A college-preparatory day school for girls Pre-K through 12
Music
Greenwich Academy’s Music Department offers students the opportunity to perform in a variety of ensembles, both choral and instrumental. Students learn and perform both traditional and contemporary music literature at on and off campus venues.
The goal of the choral and instrumental groups is to educate students in the rudiments of music so that they become literate and proficient in reading and performing music from various historical periods and styles. The school’s choral groups include Bel Canto, Madrigal Singers, Gospel Choir, and a coed a cappella group.
There are a number of opportunities for instrumental musicians at Greenwich Academy and Brunswick School. Brass, woodwind, and percussion students may play in large and small ensembles, from chamber music to auditioned jazz groups such as Blue Notes.
Private lessons are offered in piano and voice. Students perform classical music, jazz, and a multicultural repertoire as they become proficient in the fundamentals of their instrument.
Madrigals
The Madrigal Singers represent a long tradition of musical excellence at Greenwich Academy. The Upper School treble ensemble has received invitations to perform both regionally and internationally. In December 2004, they performed at a private reception hosted by First Lady Laura Bush at the White House. In 2008, they received an invitation to perform at the National Association of Independent School Annual Convention at Radio City Music Hall in New York. On April 7, 2013, the Madrigals were invited to perform “The Star Spangled Banner” at a New York Mets baseball game.
In 2012 the Madrigals traveled from Barcelona to Paris, performing in cathedrals in Figueres, Aix-en-Provence and Albi, with a final concert in Paris at Basilique Ste-Clotilde. In 2014 the Madrigals toured Scandinavia. Their 2017 tour of Ireland included concerts in various cities including Dublin, Killarney, and Gallway. Their 2019 tour of Finland, Sweden, and Norway, included a concert at the famous Rock church of Helsinki.
Erica McCants became the conductor of Madrigals in the fall of 2019. She earned her bachelor of music education and vocal performance certificate from the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam. Before coming to Greenwich Academy, she taught at Hyde Park Middle School in Hyde Park, NY for four years and at the DreamYard Arts in Education Program in the Bronx for two years. Ms. McCants came to Greenwich Academy in the fall of 2005 as a middle school music teacher. She served as Performing Arts Department Chair from 2012-2018. In addition to Madrigals she is also the vocal director and conductor for the Upper School fall musical, directs Bel Canto, Gospel Choir, teaches Group V music classes and coordinates the private lesson program.
Private Instruction
The music department offers private lessons in piano and voice. An enrichment to classroom instruction, this is an excellent opportunity for your child to deepen her appreciation of music and to learn skills that will strengthen her performance ability. Our adjunct music faculty is selected from the finest performers and teachers in New York and Connecticut. Lessons are offered as follows:
- Piano for students in Groups I-XII
- Voice for students in Groups V-XII
Scheduling
Lessons are offered in the Wallace Performing Arts Center after school. Private music lessons are scheduled according to these guidelines: student/family schedule, developmental level, and teacher/studio space availability. Generally, younger students begin with a 30-minute lesson. Longer lessons are recommended for intermediate to advanced students.
How to Sign Up
If you are interested in private lessons of any kind, please contact Erica McCants in the Music Department. Please include the following information:
- Name of student
- Grade level
- Previous experience (if any)
- Possible time requests