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Watkinson School

Category: Creative Arts

  • Watkinson Artists Awarded At 2025 Connecticut Scholastic Art & Writing Awards

    Watkinson Artists Awarded At 2025 Connecticut Scholastic Art & Writing Awards

    Congratulations to the students below for winning awards in the Connecticut Region of the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards! The work of the Gold Key winners qualifies to be judged for the national competition. 

    The Connecticut Regional Scholastic Awards program is a professionally juried event that recognizes only the best Connecticut student artwork. This year, seven Watkinson students won awards or honorable mentions; this is noteworthy given that Watkinson has 250 students and is competing against large, regional public schools. 

    Abagail B. ’25 — silver key, photography

    Basmina K. ’25 — honorable mention, portfolio

    Ben R. ’25 — silver key, painting 

    Gabriela R-L. ’25 — honorable mention, portfolio

    Mairin C. ’26 — silver key, photography

    Kevin Q. ’26 — honorable mention, architecture and interior design

    Will C. ’27 — gold key, photography

    Will W. ’27 — honorable mention, photography

    Virginia B. ’28 — gold key, photography

    Will C. ’27
    Virginia B. ’28
    Abagail B. ’25
    Gaby R-L. ’25
    Will W. ’27
    Kevin Q. ’26

    Watkinson School, a private school for grades 6-12/PG, is Hartford, CT’s oldest co-ed independent day school. To schedule a tour of our private school and to see what our students’ parents and alumni have to say about their experiences at Watkinson School, click here.

  • Watkinson Presents “An Evening with Arn Chorn-Pond”, a free event

    Watkinson Presents “An Evening with Arn Chorn-Pond”, a free event

    Chorn-Pond is a Cambodian musician, human rights activist, and survivor of the Khmer Rouge regime.

    Hartford, CT – Watkinson School, Hartford’s oldest independent day school for grades 6-12/PG, is pleased to announce the return of Arn Chorn-Pond to our campus on October 10, 2024. A long-time friend to the school, Chorn-Pond will spend a day on campus including an all-school assembly, and masterclass for global studies and creative arts students, and several classroom visits. In the evening, the community is invited to a free event on Thursday, Oct 10th from 7:00-8:00 pm for An Evening with Arn Chorn-Pond. Arn will speak about his life, the power of music and the arts, and the thriving arts scene today in Cambodia. 

    Arn Chorn-Pond is a musician, survivor of the Cambodian genocide, human rights activist, and founder of Cambodian Living Arts and Living Arts International.​ He is an advocate for the healing and transformative power of the arts, and especially music. Watkinson’s Global Studies Program sent teams of students on international service learning trips to Cambodia for more than a decade and formed a strong relationship with Arn and Cambodia Living Arts. It was through these relationships that Watkinson faculty and students were part of the founding of the Khmer Magic Music Bus, an initiative with the mission of restoring Cambodia’s rich musical heritage by connecting traditional musicians with people in rural villages who would not otherwise have access to this important part of their culture and history. 

    Head of School Teri Schrader says, “Watkinson is so fortunate to have a very special relationship with Arn. His regular visits to Watkinson have made him a known and welcomed ambassador for important global, cultural, and artistic points of view. Arn’s presence connects us to a world much larger than our own, and reminds us, time and again that love and hope are their own kind of strength. We learn by listening to Arn tell his story, and we are stronger and more human for it. I am excited and confident that October 10th will be a memorable day for our students and members of the greater Hartford community who join us on campus.”

    Chorn-Pond’s visit is part of Watkinson’s commitment to global studies and the creative arts. All Watkinson students learn from a global perspective and the arts are infused across the curriculum in all grades, those seeking specialized study can apply in grade 10 or in the summer for newly accepted 11th graders for a special diploma in Global Studies or the Creative Arts. These diploma programs are multi-faceted and intellectually challenging. Students learn from guest speakers at Watkinson School, virtual meetings with experts around the world, and traveling to talks, plays, conferences, and more. To learn more about Watkinson’s diploma programs, schedule a visit.

