Welcome to the Fine Arts Department at John Bapst!
With its strong offerings of Drama, Music, and the Visual Arts, John Bapst knows the key to a full, enriching life is one with the arts in it.
The Fine Arts Department has a long history of excellence. It begins with great teachers. At John Bapst, it takes four full-time faculty — each a professional in his or her own right — to offer the drawing, painting, graphic design, printmaking, AP Studio and AP Art History, film history, music theory, Concert Band, Jazz Band, Chamber Ensemble, Contemporary Music Workshop, Chorale, and other classes that, together, add up to an inspiring program.
Download the Fine Arts informational packet here.
Inspiration was definitely on display when the John Bapst Band made national news in 1993. At Bangor International Airport, Sgt. Kevin Tillman, just off the plane from a tour of duty, borrowed a student’s saxophone and played a tear-wrenching version of “The Star Spangled Banner.”
Excellences has many faces. The Jazz Band owns two recent state titles and many individual instrumentalist honors. Drama students star not only at school, but also in theatrical productions at regional professional theaters. Art students have won Gold Keys at Scholastic Art Competitions and scholarships to art schools, and they exhibit work at venues in Maine. In recent years, John Bapst grads have gone on to the Art Institute of Chicago, Massachusetts College of Art, Parsons, SCAD, Berklee College of Music, and several conservatory programs: Oberlin, Boston, Hartt, and Gettysburg.
The Fine Arts Department offers a variety of classes in many subjects. From acting classes and productions to singing in a choir and playing an instrument, students at John Bapst experience the rich diversity of the arts. Design furniture or a CD cover, paint a landscape, fire a ceramic sculpture, hand-dye silk textiles — build on the artist that is already within!
John Bapst is a place for flexibility. All departments work to ensure that students meet the needs of all activities in which they are involved, whether academic, artistic, athletic, or extracurricular. Teachers take the lead to help students work around any schedule conflicts because we want them to be self-expressive, well-rounded, arts-appreciating individuals when they graduate.
The amazing volunteers in the John Bapst Fine Arts Boosters support the department’s efforts in in meeting the needs and desires of our students. We are so grateful for them. This amazing group raises funds for a variety of enrichment opportunities. Recently the Visual Arts Department was able to purchase a printing press and a glass kiln to add variety to their classes. The Boosters helped our drama class take Master Classes at Penobscot Theatre and attend local productions. They help fund new instrument purchases so students do not have to purchase instruments in order to be a part of the Concert Band or classical Chamber Ensemble.
Contact our department at 207-947-0313 ext. 112, and we will answer any questions you have.
Sincerely,
Samantha Mahar ’02
Fine Arts Department Chair