Hopefuls audition for Visual & Performing Arts Academy

A prospective VPA student auditions with vocal teacher Kristopher Zuk.

LITTLE SILVER - For students hoping to be accepted into Red Bank Regional High School's Visual and Performing Arts Academy (VPA), preparation begins well before the audition date on the second Saturday in January each year.

Two weeks prior to their interview, creative writing applicants are asked to submit at least four writing samples demonstrating skill in a variety of genres including poetry, fiction, nonfiction, journalism, playwriting, screenwriting and essay writing.

Prospective photography majors are required to bring along a portfolio of 10 black and white photographs consisting of three landscapes, four portraits, two still life images and one lighting project. Digital or digitally retouched photos are not accepted.

Similarly, commercial art majors submit a portfolio of 10 original art pieces in a variety of media (oil, watercolor, acrylic and tempura) and subject matter (selfportrait, collage, still life, and landscape).

Dance majors audition for a two-hour period performing both ballet and jazz numbers. Piano and vocal candidates also take a written music theory test after they audition. Prospective piano majors play two pieces from among the baroque, classical, romantic, and historical modern periods. They are asked to sight-read an open score, and play major scales and arpeggios. Vocal candidates prepare two songs from different genres such as opera, Broadway, folk songs, spirituals and others.

On Jan. 12, 126 students from towns throughoutMonmouth County auditioned and interviewed for spots in dance, drama, vocal music, piano, as well as commercial art, creative writing and commercial photography programs.

They were greeted at the front entrance by current VPA students who escorted them to their auditions and interviews.

Depending on the major that students were applying to, spots would be available for 80 to 98 students for the 2008-09 school year. Most will learn of their acceptance by February.

VPA is a demanding program whose graduates have gone on to perform on Broadway, compose and record music, and work in the fields of commercial, graphic arts and photography. VPA is a unique and rigorous preparatory program with no comparable high school program for the visual and performing arts in Monmouth County.

"Prospective students are informed in the application process that the VPA is very demanding and requires considerable

after-school and weekend involvement, particularly for rehearsals, performances and participation in school events," said VPADirectorAnthonyMigliaccio.

"Our students have always shined as academic as well as performing stars at RBR. They have gained entrance to Harvard, Columbia and The Tisch School of the Arts at NYU among many other top schools.Many have graduated as our class valedictorians."

In addition to stringent individual major requirements, students must have met the proficiency level in both the literary and math GEPA tests taken in eighth grade. The application process also requires two teacher recommendations.

Migliaccio explains, "At one time we had a higher enrollment, accepting students based strictly on their talent and teacher recommendation. However, with the advent of No Child Left Behind, we had no choice but to add a proficiency requirement for standardized testing."

VPA students take the same high school curriculum as non-academy students. However, their two electives are structured in a double period during which they take their major subject offerings.

The current VPA class consists of 287 students, with 50 percent from the RBR sending schools in Little Silver, Shrewsbury and Red Bank. The remainder of the class is composed of tuition students whose K-8 districts pay tuition to RBR or, in the case of a K-12 district, parents pay tuition.

To learn more about RBR's Visual and Performing Arts Academy, visit the RBR Web site at www.rbrhs.org or call (732) 842-8000 ext. 227.