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SMCS Programmes | Arts Programme | Students playing instruments
Programmes

Arts

Our arts programme develops a student’s sense of culture, creativity, and independence. It encompasses the departments of media art, music, visual art, and dramatic arts.


Skill Development

SMCS Dramatic Arts | Spring Musical 2023

While studying the arts at St. Michael’s College School, students develop critical-thinking skills by observing, conceptualizing, and organizing information, thereby engendering creative and independent responses to others’ ideas and to the creative expression of their own authentic messages.

Students use the creative and critical analysis processes to interpret art, music, and drama within a personal, contemporary, and historical context. They have the opportunity to examine the role of art and media in shaping audience perceptions of identity, culture, and values.

Deeper Connections

Students develop connections to historical artworks, musical compositions, and media that guide them into a deeper response to God. This understanding inspires a more meaningful relationship with others, as well as a stronger perception of themselves in terms of their personal mission in life.

Dramatic Arts

The Dramatic Arts celebrate a long history at St. Michael’s College School dating back to the school’s first dramatic production in 1920.

Each year a play is produced in the fall or early winter as well as a lavish Broadway-style musical during April. Our musical and dramatic performances are showcased in our Centre for the Arts, a state-of-the-art, 440-seat theatre.

Two full-time theatre professionals facilitate supervised student involvement in the technical side of every production.

A Musical Theatre course is offered for students seeking a more enriched experience alongside their participation in the Fall Drama and Spring Musical.

Media Arts

SMCS Media Arts | Students working in the Mac lab with photography equipment.

The Media Arts programme offers students an enhanced curriculum that complements and enriches the Ministry of Education objective within an exploratory photography studio and Mac lab environment.

Offered to students in Grades 11 and 12, the rigorous programme uses photography and filmmaking to critically explore concepts of communication in mass and social media, advertising, and current political and social affairs.

Students will use their creativity and insight to produce photographic and video projects as well as apply critical thinking skills in writing assignments that demonstrate their understanding of the work of contemporary media artists and filmmakers.

Media Arts | St. Michael's College School

Music

The Music programme offers students of all grade levels and ability an opportunity to learn to play a band instrument as well as to study the theory and history of music.

Students learn and utilize the most recent computer technology to compose, edit, and record their own pieces.

Sixteen different school bands and ensembles are offered through both the academic and co-curricular programmes, with many providing opportunities for students to perform for public audiences during concerts, music festivals, and more.

In 2005, SMCS founded a Drumline programme to encourage excellence and teamwork in our young men, add a new energy to school spirit at community events, and offer the school increased visibility from performances across the Greater Toronto Area.

The choir presents an opportunity for Grade 11 and 12 students to practice liturgical hymns, psalms, and liturgical responses in preparation for the school masses where they are accompanied by the organ and the St. Michael’s Liturgical Band. The choir allows prayer to not only be spoken, but also sung through God’s gift of music.

Performing Groups

  • Grade 8 Band
  • Grade 8 Honour Band
  • Grade 9 Concert Band
  • Grade 9 Symphonic Band
  • Grade 10 Symphonic Band
  • Grade 9 & 10 Trip Band
  • Festival Winds (Gr. 9 & 10 Honour Band)
  • Senior Concert Band
  • Liturgical Band
  • Junior Jazz Ensemble
  • Senior Jazz Ensemble (‘Big Blue’)
  • Jazz Combo
  • Junior Drumline
  • Senior Drumline
  • Pep Band
  • Choir

Music | St. Michael's College School

Visual Arts

The Visual Arts programme focuses on creativity and communication as it provides opportunities for students to develop their critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Students acquire knowledge and skills through industry-related assignments in media and digital arts as well as the traditional disciplines of painting, sculpture, and drawing.

Visual Arts students discover the connections between their work, their historical context, and the current social climate. Every spring, St. Michael’s College School holds a Celebration of the Arts Week to appreciate and honour the students’ achievement and creativity.

Centre for the Arts

The 440-seat, state-of-the-art Centre for the Arts opened in 2010, providing an excellent setting for artistic plays, musical performances, presentations, and other large gatherings.


Buy Tickets

Purchase tickets for the Centre for the Arts

*The St. Michael’s College School Centre for the Arts is not available for rental to the general public.

Also see our Academics Programme

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