Student Experience
Arts

Performing Arts

Act, Play, Sing...We've Got It All

Grab your favorite instrument, or just your voice, and join one of our choral or instrumental ensembles. Don't have any experience? No worries. With our disciplined performing arts curriculum and dedicated faculty, you'll be hitting those high notes in no time. Once you get enough practice in, you'll get a chance to represent Loyola at a variety of music festivals and concerts throughout the school year, including the prestigious Berklee High School Jazz Festival.

Each of our instrumental and choral ensembles are offered as courses through our curriculum and many require auditions before joining. See a full list of our offerings below.

Instrumental

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  • Middle School Concert Band

    The Loyola Middle School Concert Band is designed to assist each student in the further development of the fundamental skills necessary to play effectively on a musical instrument. To accomplish this, the course concentrates on the development of effective tone production, intonation, fingering and articulation skills. Students may sign up for the Loyola Instrumental Music Class as a year course only, and the course may be repeated for credit each year as the student progresses. Admission on request. It is always strongly encouraged that all members of this class continue private lessons on their own from specialists on their instruments in addition to their participation in this course. One-half credit course.
  • Upper School Concert Band

    The Loyola Concert Band is designed to provide the student with a top quality music ensemble experience. The Concert Band will perform music in a variety of classical and popular styles and perform numerous concerts each year both at Loyola and in the surrounding area. The major emphasis of this course will be the mastery of the technical and artistic skills necessary to perform classical and popular music effectively in a classically based ensemble. Students may sign up for Concert Band as a year course only, and the course may be repeated for credit each year as the student progresses. Admission is by audition. It is always strongly advised that all ensemble members continue private lessons on their own from specialists on their instruments in addition to their participation in the ensemble. One credit course.
  • Jazz Ensemble

    The Loyola Jazz Ensemble is designed to provide the student with a top quality jazz ensemble experience. The ensemble will perform music in a variety of jazz and popular styles and hold numerous concerts throughout the school year — both at Loyola and in the surrounding Baltimore/Washington area. Students in the ensemble will perform music from jazz charts, learn and expand their skills in the art of improvisation and (in selected cases) develop their talents in composing and arranging. The goal of the Loyola Blakefield Jazz Ensemble is to assist each student in further developing his technical and artistic skills and abilities in music and to provide a setting in which each student will be able to further develop his musicianship, professionalism and sense of responsibility. Students may sign up for Jazz Ensemble as a year course only, and the course may be repeated for credit each year as the student progresses. Admission is by audition, and participation by brass and woodwind players in the Loyola Concert Band is required. It is always strongly advised that all ensemble members continue private lessons on their own from specialists on their instruments in addition to their participation in the ensemble. One credit course.
  • Jazz Combos

    The Loyola Jazz Combo class is designed to provide advanced instrumental students with an opportunity to create their own jazz combo arrangements, improvise through chord changes, and perform in a variety of jazz styles in a jazz combo setting. Students taking the course will perform in numerous concerts throughout the school year – both at Loyola and in the surrounding Baltimore/Washington area. Students may sign up for Loyola Jazz Combo as a year course only, and the course may be repeated for credit each year as the student progresses. Admission is by audition, and participation by brass, woodwind, and percussion players in the Loyola Concert Band is required. One-half credit course.

Choral Arts

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  • 6th Grade Chorus

    In 6th grade chorus, students rehearse a varied repertoire of choral music and learn basic musical concepts. In drama, students develop an appreciation and understanding of historical and cultural samples of theatre. Middle School Chorus and Drama culminates in a performance activity at the end of each semester.
  • 7th & 8th Grade Chorus

    This course provides students the opportunity to develop skills in reading music, an understanding of basic music theory, and talents in choral singing through the written and aural exercises, and the study, rehearsal, and performance of choral literature for mixed voices. Several concerts are presented during the school year and include opportunities to sing at school functions. Students are evaluated on their individual musical progress, as well as attendance at the ensemble’s rehearsals and performances.
  • Loyola Concert Choir (The Blakefield Singers)

    The core choral ensemble of Loyola Blakefield, this course provides upper school students with the opportunity to further develop talents in choral singing through the study, rehearsal, and 36 performances of a variety of choral literature for men’s voices. Throughout the year, the Blakefield Singers prepare and present a number of performances both on and off campus. Students are evaluated on their individual musical progress, as well as attendance at the ensemble’s rehearsals and performances.

    Prerequisites: Audition and permission from instructor.
  • AnDONte

    Loyola Blakefield’s select a cappella ensemble, AnDONte, consists of approximately 8–12 singers who are simultaneously enrolled in the Loyola Concert Choir and selected by audition for the study, rehearsal, and performance of music suited to a small ensemble, including popular music, vocal jazz, motets and madrigals. The ensemble may also prepare and present additional performances both on and off campus. Students are evaluated on their individual musical progress, as well as attendance at the ensemble’s rehearsals and performances.

    Prerequisites: Concurrent enrollment in Loyola Concert Choir, audition, and permission from the instructor.

Contact

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  • Photo of Richard Skirpan

    Dr. Rich Skirpan 

    Choral Director Middle and Upper School
    (410) 823-0601 Ext 225
  • Photo of Mary Thielen

    Mrs. Mary Thielen 

    Upper and Middle School Band Instructor
    (410) 823-0601 Ext 232
Are you a prospective student interested in learning more about our Performing Arts program? Fill out our online form here and a member of our Admissions team will be in touch!

The Blakefield Players

The Blakefield Players is our award-winning theatre troupe. Learn more about the program here.

Upcoming Events

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500 Chestnut Ave. Towson, MD 21204
communications@loyolablakefield.org
(410) 823-0601