Academy of Visual and Performing Arts

Experience the Arts at….


Red Bank Regional High School’s Visual & Performing Arts Academy

Red Bank Regional is conveniently located in Little Silver, central Monmouth County, and accepts both in-district students, (Little Silver, Shrewsbury and Red Bank) and tuition students from out-of-district that are accepted into one of the 11 state approved Vocational/Occupational majors in the Visual and Performing Arts Academy, the Vocational-Technical Academy or Academy of Finance. In addition to the three constituent districts (Little Silver, Red Bank, and Shrewsbury), the Academy has had as many as twenty-one other school districts represented in past years. In 2008, NJ Monthly Magazine recognized Red Bank Regional High School as one of the top 75 schools in NJ (ranking 3rd in Monmouth County), climbing to 64 from a rank of 89 in the 2006 issue. The dramatic improvement over two years is due mainly to increased SAT and AP scores and an application of the overall school philosophy of success for ALL students. Since Red Bank Regional is a comprehensive High School we also offer extensive extra-curricular opportunities as well as 23 athletic teams. This year we are proud to add the Buccaneer Marching Band to the list of extracurricular activities.

The Visual and Performing Arts Academy at Red Bank Regional High School has been in existence for twenty-six years. Red Bank Regional offers 11 vocational programs in the Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) approved by the state of New Jersey as Vocational/Occupational Programs: Commercial Art, Commercial Photography, Creative Writing (Performance Art), Dance, Drama, Instrumental – Brass Instruments, Instrumental-Percussion Instruments, Instrumental-Woodwind Instruments, Instrumental-String Instruments, Piano, and Vocal Music.

Classes are taught by state-certified teachers who augment their programs with specialized workshops and master classes led by professional artists. The curriculum is aligned with the NJ Visual and Performing Arts Core Curriculum Content Standards and emphasizes interdisciplinary activities, cultural and historical relationships, career opportunities, and college information in the arts.

VPA programs offer a minimum of 82 minutes of instruction daily, for each of the four high school years, as well as additional performance and exhibition requirements. VPA Majors are required to participate in the arts experiences that extend beyond the regular school day in the form of rehearsals, performances, and exhibit openings both in school and out of school.

As a vocationally structured program where career scenarios are stressed, students exhibit their work and/or perform on a regular basis under the guidance of their teachers. Performance majors are required to give a senior recital or participate in a major school production, senior visual arts majors are required to exhibit their work in a senior show, creative writing majors must participate in an annual “Voices” presentation, and senior dance majors are required to choreograph works to be performed in the annual dance concert. VPA majors must perform in and/or attend all concerts, productions, and exhibit openings during the year, which is reflected in their grade. The program is also highlighted by special performance opportunities both in-house and throughout the county and state. Creative Writing, Commercial Art and Commercial Photography students regularly submit their work or compete in regional, state and national competitions.

As per state vocational /occupational requirements, successful completion of the program consists of written and performance tests, portfolio, and successful placement into a related career or acceptance into a school for continuing education in this field. Several majors include AP Music Theory and AP Studio Art as course requirements.

All programs are college preparatory as well as vocational. Students completing a four year vocational program have been accepted into:

Fashion Institute of Technology	School of Visual Arts	Moore College
Savannah College of Art and Design	The College of New Jersey	University of the Arts
Mason Gross School of the Arts (R.U.)	Princeton University	New York University
Westminster Choir College	Shenandoah University	Rutgers University
Manhattan School of Music	Tisch School of the Arts	Peabody College
Julliard School	Yale University	Harvard University
New England Conservatory of Music	Boston Conservatory of Music	Montclair State University
Chicago Institute of Arts	State University of NY New Paltz	Drexel University
Temple University	State University of NY at Purchase	Pace University
Syracuse University	California Institute of the Arts

(This is a partial list of schools our graduates have been accepted to)

Admission to the Visual & Performing Arts Academy is based on audition, portfolio, interview, NJASK test scores, (or comparable test such as the Terra Nova Grade 8 Survey), academic performance, attendance, and other criteria related to the specific area of study. Each year more than one hundred forty students audition for approximately seventy-five to ninety openings. Presently there are two-hundred eighty-one Visual and Performing Arts Majors grades 9-12. Currently, VPA majors account for approximately twenty five per cent of the student body (1,111). Extensive performance and exhibition opportunities exist for students both in-house and throughout the county and state. Many of our students typically gain state and national recognition for their accomplishments in the arts.

Further information regarding the Visual and Performing Arts Academy at Red Bank Regional High School, application information, and tuition, is available on this website or if you would like to visit, please call (732) 842-8000, extension 227.

Sincerely,
Barbara DiLea,
Director, Visual & Performing Arts Academy