown is a hilarious satire of the legal system, capitalism, social irresponsibility, populism, environmental collapse, privatization of natural resources, bureaucracy, municipal politics, and musical theatre itself. Hilariously funny and touchingly honest, Urinetown, presented by the NWSA high school theatre students and directed by Professor James Randolph, provided a fresh perspective on one of America’s greatest art forms. “This show reminds us not only of what is wrong with society, but also what is possible,” said Professor Randolph. “It also suggests that no one group has all the answers for how to create a balanced and fair existence. This seems to be a lesson that all political parties, factions, and interests should learn for the world to survive. In the end, this is a comedy because sometimes you can reach an audience more effectively with comedy than you can with the hard brutal hits of drama.”
“Being in such a rigorous show brings us up as performers. The amount of ensemble work required in this musical brought us closer and taught us how to work more as a machine and less as individuals. The material of this show is not the simplest to sell and the only way to perform it truthfully is by using all the skills we have learned in the classroom! It has been such a pleasure to close out the year with such an incredible production.”
Maxwell Cohen, high school musical theatre senior
LEADING TRIPLE THREATS HUMBLY GIVE BACK TO NWSA
After a five-month National Tour as My Fair Lady’s headliner – Eliza Doolittle, New World School of the Arts high school theatre alumna (2019) and rising star, Anette Barrios-Torres, returned to Miami to visit her alma mater and connect with theatre students who now train where she once did – in the studios and performing arts classes of the downtown Miami’s center of excellence for the visual and performing arts. The young actress sat opposite her NWSA music director, Jeff Hess, along with her former theatre teacher, Matthew Buffalo, and presented a masterclass and Q&A session to her younger peers about her artistic journey and her experience as a young actress playing a bigger-than-life role.
“There seems to be a ‘leading lady’ epidemic coming out of New World this year!” humorously noted Hess, who just months before had a spirited on-stage conversation with musical theatre alumna and leading lady of the Funny Girl national tour, Katerina McCrimmon.
Katerina, who graduated from New World School of the Arts in 2016, also visited New World School of the Arts during her busy touring schedule to interact with and inspire her younger peers. Both theatre alumni, now rising stars in their field as triple threats, not only offered the acting and musical theatre students priceless tips and notes about a career in the arts, but enthusiastically offered advice and coaching to select musical theater students who took to the stage to perform for each of actresses.
“Knowing that she was in my same position just a few years ago shows so much hope for my future.”
West Rubin, high school musical theatre student
“With a rigorous and engaging curriculum that fosters creative thinking, encourages artistic exploration, and engages students through exceptional technical training, New World School of the Arts offers a career pathway for the next generation of artists. In addition to enhancing the classroom experience, your support allows our students to participate in numerous partnerships with local Miami organizations to develop projects that the community at large can enjoy. These opportunities also allow them to expand their practices and contribute to the community that has supported them in their journey at NWSA.”
O. Gustavo Plascencia, Dean of Visual Arts
SELECTED WORKS FROM THE NWSA COLLECTION
After more than a decade, New World School of the Arts’ visual arts division curated an impressive exhibition showcasing more than a dozen artworks from established Latin American artists. The pieces in “Selected Works from the NWSA Collection” were chosen from a growing collection of donated artworks that includes more than one hundred pieces. Donated to New World School of the Arts by art collectors and renowned Latin American artists, the collection is carefully and safely stored in an off-site vault location and has only been open to the public twice in the past. On view were works by renowned artists Antonio H. Amaral (Brazil); Enrique Campuzano (Chile); Benjamin Cañas (El Savador); Siron Franco (Brazil); Maria Martinez-Cañas (Cuba); Miguel Padura (Cuba); and Guillermo Trujillo (Panama).
“We have embarked on a journey into this treasure trove, carefully unpacking, documenting, and archiving this extensive collection. We believe that showcasing these artworks is a profound acknowledgment of the creative spirit that defines our institution and an invitation to share in the cultural wealth that has been generously bestowed upon us.”