    Members of the public wishing to reserve free tickets for “An Evening with Arn Chorn-Pond” on October 10th talk should RSVP here.

    Watkinson School is Hartford’s oldest co-ed independent day private school for grades 6-12/PG. Watkinson’s mission is to develop in our students the power to shape their lives and the world around them. Our next info session for prospective families is September 27 at 9am.

  • Return of the Hog River Review

    Return of the Hog River Review

    After a brief respite caused by the pandemic, the Hog River Review (HRR) has returned.  Begun in the early 1990s as a student-led literary magazine, and evolving into a full-color literary and arts magazine in the early 2000s, the HRR ceased publication from 2020-2023. This year, sophomore Landon S. decided to take on the challenge of reinventing the HRR as an independent project. Working with advisor, Arts Department Chair Stacy Donovan, Landon has created a web-based version of the HRR found at hogriver.watkinson.org.  

    Miss Donovan noted, “I am thrilled with Landon’s passion for this project.  It is marvelous to have the Hog River Review back in this accessible format.  The Arts at Watkinson have a twofold mission: Nurture emerging artists and provide our community with a rich array of visual and performing arts so that they may become educated patrons of the arts.  The online portfolio serves this mission beautifully.  For this I say, thank you Landon.”

    Landon collaborated with numerous faculty members and learned a great deal along the way. Network and Database Administrator Tom Gromak worked with Landon to make smart choices about how and where to best host the site. Director of Communication Jenni French helped Landon conceptualize the project and scaffold the submission and review process. Graphic Designer Jenny Katz-Brandoli taught Landon the ins and outs of WordPress and helped him learn key tenets of designing for the web, including how you create a site that can have future editions. Donovan advised Landon as he recruited peers who helped him adjudicate the work that was submitted to determine readiness for publishing. 

    The site was launched in time for Watkinson’s annual Fringe Festival. Landon says, “This project has not only taught me skills for creating and designing a website but also life skills. I have learned that if I put my mind to something I can get it done. Even if there are many roadblocks, I can still push through. I’m so grateful to be at Watkinson because so many teachers have supported me and helped me get to a place where I can say I created a website.”

    Landon is already making plans to do a fall edition of the HRR.

    To learn more about our private school curriculum, schedule a visit today.

  • Watkinson School Presents An Evening with David Hemingson ’82

    Watkinson School Presents An Evening with David Hemingson ’82

    Watkinson School alumnus and Oscar-nominated screenwriter of The Holdovers

    Watkinson School proudly presents An Evening with David Hemingson on Tuesday, April 9th.  Mr. Hemingson, a Watkinson School alumnus from the class of 1982 and a Connecticut native, is a veteran television writer who in 2023 made one of the most astonishing feature film debuts in recent memory as screenwriter and producer of Focus Features’s widely acclaimed The Holdovers, directed by Oscar-winner Alexander Payne. The evening will include an exclusive VIP Dinner with Mr. Hemingson at 5pm, followed by a conversation with Mr. Hemingson at 7pm. The evening is a fundraiser for Grace Scholars at Watkinson, a fund to enable 8th-grade graduates of Hartford’s Grace Academy to enroll at Watkinson for high school. The events take place on Watkinson’s campus at 180 Bloomfield Avenue, Hartford.

    Following its world premiere at Telluride, The Holdovers immediately became an awards juggernaut, earning five Academy Award nominations, including Best Original Screenplay for Hemingson’s work and Best Picture. Hemingson’s screenplay has been a focal point of the film’s considerable acclaim, netting him a staggering 37 nods from critic associations and awards bodies, including a BAFTA nomination for Best Original Screenplay and winning the National Board of Review’s Best Original Screenplay award. 

    Watkinson’s Head of School Teri Schrader states, “We are beyond thrilled to welcome Dave back to his home here at Watkinson, where even as a young writer, he distinguished himself as an emerging artist in our Creative Arts Program. We can’t wait!” 

