Arts

Fine Arts News

List of 6 items.

Joyful Creativity by Jamie Stires Hardin, Director of Fine Arts

Often, the opening message in the Fine Arts newsletter speaks to the sounds one hears while walking the halls. The once-silent building begins to sing with the sounds of students and faculty returning to campus and expressing their creativity. While that is absolutely true on the St. John’s campus, it is the energy and the joy that now fill the rooms that let me know school is in session.

Whether through the vibrant strokes of a paintbrush, the harmony of voices in song, the movement of dance, or the power of dramatic storytelling, I believe that the arts have a unique way of kindling joy. Both within ourselves and in others.

In our classrooms, studios, and rehearsal spaces, we’re not just teaching technique; we’re nurturing expression, encouraging collaboration, and inspiring confidence. These are places where students are invited to take risks, to explore, and to shine.

This year, I invite everyone to find moments of joy in their creative process. To sing freely. To dance boldly. To paint wildly. To write honestly. And to do it all while building connections with peers, mentors, and the broader community. The arts have always brought people together, and within our school walls, that connection becomes a spark that lights up learning in every discipline. Whether you're a returning family or new to our community, thank you for supporting the powerful work our students do every day.

We are excited for the performances, exhibits, showcases, and spontaneous moments of brilliance that await us. Here’s to a year full of inspiration, collaboration, and joyful creativity. But more than anything, we are excited for the joy we will create together!
New Faces in the Fine Arts Department

Dina Attar
The Fine Arts Department welcomes Dina Attar, St. John’s School's new Visual Art educator for Middle and Upper School Photography. Dina brings seven years of classroom experience and shares her commitment to guiding students in their creative development, social-emotional learning, and higher-order thinking. Her love for darkroom photography began in high school. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and earned her Master of Professional Studies in Interactive Telecommunications from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. She focused on the convergence of New Media and Fine Art, including interactive sound and video installation art.

Dina is a native Houstonian, returning to her hometown after graduate school. She is a faculty member at the MFAH Glassell School of Art’s Emerging Artists Early College Program for darkroom photography.

Her art endeavors, which include ceramic conceptual sculpture and mixed media, keep her busy in her spare time. Dina is the mother of two children and enjoys hiking, skiing, and fly fishing in the mountains, as well as exploring the vibrant art and restaurant scene in Houston.

Amy Bruce
Amy Bruce joins the department with a warm welcome. Amy brings 18 years of directing and program-building experience to the SJS Fine Arts team and continues to perform since joining theatre as a junior in high school. Bruce earned her Theatre degree at UH School of Theatre and Dance and her Master of Fine Arts in Acting from Rutgers Mason Gross School of the Arts. She started her teaching career working with high schools and has supported students in community grant projects, after-school programs, and religious education activities. Most recently, she has spent the past decade at Spring Branch Middle School chartering an International Junior Thespian Troupe and restoring an annual spring musical for the student body.

Amy is a child of a Navy family, so she has lived all over the US and overseas in Italy while attending 11 different schools before attending college. She still loves traveling, seeing shows, and all sorts of outdoor activities. This summer she worked at an eco-restoration camp in southwestern France and saw amazing student performances at the International Thespian Festival in Bloomington, Indiana.

Amy is currently directing many of our SJS Upper School thespians in the Fall Studio Play entitled Love, Death, and the Prom by Jon Jory. The production will open on Thursday, September 25 and run through Saturday, September 27. All performances will be held in the Black Box Theater and will begin at 7 p.m.
Johnnycake, The Student Theatre Organization by Raka Agrawal '26, President

The VST is a special place on campus for so many people, and I am convinced anyone can find a passion point from singing to acting to dancing to visual arts, and so much more. One of my loves comes from our Johnnycake Club. Founded by Alan Lake Chidsey in 1947, Johnnycake is the longest-running student-run organization on the St. John's campus! The "all-things theatre" club encompasses both Middle School and Upper School productions throughout the year and (in my opinion) is the perfect way to get involved in the VST.

One of the ways to be involved is through crew. Crew meets every Saturday morning from 9 a.m.-12 p.m., during which we build sets and work on the technical aspects of our shows. Freshman year, I had no idea how to use power tools or build anything, but I learned all that and more at crew. From our amazing technical directors to the mentorship that naturally happens between upperclassmen and underclassmen at crew, there was always someone there to answer my range of questions - from where to find something to how to use a power tool. I think everyone should go to at least one crew session before they graduate, just to see the camaraderie and feel the good vibes in the VST on Saturday mornings.