Fern Palmas, co-curator
HABITUS BFA EXHIBITION
The BFA exhibition (Bachelor of Fine Arts exhibition), this year entitled “Habitus,” showcased the NWSA BFA visual arts college graduating class and included artwork from each of the visual arts disciplines – Art+Tech, Drawing, Graphic Design, Painting, Photography and Sculpture. The culmination of the students’ arts training at NWSA, this final project took them a year to realize, starting during the fall semester previous to graduation. The project offered them an opportunity to fully flesh out their ideas and learn how to organize and present a large-scale, professional exhibition.
“This is always an exciting time for the NWSA college seniors. it’s an arduous process, but it give them an opportunity to see their creative process from conceptualization, to execution, to promotion, to presentation of their artwork.”
O. Gustavo Plascencia, Dean of Visual Arts
PAINTED MURAL EXPANDS THE NWSA ART SERIES IN DOWNTOWN MIAMI
Miami Parking Authority (MPA) once again partnered with the New World School of the Arts to sponsor the latest in a series of murals that has become a permanent art installation on one of the interior walls of the Courthouse Center garage located at 40 NW Third Street in downtown Miami. Unveiled in December 2023, the mural is the product of a team of ten talented student artists from the Visual Arts Department under the guidance of NWSA visual arts faculty, Aramis O’Reilly.
“The real-world experiences that have come from working on this series of murals have also given the students valuable practical training, artistic confidence, and most all, the avenue by which to share their special abilities with the Miami community.”
Aramis O’ Reilly, visual arts faculty
The mural became a fall semester course designed to create an opportunity for students to have real-life and direct experiences while working on projects in public spaces. The project offered students the opportunity to design and create the mural from start to finish as they wrote the proposal, conceptualized the design, managed the budget, chose supplies, and envisioned the large-scale project. They also experienced working with an actual client and learned to build relationships to fulfill the artist’s and client’s vision.
COLLECTIBLE NWSA TIES AND SCARVES DESIGN HONORS NATURE
The Miami-Dade Days Ties and Scarves Competition – a project that has been assigned to New World School of the Arts college graphic design students for almost four decades, once again brought awareness of Miami-Dade County to our state’s capital…. this time with “Miami’s Natural Print,” the title of this year’s winning design created by Belinda A. Barrientos, a college graphic design junior. “The Miami-Dade Days ties and scarves competition is a unique learning opportunity for the graphic design students,” explained Rosario Martinez-Cañas, graphic design faculty who has led this initiative since its inception. “Not only are they able to use their creative skills to develop their individual designs but they also learn the importance of how to prepare a print file for the silk-screening process, which is a completely different print method than what they are used to.”
“Throughout the years that I have been attending New World School of the Arts, I have gained an immense amount of skill and creative liberty to make me feel prepared for this contest. I felt very humbled by the experience and the competition. Every one of my classmates had produced great work, so it was surprising to see that I was chosen as the winner.”
Belinda A. Barrientos, college graphic design senior
While visiting Tallahassee during the spring Florida Legislative Session, accompanied by her professor Martinez-Cañas, Belinda was also delighted to see her design in full display at the state capital, “Everywhere I turned I saw someone wearing my design, so it was interesting to see how a design could signify unity in our community. People outside of the delegation were approaching my teacher and me to ask where they could obtain my scarf because they fell in love with my design
ANOTHER PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLAR IN THE ARTS FROM NWSA
Earning one of the twenty U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts this year, New World School of the Arts (NWSA) once again brings home to Miami the coveted honor, representing the distinguished NWSA visual arts division.
