Welcome to News from the Arts

The Princeton Public Schools Visual and Performing Arts department is pleased to share an electronic newsletter with information about recent and upcoming events. We are grateful for the tremendous community support for our programs and invite you to attend our many events so that you may experience the incredible and inspiring work of our students. If the cost of admission would present a financial hardship for your family, please contact us at patricklenihan@princetonk12.org . For more information, please visit our website at: www.princetonk12.org/TheArts .

Arts Department Philosophy

Active participation in an arts program is a critical component in every child’s education. Arts programs enrich students’ lives and provide a vehicle for them to communicate and express human emotion and ideas. In addition, the study of the arts prepares students to be successful in a twenty-first century world that demands innovative thinking and creativity in an increasingly competitive global society. We believe that all students are capable of growth in the arts and that there are skills and concepts inherent in the arts that cannot be taught in other disciplines. Participation in an arts program allows students to make connections across content areas and cultural boundaries. The arts enable personal, intellectual, social, economic, and human growth by fostering creativity and providing opportunities for expression beyond the limits of language.

We support this mission through our instruction aligned to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards (NJSLS) and to the National Core Arts Standards. We are a nationally-recognized program, and Princeton High School has been designated a New Jersey Model School in the Arts. Our distinguished faculty members provide sequential instruction in each arts discipline, challenging each student to reach his or her potential.

PHS Thespian Troupe Attends Competition

The PHS Drama Program attended the NJ Thespian Festival on Saturday, January 17, along with 67 schools from across New Jersey and Delaware. Over 1,600 theatre students gathered at Washington Township High School to attend workshops with industry professionals, present technical theatre projects, compete in technical theatre challenges, and perform and compete in a variety of theatre performance categories. Our PHS students performed exceptionally well in all categories. Please join us in congratulating:

SUPERIOR SOLO ACTING (Monologue)
Maxime DeVico
Quinn Gallagher
Serafina Joseph
Gretchen Martin
SUPERIOR SOLO ACTING (Contrasting Monologues)
Ivy Cordle
Maxime DeVico
Quinn Gallagher
Samantha Henderson
Serafina Joseph
Ellora Tayler

SUPERIOR ACTING (2-Person Scene)

Etienne Garcia & Quinn Gallagher

TECH OLYMPICS BEST OVERALL
3RD PLACE: Troupe #11996: Ellis Atkins, Brooke Kemmer, Cass Reynolds, Lizzie Voronin, V Srikrishnan
SUPERIOR FUNDAMENTALS OF STAGECRAFT AWARDS:
PREP A GROUND PLAN: Brooke Kemmer, Lizzie Voronin
SOUND SYSTEM SET-UP: Solomon Callahan
SEW A BUTTON: Eve Kavookjian
SUPERIOR SCENIC DESIGN
Ellis Adkins
SUPERIOR STAGE MANAGEMENT
Brooke Kemmer
Lizzie Voronin
SUPERIOR PROPS CONSTRUCTION
Cherise Carr
SUPERIOR MUSICAL THEATRE SOLO
Anoushka Mukherjee
Jacob Zacks
SUPERIOR MUSICAL THEATRE DUET
Tess Boyle & Jacob Zacks
SUPERIOR MUSICAL THEATRE DANCE SOLO
Jacob Zacks

Congratulations to all of our students on PHS Troupe #11996 for their participation, performances, professionalism, and commitment at the event, as well as to Ms. Krawiecki and Jeff Van Velsor. What a celebration!

PMS Region/All-State Orchestra

Please join us in congratulating the following PMS students who qualified for Region and All-State honors ensembles:

Adam Allaway, CJMEA Region Orchestra
Luise Baring, CJMEA Region and All-State Orchestra
Zoe Freund, CJMEA Region Orchestra
Claire Hodgson, CJMEA Region and All-State Orchestra
Sophie Huang, CJMEA Region and All-State Orchestra
Loah Lee, CJMEA Region and All-State Orchestra
Victor Peres, CJMEA Region Orchestra
Emily Tang, CJMEA Region and All-State Orchestra
Henry Toettcher, CJMEA Region and All-State Orchestra
Eric Zhang, CJMEA Region Orchestra
Tyler Zhang, CJMEA Region and All-State Orchestra

CP Spring Choral Concert

Wednesday, April 8, 2026

6:30 PM

CP Gymnasium

Please join us as our entire 4th and 5th grade students present their Spring Choir Concert. Our songs feature songs from around the world. All are welcome!

