Loretto High School - The Arts

The Arts

Students are required to take one year of visual or performing arts such as dance, fine arts, choir, or theater, and a one-trimester "Heritage Class" in the opposite discipline. For example, if a student is enrolled in a yearlong performing-arts class, she is later required to take a one-trimester Art History class. Likewise, if she is enrolled in a yearlong visual-arts class, she is later required to take a one-trimester Music History class. In addition to Heritage Classes, Loretto offers other one-trimester courses in music, art, dance, and theater.
Each spring, students participate in the Festival of the Arts, in which they showcase their creations and hold performances in dance, drama, and music.
Visual Arts
Loretto offers a wide array of visual arts classes such Foundations in Visual Arts, Art 1/Art 2, Ceramics 1/Ceramics 2, Drawing 1/Drawing 2, Three-Dimensional Art 1/2, Watercolor, and Advanced Art, and Advanced Studio Art
Dance
Dance classes are extremely popular at Loretto. Many girls enroll in one or three-term dance classes each year. There are three levels of dance groups: beginning (Broadway Bound Dance and a 1-trimester Dance course), intermediate (Intermediate Broadway Bound Dance), and advanced Broadway Bound Dance (Advanced Company). The dancers perform in an annual dance concert each spring, which included both company numbers and solos. The numbers are choreographed by both the students and teachers. Advanced Company performs at the homecoming rally each year.
Music
Loretto has two levels of choral ensembles: Concert Choir(beginning), and Chamber Singers(advanced). The choirs hold 2 annual concerts in December and May. In February 2009, the Loretto Chamber Singers performed at the Jammies Evening of Classical Music at the Mondavi Center at UC Davis. In addition, both choirs have sung at the State Capitol, Catholic High School Choral Festival, and various other events. In 2007 and 2009, both choirs won 1st place in their section at the Heritage Festival in Anaheim, CA. The most select vocal ensemble is the Loretto Lionettes' A Capella club, which performs at choir concerts, various events, and at the homecoming rally
Theater
Girls may take a 1-term Drama Workshop class, or enroll in a yearlong drama class. There are two levels: beginning (Theater Arts), and advanced (Advanced Drama Workshop). Each fall, Loretto holds a dramatic or musical production, and the Advanced Drama class holds An Evening of One Acts. They participate in the LENEA festival each year, and in 2009, girls won a total of 2 gold medals (out of 3 awarded gold medals), 1 silver medal, and 2 bronze medals.