At Great Hearts, the arts aren’t extracurricular—they are essential to our mission of cultivating the hearts and minds of students. This year, that commitment took center stage as Great Hearts Irving Upper School presented its first-ever school musical.
“We were looking for a musical that would allow so many of our students to shine,” shared the Drama and Humane Letters Faculty member, Mary Elsa Henrichs. “This one has tons of roles—even the small ones usually get a moment to have a dance solo or a line here or there. It really allows so many of our kids to stand out.”
With over 50 students and faculty involved, the musical was a celebration of collaboration and courage. Scholars from all grade levels—freshmen to seniors—worked together, learning lines, choreography, and harmonies. “It’s been wonderful to see them go from timid at the beginning to now—they just glow,” the Drama Teacher continued. “They’re lovely. I’m really impressed with them.”
At the heart of classical education is the pursuit of Truth, Goodness, and Beauty—and few disciplines cultivate those virtues like participation in the arts.
“The arts shape and form us in really unique ways,” said Dr. Amber Dyer, Headmaster of Great Hearts Irving. “They give more to what we mean by calling our institution not Great Minds—but Great Hearts. They speak to the heart. They move us toward one another and toward what is beautiful.”
Dr. Dyer also reflected on the deeper virtue cultivated through the production: “It naturally sets us up for great success for doing a musical… because our students are celebrating one of the highest virtues that Aristotle notes in the Nicomachean Ethics—the virtue of friendship.”
If you’re a prospective family looking for an education that shapes not only the intellect but also the heart of your child, come experience the arts—and so much more—at Great Hearts. Click here to learn more about Great Hearts Academies and how we’re cultivating Great Hearts and Great Minds.