The Spring Drama: Trap by Stephen Gregg

Friday, April 17, 2026, at 7:30 PM

Saturday, April 18, 2026, at 7:30 PM

PHS Black Box Theater

PHS Spectacle Theatre presents Drama Seminar and Drama II in The Spring Drama, Trap!

“Menachap, California. An incomprehensible event: every person in the audience of a high school play falls unconscious--every person but one. Using interviews with witnesses, loved ones, first responders, and the investigators pursuing the case, a theatre ensemble brings the story of the strange event to life, documentary-style. But as the strands weave together into an increasingly dangerous web, it becomes clear that this phenomenon might not be entirely in the past. Unnerving, exhilarating, and wildly inventive, you've never walked into anything quite like Trap.” (Concord Website)

Tickets are available at our Ludus ticket website. $10 General Admission Seating. Doors will open at 7:10 PM. If the cost of admission would present a financial hardship for your family, please contact us at patricklenihan@princetonk12.org.

National Jazz Festival on Saturday, April 18

Studio Vocals, Studio Band, Jazz Ensemble, Nassau Band I, Nassau Band II, Studio Combo, Jazz Combo, and multiple PHS soloists will compete against schools from across the nation in the seventh annual National Jazz Festival. The event is open to the public and will be held live at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. Details are posted on the NJF website.

Littlebrook Elementary String Orchestra Concert

Tuesday, April 21, 2026

6:30 PM

LB All-Purpose Room

Please join us for a spring concert featuring the instrumental music string players in grades 3-5. All are welcome!

Riverside Elementary Spring Orchestra Concert

Wednesday, April 22, 2026

6:30 PM

RS All-Purpose Room

Please join us for a spring concert featuring the instrumental music string players in grades 3-5. All are welcome!

PHS Spring Choral Concert

Wednesday, April 22, 2026

7:30 PM

PHS Performing Arts Center

The annual Spring Choral Concert features all choirs and a cappella groups at PHS. This year’s selections will highlight an inherent component of music - rhythm! An array of percussion instruments will be featured throughout the evening along with the singing. PHS Choir will perform selections from Carl Orff's “Carmina Burana” - a rhythmic masterpiece. This concert will also include the pop, folk, and spirituals repertoire. This concert is free and open to all ages.

Community Park Elementary Spring Orchestra Concert

Thursday, April 23, 2026

6:30 PM

CP All-Purpose Room

Please join us for a spring concert featuring the third, fourth, and fifth grade string orchestras. All are welcome!

PMS Spring 2026 Art Exhibition

Thursday, April 23, 2026

6:00-7:30 PM

PMS Main Commons

This exhibition is brought to you by Princeton Middle School’s Visual Art Department. The works highlighted in this show have been thoughtfully created by sixth, seventh, and eighth graders, who have been working in the 2-D or 3-D visual art courses during the spring semester. We are excited for the opportunity to publicly showcase this artwork for families, friends, and the school community.

PMS Jazz Band Concert

Thursday, April 23, 2026

7:30 PM

PMS Auditorium

Please join us for a concert featuring the 7th Grade Jazz Ensemble and the 8th Grade Jazz Band. Free Admission.

NJAJE Jazz State Finals

NJAJE Jazz State Finals

Vocal Jazz State Finals: Friday, April 24, 2026

Jazz Band State Finals: Saturday, April 25, 2026

5:00 PM

PHS PAC

The New Jersey Association of Jazz Educators will host the 2026 Vocal Jazz and Jazz Band State Championships. Performances will begin at 5:00 PM. Princeton Studio Band, Princeton Jazz Ensemble, and Princeton Studio Vocals will all be performing and competing in this year’s finals.

Johnson Park Elementary Strings Spring Concert

Tuesday, April 28, 2026

6:30 PM

JP Gymnasium

String students will perform a spring concert in the JP gymnasium. We look forward to seeing you!

