Nassau BOCES Long Island High School for the Arts (LIHSA) invites all high school students with artistic talent, passion and ambition to its 2017 Open House on Saturday, Feb. 4, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. LIHSA is now accepting applications for the 2016-17 school year. Prospective students from across Long Island are welcome to tour the campus, meet with expert faculty and staff and experience classes focused on their specific interests in the visual and performing arts.
Attendees can join a theater improvisation skit, sketch in an art class, take a dance class, listen to a jazz performance and participate in much more to get better acquainted with LIHSA. During the Open House, parents of prospective students also have the opportunity to tour the facility and speak with faculty, guidance counselors, administration and staff.
Established in 1973, LIHSA is part of the public education system and is paid for by local school districts. It offers specialized training and instruction to students interested in pursuing careers in dance, drama, filmmaking, instrumental and vocal music, theatre technology, musical theatre and the visual arts. The half-day program enables students to complete their core academic classes in their home high school and receive two and a half hours of intensive training in their chosen field of artistic study.
As part of their professional-level training, students regularly receive one-on-one access to experienced professionals working in the industry. Students have recently benefitted from master classes and workshops led by pop-rock icon Billy Joel, actor and director Ralph Macchio, and Paul Taylor Dance Company principal dancer Michael Trusnovec, who is a LIHSA graduate, among others.
“We are incredibly proud of the instruction and experiences offered at the Long Island High School for the Arts,” said Dr. Robert Dillon, district superintendent of Nassau BOCES. “Each year, we look forward to our annual Open House to showcase the school’s programs, as well as the talent our students possess. We encourage all students interested in pursuing the arts to come down and take advantage of this opportunity to learn how LIHSA can help you reach your dreams.”
Alumni of the school have gone on to develop successful careers in all arts fields. In addition to landing starring roles on Broadway, alumni have danced with national touring companies, illustrated for New Yorker magazine, designed successful swimsuit lines, and embarked on technical careers working for companies such as Cirque de Soleil and at landmarks such as Lincoln Center. Graduates have also earned prestigious scholarships and grants to continue their education at some of the nation’s most highly esteemed colleges and conservatories, including the Juilliard School, Boston Conservatory, Cooper Union and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.