    A Hollywood mainstay for nearly three decades, Hemingson’s prolific television work includes an impressive range of writing and producing credits across single- and multi- camera sitcoms, one-hour dramas, procedurals, young adult series, animation, and more.

    Among his television highlights, he created, executive produced, and wrote the Fox comedy series, Kitchen Confidential, based on Anthony Bourdain’s memoir and starring Bradley Cooper. The pilot earned Hemingson a WGA Award nomination for ‘Outstanding Episodic Comedy’. He also wrote and produced series as diverse as Whiskey Cavalier, Just Shoot Me, American Dad, Family Guy, How I Met Your Mother, Black-ish, and Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23, among many others.

    Born in New Haven, Connecticut, and raised in West Hartford, Hemingson attended Watkinson School in Hartford before going on to earn his BA in American Studies from Yale University, Phi Beta Kappa, Summa Cum Laude, and then a law degree from Columbia University. After a brief tenure in the entertainment department of a prominent Century City law firm, he transitioned to television writing full-time starting in 1995. He currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife, the writer Victoria Morsell Hemingson. They are the proud parents of two sons, Nicholas and Ian. 

    The Grace Scholars at Watkinson fund was created in 2018 by founding donors Janice and David Klein. In the last decade, Watkinson has funded seven Grace Academy graduates and provided more than $800,000 in financial aid to Grace students. 

    Ticket Information:

    $25 — 7:00pm Conversation with Mr. Hemingson

    $200 — 5:00pm VIP Dinner with Mr. Hemingson and Conversation

    Tickets are available at watkinson.org/hemingson. All seating is general admission.

    Watkinson School, Hartford’s oldest independent school, is a coed day school for grades 6-12/PG. Our next info session for prospective students is April 5, 2024.

  • West Hartford Art Barriers 2023

    West Hartford Art Barriers 2023

    Nick G. ’24 Selected

    Watkinson School is pleased to announce that junior Nick G. has been selected to be one of the painters of an art barrier in West Hartford center. Nick’s design will be on a barrier on Lasalle Road in the center, in front of Division West. In its third year, this public art project selects work from approximately 20 artists and is made possible by the West Hartford Art League and the Town of West Hartford.

  • Nik C. ’24 Published

    Nik C. ’24 Published

    Nik C. ’24, a Creative Arts Program diploma student majoring in creative writing, has been included in the second edition of the international publication called “Letters to Lovers Zine”. Nik’s poem “After the Batman” was one of 29 submissions selected out of hundreds of entries. To date, Nik’s focus has been on short stories and novellas, this is his first submission of poetry. 

    The Zine was founded in 2022 by German writer/creative Veruschka Haas, who is the editor and designer.  Haas says the Letters to Lovers Zine’s purpose is to publish classic and modern interpretations of letters. She adds, “I created this Zine out of love for collections of letters and epistolary novels, worry that this is a dying medium, and excitement for how this medium shifts and changes in our modern day.” Whether art, photography, poetry, or prose, whether handwritten, composed, or typed out, Issue 02 features works by young writers and artists directed at their lovers past, present or even future. In Issue 02, the relationships, non-relationships, and encounters are explored as letters through a lens of nostalgia.

    The Zine is sold online (Etsy), and in a number of British bookstores and magazine shops, including Housmans Bookshop, Typewronger Books, Magalleria, and magCulture, among others.

  • Award-Winning Student Artists

    Award-Winning Student Artists

    Congratulations to the students below for winning awards in the Connecticut Region of the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards! The work of the Gold Key winners qualifies to be judged for the national competition. 

    The Connecticut Regional Scholastic Awards program is a professionally juried event that recognizes only the best Connecticut student artwork. This year, four Watkinson students won seven awards or honorable mentions.

    Abbey B. ’25 — 1 honorable mention

    Jacob B. ’23 — 1 gold key and 2 honorable mentions

    Ben R. ’25 — 1 honorable mention

    Alice X. ’25 — 1 gold key and 1 honorable mention

    Jacob B. ’23
    Abbey B. ’25
    Alice X. ’25
    Ben R. ’25
    Jacob B. ’23
    Jacob B. ’23
    Alice X. ’25

    Learn more about our private school curriculum here.