PMS Orchestra Spring Concert

Tuesday, April 28, 2026

7:30 PM

PMS Auditorium

Please join us for a spring concert featuring the String Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, and Symphony Orchestra. The repertoire is selected from classical music and movie soundtracks.

PMS Spring Choral Concert

Wednesday, April 29, 2026

7:30 PM

PHS PAC

Please join us for a concert featuring the Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Grade Choirs and the PMS A-Cappella Group singing repertoire from around the world. Free admission.

Riverside School Choir Concert

Thursday April 30, 2026

6:30 PM

RS Gymnasium

Riverside’s 4th and 5th Grade Choirs will present a concert on Thursday, April 30. We hope that you can join us!

PMS Spring Band Concert

Thursday, April 30, 2026

7:30 PM

PMS Auditorium

Please join us for a concert featuring the 6th Grade Band, Concert Band, and Symphonic Band. Free admission.

PHS Orchestras Present Spring Concert

Thursday, April 30, 2026

7:30 PM

Bristol Chapel of Westminster Choir College

The Orchestras of Princeton High School present their Annual Spring Orchestra Concert on Thursday, April 30, 2026, at 7:30 PM in Bristol Chapel of Westminster Choir College. Featured will be the Repertoire Orchestra, Sinfonia, and PHS Orchestra. In addition, senior members will be recognized for their artistic contribution to the orchestral program. Come celebrate spring musically, with us!

PHS Spectacle Theatre presents the Musical Theatre Classes in Seussical!

Friday, May 1, 2026, at 7:30 PM

Saturday, May 2, 2026, at 7:30 PM

PHS Black Box Theatre

“Now one of the most performed shows in America, Seussical is a fantastical, magical, musical extravaganza! Tony winners, Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (Lucky Stiff, My Favorite Year, Once on This Island, Ragtime), have lovingly brought to life all of our favorite Dr. Seuss characters, including Horton the Elephant, The Cat in the Hat, Gertrude McFuzz, Lazy Mayzie and a little boy with a big imagination – Jojo. The colorful characters transport us from the Jungle of Nool to the Circus McGurkus to the invisible world of the Whos.

"The Cat in the Hat tells the story of Horton, an elephant who discovers a speck of dust that contains the Whos, including Jojo, a Who child sent off to military school for thinking too many "thinks." Horton faces a double challenge: not only must he protect the Whos from a world of naysayers and dangers, but he must guard an abandoned egg, left in his care by the irresponsible Mayzie La Bird. Although Horton faces ridicule, danger, kidnapping and a trial, the intrepid Gertrude McFuzz never loses faith in him. Ultimately, the powers of friendship, loyalty, family and community are challenged and emerge triumphant. Seussical is fun for the whole family!” (MTI Website)

Tickets are available at our Ludus ticket website. $10 General Admission Seating. Doors will open at 7:10 PM. If the cost of admission would present a financial hardship for your family, please contact us at patricklenihan@princetonk12.org.

Contact Us

Patrick Lenihan, Supervisor of Visual and Performing Arts

Princeton Public Schools

Email: patricklenihan@princetonk12.org
Website: www.princetonk12.org/TheArts
Location: 217 Walnut Lane, Princeton, NJ, USA
Phone: 609-806-4315

Link to PPS Arts Home Page

Our next electronic arts newsletter will be distributed in early May. Special thanks to Danella Vecchio for helping to produce this newsletter.

News From The Arts

April 2026

Welcome to News from the Arts

Arts Department Philosophy

PHS Thespian Troupe Attends Competition

PMS Region/All-State Orchestra

CP Spring Choral Concert

The Spring Drama: Trap by Stephen Gregg

National Jazz Festival on Saturday, April 18

Littlebrook Elementary String Orchestra Concert

Riverside Elementary Spring Orchestra Concert

PHS Spring Choral Concert

Community Park Elementary Spring Orchestra Concert

PMS Spring 2026 Art Exhibition

PMS Jazz Band Concert

NJAJE Jazz State Finals

Johnson Park Elementary Strings Spring Concert

PMS Orchestra Spring Concert

PMS Spring Choral Concert

Riverside School Choir Concert

PMS Spring Band Concert

PHS Orchestras Present Spring Concert

PHS Spectacle Theatre presents the Musical Theatre Classes in Seussical!

Contact Us