The stroke of a brush. The feel of wet clay. The experience of being larger than life on stage. At Randolph, we believe creative expression comes from a place deep inside. You can see it in the finely etched lines of a fifth grade ceramic tribal mask, the thousands of delicate dots in a pointillist painting, or in the composition of a painted and plumed gooney bird. Observe the emerging self-confidence of a budding actor, feel your heart beat to the rhythms of a fourth grade African drumming circle, or close your eyes and listen to the lilting voice s of the Middle and Upper School concert choirs.

Randolph’s visual and Performing Arts program is designed to offer students a variety of aesthetic experiences. The emphasis is on participation, process, and expression and not on product or performance. Yet, something magical occurs as students discover their own creative spirit and voice. Thespians win top honors in Trumbauer competitions, artists find their creations selected for prestigious exhibitions, and sweet melodies from choirs and hand chimes delight and entertain audiences throughout the state.

Arts courses are woven into each grade at Randolph. Kindergarten students begin by exploring line, shape, color, and texture, the tools through which the language of art develops. Later, students may create hand puppets of Peter and the Wolf while listening to Prokofiev’s orchestral version of the fable with instruments playing dramatic roles. They study the lives and techniques of O’Keefe and Cézanne, Chopin and Mozart. Through voice and instruments, students learn to read, perform, and appreciate music.

Once students master the fundamentals, they move toward more personal expression. They may join the band or choir, or they may take courses in art history, painting, drawing, two-dimensional and three-dimensional art, ceramics, photography, and drama. Randolph offers a sophisticated AP program for juniors and seniors where they may produce their own design portfolio. Whatever the artistic journey, students emerge with greater insights into themselves and see a new consciousness of the creative forces that shape our world and its cultures.

Randolph’s Fine and Performing Arts Mission:
To provide students with the knowledge, skills, vocabulary, tools, techniques, understanding, and interpretive skills in art, music and drama, in order that they may pursue a lifetime of aesthetic enrichment.


Alabama 2004 Art Teacher of the Year - Rosie Dumoulin, Upper School art teacher

Governor's Visual Arts Achievement Award Winner 2004 - Caitlin Hutto, hand-tinted photograph

Monte Sano Juried Art Show 2004--Piper Madison, 1st place, expressive painting; Natalie Weil, 2nd place, pinhole camera photo