At Heritage we believe the arts are essential components of an academic education. We offer complete Music, Drama and Visual Art programs.
Our students receive instruction in art and music from a teacher dedicated to this program. All elementary students learn music fundamentals and instruction includes the Orf and Kodai methods. In addition to classroom instruction, students have the opportunity to participate in the elementary choir.
Performance experience is gained on campus during weekly chapels and at talent programs throughout the year. HCA's annual Christmas musical showcases the choir and older students take to the stage and demonstrates their acting talent.
In the Grade 6 year, students are introduced to a new element of musical training: Concert Band. All Grade 6 students take Band and they have the opportunity to not only learn to play a musical instrument, but to also play with other musicians. In subsequent years, Middle School students have the opportunity to study Band and Choir as an optional subject.
We are justifiably proud of our Concert Band and Choir programs. Each September HCA hosts a city wide Beginner Band Workshop with respected musical clinicians to jump-start our first year students' musical training. Our Concert Band and Choir students perform on campus throughout the year, at the Middle and High School Christmas music recital and at the year-end recital. Older students who display talent, diligence and maturity are invited to travel on the annual Senior Band Tour in the spring.
High School students have additional musical opportunities. Worship Band, led by Mrs Olson, is a 10-20 member team. Worship bands play at Wednesday Chapels, Rev7 and at venues off campus. Jazz Ensemble brings together students with vocal talent to perform at Band and Choir concerts.
Each spring Heritage Fine Arts students can participate in the Fine Arts tour. Students perform at schools and public events outside of Calgary and then participate in the ACSI Musicale, along with up to 600 other students from Western Canada, under the tuition of some of Canada's most respected conductors and University lecturers.
In Middle School, drama students are introduced to mime, reader's theatre, scripts reading, play acting, play writing, radio techniques, theatre studies and improvisation. They take part in activities to foster positive self-concept and work cooperatively with others toward shared goals. Stage performance opportunities are provided on campus.
In High School students build on the skills they have developed in Middle School. Performance both on campus and at off -campus Fine Arts performances become more important. Students receive instruction in movement, speech, improvisation, acting, stage-craft, make-up, costuming, script study and performance. Students also attend and evaluate Theatre Calgary performances.
Heritage art classes relate ideas found in the Bible and apply them to the concepts studied. Media includes hand-clay modelling.