Performing Arts

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Choral Music

Music is an important aspect of life at Sem, and as many as 50 percent of the school's students take part in musical activities; Mr. John Vaida directs both choral groups.

The Wyoming Seminary Chorale is a vocal ensemble open to all members of the student body at the beginning of the school year. The enjoyment of singing is more important than the ability to sing. The chorale presents concerts throughout the school year both on campus and in the community. All interested students may join.

The Madrigal Singers is a select group that performs separately from the large chorus and presents music written for small vocal ensembles. It performs locally, tours, and on occasion during recent years, has entered international competitions in Greece, Germany and England. In 2009, the ensemble received two gold medals and two silver medals at a festival in Olomouc Czech Republic, and won first prize in two categories competing against 117 choirs from 21 countries!

Dance

For both the experienced dancer and the beginner, Sem's dance program has one main goal: to develop the student's understanding and enjoyment of the art of dance.

Sem's dance studio flows with movement during the day, when dance classes meet, and after school, when the Wyoming Seminary Dance Company practices for its annual spring dance performance. Students interested in jazz, ballet, modern and tap dance have the opportunity to perform in the school's musical drama productions and also in special chapel presentations.

The dance program is directed by Mrs. Bernardine Vojtko. Interested students are encourged to join weekly classes and participate regardless of previous dance training or experience. The Wyoming Seminary Dance Company is a group organized to sharpen and showcase the talents of its members - the group meets after school with students joining on a term basis.

Drama

Students with a flair for the dramatic, those who enjoy working behind the scenes, and all other members of the school community will have many opportunities to steal the spotlight at Sem.

With its highly experienced directors and well-equipped stage, rehearsal spaces, makeup and dressing room and scene shop in the Buckingham Performing Arts Center, Seminary is known for its emphasis on technical theater and presentation skills.

Drama at Wyoming Seminary offers a wide range of activities from acting to backstage experience as well as elective theatre courses within the English curriculum. Students are given the opportunity to direct, produce, and stage plays along with being instructed in the techniques of set designing, costuming, lighting, stage management, and makeup. Mr. Jason Sherry directs the drama program.

The Wyoming Seminary Players perform in three major productions, including one musical each year, and have the opportunity to learn stage direction, set design, costuming, lighting, stage management and makeup. Then they put those new skills to use, directing and producing performances and taking on other responsibilities in the theater.

Film Club

Wyoming Seminary film lovers will greatly enrich their technical skills and creative thinking in the year-long Film Club. Students get to write, shoot, edit and showcase their own short films at the school’s annual Film Festival. Mr. Sherry is this club’s advisor.

Instrumental Music

Wyoming Seminary’s instrumental music department offers the following diverse ensembles that challenge instrumentalists at every level of development.

The Wyoming Seminary Orchestra

The ochestral experience at Wyoming Seminary is designed to expose students to the best classical orchestral literature of the past as well as to outstanding contemporary works by leading composers. Theoretical concepts, musical terminology, rhythmic concepts, historical facts and ideas about musical interpretation that directly relate to the literature being studied are explored. Field trips to open dress rehearsals of the New York Philharmonic and Philadelphia Orchestra afford students additional opportunitites to hear live music and to meet and talk one-on-one with professional orchestral musicians. Open to students by audition only, the orchestra rehearses weekly and performs during Parents Weekend as well as in two other concerts per year. Mr. Anthony J. Kubasek is the director.

Chamber Music Ensembles

Members of the school orchestra who are ready to participate in a chamber music ensemble may be invited by the instrumental directors to participate in one of several groups. Although the size and makeup of the groups may vary from year to year, chamber ensembles in the past have included a string quartet, flute quartet, percussion ensemble and piano trios. The ensembles perform frequently on and off campus. The string quartet undertook a week-long performance tour of England in 2003. Various faculty members who are professional musicians direct each chamber ensemble, providing students with close personal attention.

The Jazz Ensemble 

All interested instrumentalists are invited to join the Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of Mr. Robert Lugiano. In a “performing lab” setting, students explore musical improvisation, drawing on a diverse repertoire of Afro-American and Afro-Cuban musical structures. The Jazz Ensemble meets a minimum of twice a week throughout the school year; several performances are given annually on and off campus. Jazz combos form, and students must audition for the “Big Band.” During the 2009-10 school year, the Jazz Ensemble was the only high school band in the state chosen to perform at the PMEA (PA Music Educators Assoc.) conference in Pittsburgh.

Handbell Choir

All students with basic rhythm reading skills may participate in the Handbell Choir, directed by Mr. Kubasek. The choir adds its stately sound to several Chapel services each year and performs in concerts both on and off campus. In the past several years, this group has performed at the Scranton Cultural Center and Kirby Center prior to the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic concerts, as well as on WVIA, the local public television/radio station as part of its “Sounds of the Season” broadcast in December, 2007. Enrollment is limited to 14.

String Ensemble

Open to string players by audition only, the string ensemble is directed by Christiane Appenheimer-Vaida and John Michael Vaida, Jr. Through close personal attention, string players are given the opportunity to develop their personal and ensemble skills through the study of exemplary string ensemble repertoire. The group performs in two major concerts yearly as well as on other occasions during the school year.

Wind Ensemble

Begun during the 2008-2009 school year, the wind ensemble provides an opportunity for woodwind, brass players and percussionists to develop their ensemble skills through the study of classic wind ensemble repertoire as well as through the study of newer compositions. Directed by Robert Lugiano, the group rehearses during the school day and gives two concerts yearly.

The Wyoming Seminary/PAI Civic Symphony

Open to advanced instrumentalists by audition only, the Civic Symphony is a select group of limited size comprising students from Wyoming Seminary and the local community. The ensemble rehearses on the Wyoming Seminary campus and presents two concerts throughout the school year.