  • Tony Award-Winner Visits Watkinson

    Tony Award-Winner Visits Watkinson

    Dr. Katie Kresek is the first American woman to win a Tony Award for orchestration. During her recent visit to Watkinson, she helped the Upper School Ensemble students with their original arrangements. She also spoke with Creative Arts Program students about her career path as a Tony-winning Broadway orchestrator, a collaborative violinist, a recording artist, and an educator. 

    To learn more about being a private school student at Watkinson and or about our Creative Arts Program, visit campus today.

  • Two Watkinson Juniors to Compete in Croatia with USA Tap Team

    Two Watkinson Juniors to Compete in Croatia with USA Tap Team

    Watkinson juniors Maizy S. and Millie F. will be traveling to Zagreb, Croatia to compete at the World Tap Dance Championships on November 21 – 26th as members of the USA Tap Team! The highly selective team consists of only 69 dancers from the tri-state area who will represent the United States at this prestigious event. The dancers were chosen by a panel of judges certified by the International Dance Organization. Being selected for this team is a tremendous honor in and of itself as each nation is limited to 3 entries per category. Both girls study dance at Farmington Valley Dance & Music in Farmington, CT.

    Both girls are enrolled in Watkinson’s Global Studies diploma program, which requires completing a rigorous set of academic requirements above and beyond those of a traditional high school diploma. Upon completion, students earn a second diploma. Watkinson’s Global Studies Program is a unique aspect of our private school curriculum.

  • Watkinson Private School 10th Grader Takes First Place

    Watkinson Private School 10th Grader Takes First Place

    Julia W. ’24 Won Regional Finals of the Next Narrative Monologue Competition 

    Watkinson School, a top-rated private school in Hartford, CT, announces that Julia W. ’24 was the first-place winner of the regional finals of the Next Narrative Monologue Competition held at New Haven’s Long Wharf Theatre. Julia will go on to the national finals at the Apollo Theater in May. 

    For two months, Julia and her fellow competitors worked with teaching artists Julius Stone and Jacqueline Brown on a number of contemporary monologues written by living Black playwrights. For the competition, Julia tackled the character Eboni in Psalmayene 24’s “The Recurring Dream, Or Small Baby Hands.”

    The Next Narrative Monologue Competition serves high school students, grades 9-12. In each participating region, students progress through three rounds of competition: preliminaries, semi-finals, and a regional final. The top two winners from each regional competition participate in the National Finals, receiving an all-expense-paid trip to New York City that includes:

    • Workshops with theatre professionals
    • Performance at the Apollo Theater
    • Ticket to a Broadway show
    • Cash prizes for the top three winners

    Watkinson School, a private school for grades 6-12/PG, is Hartford, CT’s oldest co-ed independent day school. To schedule a tour of our private school and to see what our students,  parents, and alumni have to say about their experiences at Watkinson School, click here. Our next info session for prospective families is May 5 at 9am.

  • Watkinson Artists Awarded At Connecticut Scholastic Art & Writing Awards  

    Watkinson Artists Awarded At Connecticut Scholastic Art & Writing Awards  

    Congratulations to the students below for winning awards in the Connecticut Region of the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards! The work of the Gold Key winners qualifies to be judged for the national competition.

    The Connecticut Regional Scholastic Awards program is a professionally juried event that recognizes only the best Connecticut student artwork. This year, seven Watkinson students won awards or honorable mentions; this is noteworthy given that Watkinson has 250 students and is competing against large, regional public schools. 

