FROM THE VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS DEPARTMENT
VISUAL & PERFORMING ARTS AT FORDHAM PREP
A Q & A with Dylan LaGamma ’ 09 , Chairperson , VPA Department
Q :
Fordham Prep ’ s history in the visual and performing arts ( VPA ) includes some illustrious names : Rev . John Leonard , SJ ( dramatics ), JK Johnson ( music ), Rev . Mal Fitzpatrick , SJ ( art history ), Douglas Otis ( music ), and Marilyn Honigman ( visual art ). How does the current department reflect upon and enhance that history ?
Q :
Opportunity for students to participate in visual and performing arts has expanded greatly , both inside and outside the classroom , in the last 10 years . Freshmen will now have the choice to take music or studio art during their initial year at the Prep . What has this expanded access achieved ?
Q :
More and more students come to
Fordham Prep with either experience or an interest in visual and performing arts . Participation is growing rapidly . How do you account for this growth ?
Q :
As the department ’ s tremendous growth continues , what are you excited about in the future ? What does Visual and Performing Arts at Fordham Prep look like in the year 2034 ?
A :
As a department , we are staffed almost entirely by alumni who have studied under many of the great music , visual , and art history teachers mentioned here and many more not referenced . Our work is informed by the experience we had with these dedicated Jesuit educators but , as they would have us do , we continue to look for ways to expand upon and transform our curriculum to meet current students where they are .
A :
Fordham Prep recognized a need for the inclusion of VPA opportunities within its curriculum , especially early on in a student ’ s time at the Prep . More students have taken advantage of these opportunities and we have a steady trend of students returning each year to further their knowledge in a particular discipline or try a new discipline altogether . Our class numbers in music and visual arts have increased steadily . By offering Studio Art I at the freshman level we hope that even more students will progress to our highest levels , which include AP 2-D Art and Design and AP Drawing . However , it is most important that our freshmen will be able to take more courses that they desire .
A :
We see ourselves as a school that is rigorous in its approach to academics and a place that fosters creativity and expression in all pursuits . We have expanded opportunities to reach those students by advocating for more course options as well as additional faculty and additional resources . Our theater department remains a crucial component of our identity . Each year , our Dramatic Society ’ s performances capture a wide audience of prospective students and their families . Each open house opens with a performance from a student music group . Both get prospective students excited about the numerous opportunities we offer . They also witness the very public success our students have . Recently , Fordham Prep students have gone on to win awards and earn scholarships in their discipline and gain admission to prestigious universities and colleges like Pratt , NYU Tisch , Royal Academy , and Royal Conservatory , to name a few . Our students are recognizing that at Fordham Prep you don ’ t have to be just one type of student . There are many students who are academically strong , committed athletes , and talented members of our Visual and Performing Arts community .
A :
There are countless opportunities in the digital space that may make sense for our department . Expanding course options in photography , music production and DAW ( digital audio workstation ), and building upon our architectural drawing courses to include CAD ( computer-aided design ) are just a few of the 21st century opportunities we would like to pursue . However , there is still work to be done with the programs we currently offer . Augmenting and growing our physical footprint as well as developing our robust curriculum are high priority items over the next decade . Expanding visual art opportunities to include sculpture , ceramics , mixed media , and other 3D platforms are possible , as well as upgrading our music facilities to meet the demands of our performance ensembles with the right investment and funding . We dream big . My hope is that the next decade brings a building dedicated to visual , theatrical , and musical arts to our part of the historic Rose Hill Campus .
WINTER 2024 VOLUME 44 , ISSUE 1
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