June 25, 2024
By BARTON HENLEY
Rutherford County Schools
The Tennessee Arts Academy has created an opportunity for an individual school to be acknowledged for its commitment to an arts rich education for all children, and as such to be eligible to be selected for the Tennessee Arts Academy Arts Arts Rich School of the Year award.
Stewarts Creek High School is this year’s winner of this statewide award.
The Stewarts Creek Fine Arts Academy offers a conservatory-level arts education within Stewarts Creek High School, giving students a focused study in the arts while enjoying the benefits of a comprehensive, public high school.
The spirit of collaboration between students and their arts teachers has become a visible and foundational part of the school culture. With kindergarten through twelfth grade students on the same campus, collaboration between the elementary, middle, and high school students provides students with not only sequential learning in the arts, but a growing love for creating and performing.
Students receive top-notch instruction in traditional courses like art, theatre, and music, but they also have access to courses in songwriting, printmaking, technical theatre, guitar, and mixed media.
Situated in Rutherford County, Tennessee, where the arts account for $52.4 million a year in economic activity, students regularly collaborate with Career and Technical Education classes, such as broadcasting and recording.
In visual art, several students have received Scholastic Art Awards including the National Gold Medal Award. Theatre students have received multiple All-State theatre designations.
A guitar student had the lyrics of one of her original songs performed at Vince Gill and Keith Urban’s “All-for-the-Hall” benefit concert in Nashville.
Choral and instrumental ensembles have been honored and showcased at the Tennessee Music Educators Association conference, and many musicians have been selected for the Nashville Symphony’s Accelerando program.
Tennessee Arts Academy will host a banquet on July 17 at the Curb Event Center in Nashville to honor award winners.
Watch Stewarts Creek’s showcase video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iAlbiMb66c