The Governor’s School for the Arts is a four-week residency summer program for high school students gifted in music, dance, visual art, and theatre. The faculty consists of outstanding visual and performing artists and educators from across the nation who hold degrees from such schools as Yale, Julliard, Eastman, and others.

There is no cost to attend for those who are selected, and students receive college credit for their participation.

“The intent of the program is to build upon existing competencies and to enhance them in several ways,” said Director Raphael Bundage. “The school nurtures the skills already possessed by the student and encourages new ideas and competencies by exposing them to practices in other arts. In addition, we strive to enhance critical thinking about the way art relates to life and to broaden students perceptions as individuals in the 21st century,” Bundage added.

“Students who are accepted to the Governor’s School must commit to the entire four-week term, including weekends,” said Dean of Students Lynda Hawkersmith. “Students live in dormitories and eat together in the school cafeteria. Faculty and counselors supervise student classes, activities, recreations, dorm living and performances."

“All students attend nightly programs that provide demonstrations, slide shows, films, lectures, and outstanding performing artists and ensembles,” Hawkersmith said. “In addition, all students have the opportunity to learn fundamental concepts about art forms other than their particular specialties."

Jerry Reed, chair of the music division of the Governor’s School, explained “students in music participate in one of the following groups: orchestra, wind ensemble, chorale, or piano ensembles. They take classes in theory and participate in a chamber music or opera workshop. They also rehearse within their groups and present several concerts, as well as a finale performance, which is open to the general public.”

“Theatre students participate either as designers and technicians or as stage performers. Technicians and designers study scenic design, sound technology, lighting design, costuming, makeup and other forms of stagecraft,” Bundage said. “Stage performers study acting, mime, stage combat, voice, stage movement, and other aspects of the performing arts. All students in theatre work as an ensemble company to produce a major theatrical production for the finale performance.”

“Students in visual arts take classes in clay, drawing, painting, filmmaking, graphic design, computer-based design, sculpture and printmaking,” Hawkersmith said. “All art students produce work which is displayed to the public in the art gallery and at the finale performance. Ballet students take classes in ballet and pointe technique, modern dance, jazz and other dance forms, as well as character and makeup. In addition, they produce a major dance performance, which is presented at the finale performance,” Hawkersmith said.

“Classes and rehearsals take place Monday through Friday and weekends are filled with rehearsals, individual practice or studio time, as well as extracurricular activities,” Reed said.

“Each evening, programs include performances by faculty, guest artists and performers, regional performing groups, lectures, slide or film presentations, and student generated performances,” Reed added.

The Arts Education program of the State Department of Education oversees the curricula offerings and standards in visual art, music, theatre, and dance. Curricula frameworks are published for Tennessee schools and include appropriate goals for these disciplines.

“We keep track of our students as they transition through college and beyond. This enables us to keep a record of the number of students who continue on with their discipline into careers as professional artists, performers and educators in the arts,” Hawkersmith said. "Numerous former students now hold jobs in orchestras of international repute, such as the Orchestra Symphonique de Montreal, or work as supporting musicians for companies such as the Metropolitan Opera in New York. Many former dance, visual art and theatre students now work as designers, technicians, actors and dancers on and off Broadway and in national television and film projects."

“In addition, a great number of past students are now teachers in the arts, many returning to their own communities to complete the circle of arts education,” Bundage said.