And of course, the things we build our sets for: the shows! This fall, we will have our our Fall Studio Play in the Black Box Theatre (Love, Death, and the Prom), the Fall Play on the Lowe Stage (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child), and the Winter Play in the Black Box Theatre (Let the Right One In), as well as the Middle School Musical on the Lowe Stage (Frozen Jr). Later in the season, we will be performing Mary Poppins as the Upper School spring musical. I am super excited to participate in and see all these productions. I encourage everyone to come to all of the shows because they are incredible and a great amount of work goes into each show.

How do you know these things are going on? Be sure to follow us on Instagram (@sjsjohnnycake). If you have any questions or are looking to meet someone new, please reach out to any of our officers! Our officer board this year is as follows: Raka Agrawal (President), Caroline Thompson and Katherine Pearson (Production Managers), Finnian Owsley (Vice President), Annie Voorhees (Historian/Social Media Manager), Creighton Garcia (ITS Officer), and Ved Kulkarni (Underclassmen Representative). This is going to be a mystical, magical season, and a wonderful year.
St. John’s Choir Program by Creighton Garcia '26, President, Upper School Choir

Home to six choirs and over 150 young singers, the SJS choral program puts on around 12 performances every year, with venues ranging from The Church of St. John the Divine to European cathedrals to the Kemah Boardwalk. One of the finest private school choral programs in Texas (and a common avenue for the fine arts requirement in Upper School), SJS choir is committed to the enrichment of its students and community.

With a newly implemented big/little system meant to help new members adjust to the program, choir is starting the year off with a bang! The Fall Choral Concert is coming up quickly in October. Taking place in St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, the LS, MS, and US choirs will perform a variety of music from different eras, traditions, and continents. In November, Kantorei will compete as the only private school choir in the Kemah Choir Days competition, and they hope to bring home another placement after last year’s fourth place!

In the winter, it's time for holiday happiness and Christmas Cheer, so be sure to roast your chestnuts and bring a Santa hat or two because Kantorei will embark on the annual caroling trip in December! After that, it's time for wonderful peace at Candlelight at The Church of St. John the Divine (my personal favorite concert), with a bit more caroling at the annual Wassail Christmas Party.

Then it's on to the spring! February sees the Choral/Instrumental Concert, with a combined performance from Chorale and Chamber Strings of a masterwork from the canon: Mendelsohn’s Psalm 42. Soon thereafter, Kantorei will give their domestic performance of their full concert repertoire before setting off on their biennial concert tour over spring break! Switzerland is the destination this year, so be sure to ask a member to bring back some Lindt chocolate. Finally, the year culminates with the Spring Choral Concert (including a piece conducted by yours truly) and a final performance at Baccalaureate in May.

As you can tell, it's going to be a fun and busy year in the choir program! Be sure to follow us on Instagram (@sjschoir) and feel free to reach out to one of our wonderful officers with any questions!
Guests on Campus

Isabel Wallace-Green '15
Isabel Wallace-Green '15 returned to campus to teach a dance class and inspire current students. A full circle moment!

Savidu Geevaratne
Sri Lankan-American actor, singer, and musician, currently playing "Pi" in the national tour of Life of Pi, Savidu Geevaratne, speaking with students during lunch.

Katy Shafer '18
Katy Shafer '18 working on improvisation with the US Acting Class.
Looking Ahead
Please mark your calendars and join us in celebrating our students and faculty through the upcoming events, exhibits, and performances. Log in to visit the online school calendar for a comprehensive listing of all school events as well as more detailed information.
September
- 9/22 – 10/17: MS Art Exhibition
  📍 SJS Glassell Gallery
- 9/25, 9/26, 9/27: US Studio Play – "Love, Death, and the Prom"
  📍 Black Box Theater - 7 p.m. - Buy Tickets Here
October
- 10/9: MS Art Exhibition Reception
  📍 SJS Glassell Gallery - 12 p.m.
- 10/17, 10/18: US Fall Play – "The Cursed Child"
  📍 Lowe Theater - 7 p.m.
- 10/19: US/MS/LS Fall Choral Concert
  📍 St. Luke’s UMC - 6:30 p.m.
- 10/27 – 11/14: SJS Visual Arts Faculty Exhibition
  📍 SJS Glassell Gallery
November
- 11/5: Visual Arts Faculty Exhibition Reception
  📍 SJS Glassell Gallery - 4 p.m.
- 11/5: Kantorei Competes – Kemah Choir Days
  📍 Kemah Boardwalk - 5:45 p.m.
- 11/7 & 11/8: LS/MS TPSMEA Honor Choir
  📍 Willow Meadows Baptist Church - 4 p.m.
- 11/13 & 11/14: MS Musical – "Frozen JR."
  📍 Lowe Theater - 4:30 p.m. & 7 p.m.
- 11/20: US/MS Band and Orchestra Fall Concert
  📍 Lowe Theater - 7 p.m.
To stay up-to-date, follow us on our official Instagram - @FineArtsSJS