Conner Gray Covington (Instrumental Music ’06) conducted the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra’s 2024-2025 season opener, Joy! Covington is one of five candidates in the running to be TSO’s next conductor. Read more about his musical journey. Ellie Knaus (Theatre ’01) is a comedy writer on the Apple TV+ hit Bad Monkey starring Vince Vaughn. She…
Rachelle Mendez (Theatre ’94) is the new Head of Unscripted at Hyphenate Media Group. Hyphenate COO Eva Longoria said, “I’ve been impressed by Rachelle’s vast knowledge of the unscripted business since meeting her, and I am thrilled to have her here at Hyphenate. The elegance with which approaches a subject matter is second to none—she…
The Kinder HSPVA Creative Writing Department presented a full season of multidisciplinary performances in the 2023-2024 school year. Students created work in a wide range of different writing styles and multimedia genres. Their evolving work is the direct result of all the unique courses and experiences the department offers. Your gifts provide the adjunct faculty needed…
The Kinder HSPVA Instrumental Music curriculum relies on support from donors like you. Thanks to your gifts to HSPVA Friends, Instrumental Music students accomplished so much in the 2023-2024 school year. This year, the faculty was particularly proud of their partnerships with some of the city’s finest music organizations. Your gifts funded an unprecedented…
2023-2024 was a big year for the Kinder HSPVA Vocal Music Department. The faculty continued building on the department’s strong classical music foundation and expanded access to other musical genres. Mr. Jauregui offered a musical theatre studio, Mrs. Pendarvis-Romero taught a songwriting class, and Mrs. Miller-Stone added French to the classical program’s repertoire. Your…
The Kinder HSPVA Visual Arts Department curriculum is designed to prepare students to study at the nation’s top arts conservatories. The program emphasizes idea development, critical thinking, technical skills, and robust study of art-related media. The coursework encourages students to incubate new ideas and teaches them to give and receive constructive criticism. Your gifts…
Every year, some of the nation’s best choreographers and masterclass instructors visit the Kinder HSPVA Dance Department. Your gifts to HSPVA Friends allowed Dance students the opportunity to work with these visiting artists, as well as an impressive roster of daily adjunct faculty. You also provided other concert support, including costumes, a professional lighting designer,…
The Kinder HSPVA Theatre curriculum is designed to prepare all students to be well-rounded theatre artists. This year, students proved to be just that – they thrived across all aspects of production! In addition to their main areas of focus, designers made star turns performing on stage, and performers created beautiful, functional designs. Students stepped up…
Thank you for making the 2024 Encore Luncheon a huge success! The 18th Annual Encore Luncheon was Thursday, April 4, seated on the Denney Theatre stage. Luncheon Chairs Tissy and Rusty Hardin welcomed 300 guests to celebrate 2024 Distinguished Alumna and world-renowned jazz pianist and composer Helen Sung ’89. Thanks to the generosity of HSPVA…
XOXO Studio is a special offering from the Kinder HSPVA Creative Writing Department: a pop-up poetry booth for made-to-order Valentine’s Day poems! In February, Creative Writing students traveled to office buildings downtown and set up their festive poetry studio during the lunchtime rush. Building tenants lined up to request one-of-a-kind poems dedicated to their loved…