REMOTE LEARNING UPDATES
During remote learning, we are trying to make sure you are always aware of what’s going on inside and outside of the classroom at MSA. We can’t wait to see you are more than virtually!
- MSA October 7 Newsletter
- MSA October 3 Film Challenge News
- MSA September 30 Newsletter
- MSA September 23 Newsletter
- MSA September 16 Newsletter
- MSA September 10 Students Newsletter
- MSA September 9 Newsletter
- MSA September 2 Newsletter
- NUSD Return to School Guide (A LOT of information here)
- NUSD Reentry FAQ (even more great information)
- NUSD Covid page (this is the umbrella page, with a lot of resources, updates, etc)
MSA VIDEO UPDATE
MSA Vocal Senior Kat Diercks shares how arts students have adapted to distance learning this fall, giving us a look at some of our modified activities and a look at MSA program activities – featuring Creative Writing and Vocal Music this month.
MEET THE NEW VOCAL MUSIC TEACHER
Amanda Addleman
Addleman is a San Francisco-based vocalist, pianist, composer, arranger, and educator. Addleman earned a B.M. at the prestigious Berklee College of Music and studied independently with Theo Bleckmann, Laurie Antonioli and Tierney Sutton at varying points in her professional work. In her own educational work, Addleman ran the Sir Francis Drake High School vocal department for many years and teaches a regular schedule at the California Jazz Conservatory in Berkeley. She is thrilled to join the Marin School of the Arts team. It is her mission to educate and expose students of all levels and backgrounds to the study of music so they can bring art and creativity into their lives long after they leave high school.
Addleman’s musical approach is one well-steeped in a reverence for the traditions of great jazz singers and instrumentalists of the last century. Her new release Into the Light is a collection contrasting the light and the dark places of Addleman’s life. It has received praise from critics and musicians alike and is available on all streaming services and beyond.
ARTWORK BY STUDENT ARTIST PASCALE DE BUREN
Our Pledge to Create Connection,
Meaning and Empathy
As arts educators, we partner with your children to make sense of the world around them in joyous and troubling times.
This moment of merging racial unrest and global pandemic is more than troubling; the past days and weeks have glaringly exposed the systemic racism and social injustices that exist every day in this country.
As MSA artists and staff, we reinvigorate our promise to create connection, meaning, and empathy through our media.
The Marin School of the Arts staff steadfastly supports black voices that speak now and have spoken for centuries about the abuse of the most basic intentions of our Constitution to provide a safe space and equality for all.
MSA continues to welcome and honor the many voices of diversity and the brilliance they yield to the enrichment and uniqueness of art, life, and community.
— Philip Chidel, Janelle Mitnick Cooper, Michelle Cortez,Toran Davenport, Rodney Franz, Howard Gersh, Dr. Greg Johnson, Sabrina Kalleen, Ben Knudson, Taylor Mancini, Shannon Miller, Peter Ornstein, Rebecca Pollack and Matthew Verplaetse
MSA FOUNDATION
The MSA Foundation raises over $400,000 annually to support MSA programs the school district can’t provide. With the community, the Foundation enhances and sustains arts education for all MSA students.
MSA ADMISSIONS
MSA is a specialized program within Novato High School. MSA Admissions include an application process followed by an audition/portfolio review. MSA students have daily MSA arts classes and NHS academic classes.
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A VISION OF OUR FUTURE
Thanks to the generosity of Novato voters and homeowners and visionary planning from our NUSD leadership, the new Center for the Arts is scheduled to break ground this June.
The multidisciplinary theatre and gallery will be built on the current NHS tennis courts with access directly from the NHS parking lot with completion estimated in 18 months. Our hope is that our current freshmen and sophomore students will celebrate the center’s ribbon cutting in Spring 2021.
The bond measure financed $25-million-dollar project is designed by award-winning architects Shalleck Collaborative and will feature a 450-seat theatre on two levels, and a permanent art gallery with flexible rooms space for classes or dressing rooms. MSA programs will have priority in to accommodate our major productions and exhibitions. The Center for the Arts will also host activities by other NUSD, Novato, and touring groups.
The MSA Foundation is raising funds for state-of-the-art lights, sound and technology through Fund-the-Future paddle raises at our Divine Wine and Showcase performances, which are essential to the completion of this vital community asset to augment the technical package provided by the bond funding.
It’s a pleasure to plan with the Center for the Arts in mind. This process begs for community participation and support. We invite you, our families and community sponsors, to get your creative sparks flying. In what ways might we partner to engage, inspire, and empower our community through the arts in this new facility?
MSA FAMILY TOUR
Discover the breadth of MSA programs at Novato High School! Interested students in the 8th grade with a parent or guardian are invited to attend an Online MSA Family Tour, including all program classes in progress. While waiting to return to campus, we’ll offer virtual tours starting in October.
UPCOMING EVENTS
About the MSA program
Marin School of the Arts (MSA) is an award-winning arts program within Novato High School, a top performing public high school offering challenging and innovative academic programs, as well as outstanding athletic and club offerings.
MSA gives talented and motivated students from across the North Bay and beyond the chance to study with top arts professionals in their fields. As part of a public high school, MSA can offer quality arts programs to a greater variety of young artists. MSA provides college-level arts study in a variety of arts disciplines, which results in students gaining a higher skill set in their studies as well as greater confidence in their abilities. MSA teaches young artists how to follow through on commitments, how to multitask and how to rise to extreme challenges while developing thier individuality and self-identity.
As part of a public high school, MSA is an affordable and cost-effective program which encourages a greater diversity of talented young artists. The school attracts students from across Marin and Sonoma counties as well as students traveling from as far away as San Francisco and Vallejo. This mix encourages a dynamic community of young artists sharing ideas, experiences and projects.
MSA PROGRAMS
