Chroma
Chroma is an ensemble for musicians who want to level up their skills and explore music beyond the usual boundaries. From cinematic film scores and anime soundtracks to Radiohead and avant-garde jazz, this group dives into bold, genre-spanning music that challenges and inspires. In Chroma, ensemble members have a real voice in selecting repertoire and shaping interpretations, making the group a creative, inclusive space. Open to all instruments—strings, woodwinds, brass, and rhythm section (piano, guitar, bass, percussion)—Chroma performs intermediate and advanced repertoire through custom arrangements that blend classical foundations with contemporary styles. Students don’t just play the music; they dig into the cultural and historical context behind it and develop their own musical voice along the way. Class time focuses on building strong technique, musicianship, and ensemble skills while integrating music theory, rehearsal strategies, and performance skills. The ensemble performs in required concerts throughout the year, giving students regular opportunities to share their work on stage.
Chroma can be taken more than once and may be taken for Honors credit with instructor permission, making it a great option for students who want to push themselves further each year. Weekly private lessons are optional and available on campus for an additional fee, with financial aid applied at the same percentage as tuition. Students interested in taking more than one arts class should connect with the registrar or the Head of Performing Arts to explore scheduling options.
Two Term Course
Prerequisite: Instrumental Ensemble II, Ikonoclastic or placement audition.
- Interests: Hands On, History, Music, Storytelling
- Grades: 11th, 12th
- Subjects: Performing Arts
Courses with Similar Interests
- Advanced Photo and New Media
- Printmaking
- Literature of Lies
- Zero to Hero: The Hero’s Journey to Character
- Advanced Studio Practice
- Advanced Sculpture
- Advanced Drawing + Painting
- Advanced Ceramics
- Ceramics
- Photography
- Drawing + Painting
- Installation Art
- Student Directed Project – SDP
- Religious Studies: Myth, Ritual, & Culture
- Beatmaking and Electronic Music
- Beginning Guitar/Piano
- 3D
- Advanced Costume Design and Construction (Honors)
- Studio Practice
- Choreography Foundations
- Costume & Fashion Design Studio
- Foundations of Design/Tech Theater
- A Cappella Foundations
- Advanced Design & Tech (Honors)
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- Cuban Jazz Ensemble
- Design & Tech Studio
- Visual Arts Foundations
- Instrumental Ensemble II
- Storytelling Workshop
- English 10: American Literature
- Senior Studio (Honors)
- Sculpture
- B-Side A Cappella
- Ikonoclastic
- Jazz Combo
- Instrumental Ensemble I
- Select Singers (Honors)
- Global History II: U.S. & World History
- Music
- Theater Arts 8
- Visual Arts 8
- Theater Arts 7
- Visual Arts 7
- Theater Arts 6
- Visual Arts 6
Courses with Similar Grades
- Advanced Science – Independent Research (Honors)
- Biology Applications – Evolutionary Genetics
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- Digital Art
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- Financial Algebra
- 13.1 Project
- Running Team
- Spring Volleyball
- Yoga
- Sports Performance and Fitness
- Spin Class
- Rock Climbing
- Bowling
- Printmaking
- Literature of Lies
- Zero to Hero: The Hero’s Journey to Character
- Madness to Mental Health
- Spring Athletics: Interscholastic Sports
- Spring Musical: Costume Construction and Design
- Spring Musical: Technical Theater
- Spring Musical
- Winter Athletics: Interscholastic Sports
- Dance
- Winter Term Costumes: Construction and Design
- Winter Term Technical Theater
- Winter Play: Experimental Theater Project
- Hiatt Independent Opportunity
- BVR HAX
- Fall Athletics: Interscholastic Sports
- Visual Arts Workshop
- Afternoon Band
- Fall Play: Costume Construction and Design
- Fall Play: Technical Theater
- Fall Play: Acting
- Sports Literature
- Advanced Studio Practice
- Advanced Mixed Media
- Advanced Sculpture
- Advanced Drawing + Painting
- Advanced Ceramics
- Advanced Digital Art
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- Ceramics
- Advanced Biology – Molecular Research Techniques (Honors)
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- Philosophy: The Meaning of Life through Ethical Dilemmas
- Graphic Design
- Mixed Media
- Drawing + Painting
- Installation Art
- Arabic Advanced
- Student Directed Project – SDP
- Religious Studies: Myth, Ritual, & Culture
- Beatmaking and Electronic Music
- Chemistry Applications – Physical Chemistry
- Chemistry Applications – Biochemistry
- Beginning Guitar/Piano
- Social Psychology: To be is to be perceived!
- Advanced Costume Design and Construction (Honors)
- Advanced History: Theories of Punishment (Honors)
- Discrete Mathematics and Linear Algebra
- Studio Practice
- Choreography Foundations
- Costume & Fashion Design Studio
- Arts Activities
- Arts Activities
- Biology Applications – Neuroscience
- Arabic Introduction to Conversation and Storytelling
- A Cappella Foundations
- Advanced Design & Tech (Honors)
- Engineering Applications – Robotics
- Drama Workshop
- Biology Applications – Marine Ecology + Conservation
- Biology Foundations – The Structure & Function of Human Life
- Chemistry Applications – Quantitative Analysis
- Chemistry Foundations – Atoms and Reactions
- Cuban Jazz Ensemble
- Chinese Advanced
- Spanish Advanced
- French Advanced
- Chinese Intermediate
- Advanced Engineering Design – Project Studio (Honors)
- Advanced History: Independent Research (Honors)
- Arabic Intermediate
- Design & Tech Studio
- Instrumental Ensemble II
- Chinese Foundations
- Chinese Introduction to Conversation and Storytelling
- Media & Its Influences
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- Literature and Film
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- Sculpture
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- Advanced Math Topics (Honors)
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- Advanced Physics – Mechanics (Honors)
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- Integrated Math 3: Algebra, Geometry, and Data Science
- B-Side A Cappella
- Ikonoclastic
- Jazz Combo
- Instrumental Ensemble I
- Select Singers (Honors)
- Advanced Theater (Honors)
- Actors’ Showcase
- Scene Study
- Intermediate Acting
- Spanish Intermediate
- Spanish Foundations
- Spanish Introduction to Conversation and Storytelling
- French Intermediate
- French Foundations
- French Introduction to Conversation and Storytelling
- English 11: The View Within
- Global History III: World History
Courses with Similar Subjects
- Student Directed Project – SDP
- Beatmaking and Electronic Music
- Beginning Guitar/Piano
- Advanced Costume Design and Construction (Honors)
- Choreography Foundations
- Costume & Fashion Design Studio
- Foundations of Design/Tech Theater
- A Cappella Foundations
- Advanced Design & Tech (Honors)
- Drama Workshop
- Cuban Jazz Ensemble
- Design & Tech Studio
- Instrumental Ensemble II
- B-Side A Cappella
- Ikonoclastic
- Jazz Combo
- Instrumental Ensemble I
- Select Singers (Honors)
- Advanced Theater (Honors)
- Actors’ Showcase
- Scene Study
- Intermediate Acting
- Foundations of Theater
- Music
- Theater Arts 8
- Theater Arts 7
- Theater Arts 6