Imagine that you are a painter and that each morning for three weeks you will be going to the studio to work with 13 or 14 other students under the direction of an accomplished artist. Imagine that the class is going to last for three hours, giving you time to throw yourself into you work.
If you are a dancer, imagine that you’ll have the opportunity to stretch and grow in both classical ballet and modern dance. The classes are small, the passion is intense and the growth is simply phenomenal.
The same growth opportunities exist for students in the other arts disciplines at GSA, a three-week residential program providing individual and in-depth group instruction in the arts for current high school sophomores living in and attending school in West Virginia.
It sounds like a dream, but for 100 current West Virginia high school sophomores, these dreams will become reality at the West Virginia Governor’s School for the Arts (GSA) at Davis and Elkins College July 3-23, 2011. Davis and Elkins is known throughout the country for its interest in the arts, and this year’s theme is History and Heritage in the Arts, recognizing sesquicentennial of the beginning of the Civil War and statehood for West Virginia.
The basic approach of this GSA will be to preserve all the best practices of previous GSA’s and then to enhance the experience with the heritage resources of our campus, including the Davis & Elkins National Historic Landmark District, the Augusta summer workshops, and the newly certified Arts Community of Elkins—one of three in the state. Discipline-specific instruction, interaction between the seven disciplines, and exposure to heritage arts and crafts will be the heart of the daily schedule.
The goals of the program are for the students (1) to become more knowledgeable and proficient in their discipline; (2) to interact with other disciplines in ways which will broaden their outlook on arts in general; and (3) to learn more about the history and artistic heritage of their home state and region. For outcomes, we expect the students to (1) become more confident in their own abilities; (2) create a sense of community with their peers from across the state; and (3) develop pride in the history and heritage of their native state.
Davis & Elkins is uniquely positioned to take advantage of this historic moment. During the first week of the GSA in 2011, Elkins will be hosting a symposium on the first Civil War land battles, which took place within 30 miles of the present-day city. In weeks two and three of GSA, Augusta will host week-long workshops in Bluegrass and Blues music and crafts. GSA students will have almost daily opportunities to hear nationally known speakers and musicians during their evening hours. They will also have opportunities to have “hands-on” experiences with the arts and crafts of Appalachia.
In recent years, there has been increasing intellectual and artistic interest in Appalachia by scholars, artists, and musicians from all genres. In music, for example the recordings by Mark O’Conner, Yo-Yo Ma, and Edgar Myer (Appalachian Journey and Appalachian Waltz)blend classical musicianship with the songs and soul of our mountains. We need to make sure our talented young people are proud of their heritage and encouraged to preserve it.
Arts areas addressed include acting, creative writing, dance, digital media art, instrumental music, studio/visual art and vocal music. Skilled artists/teachers will work with students who demonstrate potential in those areas. In addition, the Governor’s School for the Arts attempts to broaden the students’ understanding of the arts through interdisciplinary courses focusing on common elements in the arts disciplines.
Creative Writing
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Writers are in class with others who share their passion for writing. Within a supportive and fun workshop environment, writers will explore the works of some of our most celebrated Appalachian authors, respond to a variety of writing prompts and genres, as well as give and receive constructive feedback. Students emerge with refined creative writing skills, a strong voice, and confidence in both written and verbal expression.
Dance
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Our aim is to give the students a conservatory atmosphere within the dance discipline. The focus is on ballet and modern, helping to refine and stretch the dancer’s abilities and focuses.
Digital Media Art
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Digital media students explore a variety of methods and concepts related to graphic design and multimedia. Spending hours each day in the Mac lab, we work as a community of practice to investigate the many skills and ideas used in digital imagery.
Instrumental Music
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We keep the program small, so that each student receives a lot of individual attention not only from the primary teacher but other adjunct staff members as well. This is no ordinary “music camp.” We stress the artist community concept and immerse the students in experiences that push them to the point that they are truly changed during their three weeks with us—only to return to you a more mature leader as well as musician and productive young adult.
Theatre/Acting
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The fundamentals of acting are the fundamentals no matter when learned. They are always fundamental. The “icing on the cake” for this experience is a chance to become involved in other artistic disciplines both through classes and through interaction with the other eighty-four students in the program. It is truly an experience like none other.
Visual Art
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Our time at the Governor’s School for the Arts will focus on two important parts of the art making process, improvement of basics skills and creativity. Young artists need to learn the fundamentals of art making and these skills are best attained and demonstrated by studying from life.
Vocal Music
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Students will learn about their vocal instrument—how it functions, and how to stay healthy. They will learn the foundations of vocal technique (breathing, tone production, etc.), and they’ll have the opportunity to build on their potential.
History
The Governor’s School for the Arts (GSA) was initiated through the efforts of former First Lady of West Virginia, Maestra Rachael Worby and sponsored initially by Governor Gaston Caperton.
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1994-1998 Fairmont State College Dr. Suzanne Snyder, dean; 63 students in areas of dance, instrumental music, theatre and visual art; number increased to 80 in 1995; vocal music added in 1998.
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1999-2000 Marshall University Dr. Larry Stickler, dean
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2001-2002 West Liberty State College Mark Williams, dean
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2003-2004 West Virginia University William J. Windsor, dean; creative writing added to curriculum in 2004
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2005-2007 Marshall University Dr. Larry Stickler, dean; number of students increased to 84
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2008-2010 West Liberty State College Dr. Alfred deJaager, dean; number of students increased to 100; digital media added
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost?
There is no cost to students or their families for tuition, room, meals, activities, books or instructional materials. The only expenses for which the students’ families are responsible are health and accident insurance, personal expenses, and travel to and from auditions and the academy site.
If I am selected to attend GSA, will I have to stay weekends?
The GSA program requires that students be on campus and actively involved for the entire three weeks. You’ll find, however, that you’ll not feel that you “have to stay.” Instead, you’ll see they days go by so quickly that you won’t believe that the final day occurs so quickly.
Will I be able to go to church on Sunday?
Unless the group is traveling, you will be able to attend church on Sunday morning. There is a chapel on campus that will appeal to many, but RAs will also be available accompany students whose faiths are not represented on campus. to specific churches.
How soon can I submit my application?
Remember that the application has two parts: one to be sent electronically and one to be sent via the mail. You are responsible for submitting both parts, which are found in the Applications section of this site. Incomplete applications or those sent after the deadline will not be considered. The postmark deadline is December 10, 2010.
