Upper School

All Upper School students have many opportunities to study fine arts, and for those students interested in pursuing a college study or career in the arts, we offer our Academy of the Arts.

Band

Students in 9th through 12th grade who have participated in band class up through middle school (or equivalent experience) may participate in Concert Band. Students in Concert Band have the experience and self-discipline to perform more advanced repertoire and perform frequently in school and in the community for various events. Concert Band will often combine with orchestral and vocal ensembles to perform cluster events such as Veteran's Day Chapel, Christmas Concert, and musicals/praise & worship events. Each year, the Concert Band participates in a music festival where their performance is adjudicated by music professionals. The band has received the Shuler Hensley Award for Best Orchestra the past two years.

Concert Band students are also eligible to participate in the Pep Band, a band ensemble that provides spirit & event music for varsity games at NCCS. Screamin' Eagles Pep Band is a fun, high-energy, school-spirited show band open to all students in Concert Band and Middle School Band who are willing to commit their time to support our school. This band will play at home basketball games, home football games, pep rallies, and parades. Rehearsals are Tuesday and Thursday morning from 6:45-7:45.  Students in 6th-12th grade are eligible to participate.

Orchestra

Students in 9th through 12th grade that have participated in orchestra during middle school (or have equivalent experience) are eligible to join Concert Orchestra.  This advanced string ensemble performs in concerts as well as many school and community events.  These students take seriously their gift of music and enjoy working together towards producing truly uplifting performances.  The Concert Orchestra will often collaborate in group performances with band and vocal ensembles.

The Concert Orchestra has performed with the Annie Moses Band, whose divine talent combine worship music with virtuosic string playing.  In addition to classical repertoire, the Concert Orchestra also regularly participates in productions combined with other arts disciplines, providing the "pit orchestra" for the performances.  Such productions have included Annnie, an original worship production entitled Anamnesis, Seussical:The Musical, & Beauty & The Beast.  The Concert Orchestra also regularly participates in the music festival performances.  The Concert Orchestra has consistently received "Superior" ratings and 1st Place Orchestra accolades in past years as well as having received the Shuler Hensley Award for Best Orchestra the past two years.

Vocal Arts

Upper School Chorus and Upper School Ladies Ensemble are offered to students who have a true desire to sing, perform, and improve their voices. This is a performing ensemble that showcases different music styles and genres. Students will be challenged to be versatile by studying two, three, and four part art songs, gospel music, classical music, madrigals, Broadway, pop, and contemporary selections. This ensemble should expect to perform at school events, a Christmas & Spring production, choral festival, as well as community events.

The Advanced Ensemble, known as The Academy Singers, an auditioned ensemble for students who have the curiosity for a career in music. The class is designed to prepare students to be professionals in the music industry in many different genres such as contemporary Christian, pop, Broadway, country and classical. Students will study the voice, vocal production, how to blend in an ensemble, how to be a better soloist, successful audition techniques, and overall musicality. This class requires out-of-class work with studies, performances, and workshop/Master classes. Students are expected to be at a higher level of commitment. The Vocal Arts Specialty Artist program provides an environment of excellence that brings students to an advanced level in their gifts of singing.

Visual Arts

Upper school students have a variety of art courses to choose from as their fine arts electives. These courses include Drawing, Painting, Photography, Art History, 2D Design, and Computer Graphics I and II.  Each of these courses are designed and taught with a Christian worldview and equips the students with the tools to be a successful artist.

Junior and Senior students at NCCS also have the ability to be a part of the National Art Honor Society.  Click here for more information.

Theatre

Technical Theatre, Theatre Arts I and Theatre Arts II are offered in the Upper School to the student who has an interesting in performing onstage or off. Technical Theatre encompasses all the skillsets needed to mount a production. Students from the Tech Theatre class then run the technical aspects of the school's productions. Theatre Arts I & II exist to teach students the fundamentals of performance and boost self-confidence in performace and perception. In addition to these theatre courses, the Academy of the Arts program also offers a theatre option for students who have a passion and aptitude for theatre larger than most. Over four years, Academy Actors will study the five major approaches to acting and learn to incorporate them into a style that fits them best.  Under the direction of Matthew Hendrix, the Academy Theatre Artists perform regularly at school and participate in GHSA Literary & One-Act Competitions and the Georgia Theatre Conference, often earning high ratings.

Should you have any questions regarding the Arts in Upper School at NCCS, please do not hesistate to contact each respective director or instructor. Here at NCCS we believe that worship begins with accepting the gifts God has given us and continues daily as we work to better the gifts given us only so that we may then return them to God for his glory and honor. Our passion is to pass this on to eveyone we meet, in class or out of it. We look forward to sharing our passion with you!

Upper School Fine Arts Faculty

Ms. Carrie Anderson - Band Director

Mrs. Debbie Brink - Orchestra Director

Mr. Matthew Hendrix - Theatre Arts Instructor / Department Chair / Director, Academy of the Arts

Mr. Nate Rupp - Visual Arts Instructor, Academy Instructor

Mrs. Amy Wallace - Vocal Arts Instructor / Director, Upper School Chorus & Academy Singers