    Jacob B. ’23 — gold key, photo

    William E. ’22 — Gold Key, CAEA Best in Drawing Award, Drawing Category 

    Hannah J. ’23 — honorable mention, photo

    Evan P. ’22 — silver key, sculpture

    Ayana P-M ’22 — silver key and gold key, painting

    Z Reed ’23 — silver key, drawing

    Alina W. ’22 — honorable mention, film

    Alina W. ’22
    Ayana P-M ’22
    Ayana P-M ’22
    Evan P. ’22
    Hannah J. ’23
    Jacob B. ’23
    William E. ’22
    Z. R. ’23

    Watkinson School, a private school for grades 6-12/PG, is Hartford, CT’s oldest co-ed independent day school. To schedule a tour of our private school and to see what our students’ parents and alumni have to say about their experiences at Watkinson School, click here. Our next info session for prospective families is April 7 at 9am.

  • Watkinson Private School Students and Faculty Featured in Hartford Art Exhibit

    By Samantha Urban, University of Hartford Communications Intern

    Three photography students, Sarah B., Jack N., and Keifer J., as well as Watkinson’s Visual Arts Department Chair, Carolyn Pelkey, will have their work featured in an art exhibit at Capital City Community College in Hartford. 

    Morning Sun by Carol Pelkey
    Hartford Sky by Jack N.
    Untitled by Keifer J.
    Blue Eyes by Sarah B.
    Under the Falls by Carol Pelkey

    This exhibit, sponsored by the Community Renewal Team and the National Arts Program, runs from February 13 through March 2.  They all have the opportunity to win a cash prize for their amazing work.

    The Community Renewal Team’s purpose, “to help people change their lives and create opportunities for themselves and their families”, shines through in this art exhibit.  The exhibit gives adults and teens alike a chance to show off their work and potentially create new opportunities for themselves.

    Congratulations to the students and Ms. Pelkey on their outstanding photography.

  • Watkinson Private School Senior Thalia P. Has Original Play Read at Hartford Stage

    Watkinson Private School Senior Thalia P. Has Original Play Read at Hartford Stage

    Thalia P. ’19 was chosen to participate in Write On, Hartford Stage’s Annual Young Playwrights’ Competition. The competition is open to all Connecticut residents in grades 9-12. Among these applicants, 5-6 are selected to participate in the program. The program is modeled on Hartford Stage’s new play development process, and Write On playwrights have the unique opportunity to learn about professional play development first-hand. Accepted students work with a professional playwright to turn their ideas into ten-minute play scripts. Thalia developed her play, “Escape Room”, in intensive writing workshops held at Hartford Stage. The program culminated with a reading of the ten-minute plays performed by local actors and directed by professional directors who worked closely with the young playwrights.

    Thalia is a member of Watkinson’s Creative Arts diploma program. Private school student artists who have demonstrated serious interest and strong ability may be accepted into the Diploma Program based on an audition or portfolio review, a written statement of intent, and an interview. Many of these students plan to enter careers in the arts; graduates have gone on to some of the world’s leading dance and theater companies, galleries, and symphony orchestras. This program combines rigorous practice schedules with an individualized course of requirements under the guidance of an art advisor. Students may study off-campus if necessary during the day. The C.A.P. faculty provides liaison with leading arts institutions, including Hartford Stage, the Hartford Art School, Hartt School of Music, and Juilliard.

  • The Future Perfect Project at Watkinson

    The Future Perfect Project at Watkinson

    by Harrison Richman, University of Hartford Communications Intern

    Announcing an extraordinary opportunity for the Watkinson community: the nationwide “Future Perfect Project” brings its LGBTQ initiative to Watkinson. The Future Perfect Project is an ongoing series of workshops, designed to provide LGBTQ high school students and student allies with songwriting and storytelling techniques and the opportunity to express their unique stories to their community. The workshops take place at various schools and community centers across the U.S. and are facilitated by performance artists James Lecesne and Ryan Amador.

    To date, James and Ryan’s efforts have stretched over 15 states in which they have helped hundreds of teenagers become comfortable with who they are through activities and discussions designed to empower students’ individuality.

    The week of March 4th-8th, students will have the opportunity to speak with James and Ryan at multiple events throughout the week. They will be meeting directly with the SAFE Alliance, Upper School instrumental ensemble, United Through Differences student club, and Upper School chorus and will be giving a special presentation at All School on the Friday of that week.