As part of the Presidential Scholars Class of 2024, newly minted Scholar, Paola Alvarez Ramirez, will be recognized for her outstanding achievement this summer with an online recognition program. The U.S. Presidential Scholar award presented on behalf of the President of the United States is one of the nation’s highest honors for high school students and symbolically honors all graduating high school seniors of high potential. Paola, a high school senior at New World School of the Arts visual arts division, was admitted to University of the Arts London where she will pursue a career in Fashion Design.
“This award is one of the highest honors in the nation, Paola’s commitment to her art practice, high caliber of production, and community engagement are testament of her creative spirt and civic engagement,” noted O. Gustavo Plascencia, dean of visual arts at New World School of the Arts. “It’s nice to see her being recognized for her hard work, NWSA is very proud of her, and we can only imagine what’s to come from her.”
DOODLE FOR GOOGLE STATE WINNER HAILS FROM NWSA HIGH SCHOOL
Ariana Formica, a New World School of the Arts visual arts first-year student was announced as the state winner in the Doodle for Google competition, a contest where K-12 students across the United States can create their own version of the Google logo inspired by a prompt. Ariana’s Doodle, “The Children Project” was selected from thousands of entries received this year and was one of 55 State and Territory Winners. Along with NWSA high school Principal, Dr. Contessa Bryant, and visual arts teacher, Ray Parris, NWSA fellow students helped Ariana celebrate during a surprise assembly. “New World is so proud of Ariana. She’s won the Florida competition for Google as a freshman! I can’t wait to see what the future holds for her,” said Dr. Bryant. Ariana, whose painting joined the other 54 state and territory winners to compete for the First Place during a week-long electronic public vote process, explained how the Doodle prompt inspired her artwork,
“My wish for the next 25 years is to bring more mental health awareness to kids through art therapy. In the future, I want to be an art therapist and make therapy more accessible for all children. The future children under my care are using childlike art forms to build the Google logo.”
Ariana Formica, high school visual arts 9th grader
COLLEGE GRADUATING CLASS TRAVELS TO EUROPE
Supported by Carlos and the late Rosa de la Cruz and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, two dozen graduating college seniors enjoyed New World School of the Arts’ travel abroad program as the culmination of their arts education experience at New World School of the Arts. Spending two weeks in Italy this summer accompanied by NWSA faculty Maria Martinez-Cañas and Fred Snitzer, the students split their time between Florence and Venice, Italy. While in Venice, the group had the opportunity to visit the Venice Biennale, St. Marco Basilica, Gallerie dell’Accadmia, and the Guggenheim Collection among other artistic and cultural sites. The second stop was Florence, where the students had to the opportunity to visit Piazza del Duomo, Palazzo Vecchio, Palatine Gallery, Medici Chapels, Palazzo Medici Riccardi, and the famous Gallerie degli Uffizi. The trip was full of historical and contemporary art and the guided tours provided a perfect setting to continue their artistic journey.
ALUMNI SUPPORT
The New World School of the Arts Alumni Foundation Scholarships offer opportunities to outstanding NWSA, college-bound, high school Seniors to receive funds for college related expenses. In 2024, the Foundation presented more than $35,000 in scholarships. In addition to these scholarship programs, the NWSA Alumni Foundation also awards an annual grant to support an alumni artistic project. The Inspiration Grant, now in its eighth year, has supported dance performances, art exhibitions, new plays, and performance art pieces. The criteria for this scholarship takes into consideration the overall merit and impact of the project the alum proposes for support. The Foundation also hosts alumni focused events around the country to keep members connected and collaborating.
“The NWSA Alumni Foundation’s mission is to provide resources to connect our alumni and advance their personal, professional, and artistic pursuits. This mission also includes providing support for high school alumni as they begin their college careers. To that end, the Alumni Foundation awarded 15 scholarships to the class of 2024. The funds for these scholarships came from the Grant Cardone Foundation, the Miami Dolphins, the Franklin Sports Company, and two notable alumni – Randall Emmett and Elizabeth Gainer.”
– Patrick O’Connell, President NWSA Alumni Foundation