Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter Public School
Encyclopedia
Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter Public School, or PVPA, is a public charter school
in South Hadley, Massachusetts
. Founded in 1996 as part of the Massachusetts Educational Reform, PVPA was originally located in Hadley, Massachusetts
, but relocated to South Hadley for its tenth year in 2005. The school serves students from over 60 towns in Western Massachusetts, but gives priority to students residing in Hampshire
, Hampden
, and Franklin
counties as well as the towns of Petersham
, Brookfield
, Sturbridge
, and Athol
.
PVPA was founded by Ljuba Marsh and Bob Brick.
The school has two performance spaces, a main theater and a studio theater. In the 2005-2006 school year, PVPA made a deal with the Academy of Music to hold their big musical production of the year at their facilities. From 2009-2011, PVPA relocated their musicals to UMass Amherst's
Bowker Auditorium. In 2012, PVPA's musical productions will relocate back to the Academy of Music. PVPA also holds graduation annually at The Calvin Theater in downtown Northampton.
ensemble, 5 Alone, has been acknowledged with 1st place in the Berklee College High School Jazz Festival, and 3rd place in the ICHSA competition. The Music Department covers all different styles of music-from rock to classical.
and the school's World Drama production, and culminating with the school's annual Musical Theater production. Students from PVPA have gone on to attend such colleges as NYU Tisch School for Performing Arts, Boston University, and Carnegie Mellon Drama.
PVPA introduces a new kind of work and school environment, one that promotes trust and understanding, and gives students faith in their fellow students and teachers. This environment is not only work conducive, but also provides a source of belonging and family outside of the students' own homes. Many PVPA students call the school their "second home" or "real home".
It was released to student body that, as a result of pressure from the Board of Trustees, Bob Brick would be stepping down from his post as executive director at the end of the 2009/2010 school year, but would remain in an administrative position to help the school through the rechartering process until late fall 2010.
Elisha Yaffe
, comedian, actor and producer
Former Musical Director Mitch Chakour was also Joe Cocker
's musical director
Sonya Kitchell
, singer and songwriter
Seth Glier
, singer and songwriter
Zoe Weizenbaum
, actor
Charter school
Charter schools are primary or secondary schools that receive public money but are not subject to some of the rules, regulations, and statutes that apply to other public schools in exchange for some type of accountability for producing certain results, which are set forth in each school's charter...
in South Hadley, Massachusetts
South Hadley, Massachusetts
South Hadley is a town in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 17,514 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area....
. Founded in 1996 as part of the Massachusetts Educational Reform, PVPA was originally located in Hadley, Massachusetts
Hadley, Massachusetts
Hadley is a town in Hampshire County, Massachusetts. The population was 4,793 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The area around Hampshire Mall and Mountain Farms Mall along Route 9 is a major shopping destination for the surrounding...
, but relocated to South Hadley for its tenth year in 2005. The school serves students from over 60 towns in Western Massachusetts, but gives priority to students residing in Hampshire
Hampshire County, Massachusetts
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 152,251 people, 55,991 households, and 33,818 families residing in the county. The population density was 288 people per square mile . There were 58,644 housing units at an average density of 111 per square mile...
, Hampden
Hampden County, Massachusetts
-Demographics:As of the census of 2004, there were 461,228 people, 175,288 households, and 115,690 families residing in the county. The population density was 738 people per square mile . There were 185,876 housing units at an average density of 301 per square mile...
, and Franklin
Franklin County, Massachusetts
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 71,535 people, 29,466 households, and 18,416 families residing in the county. The population density was 102 people per square mile . There were 31,939 housing units at an average density of 46 per square mile...
counties as well as the towns of Petersham
Petersham, Massachusetts
Petersham is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 1,234 at the 2010 census. Petersham is home to a considerable amount of conservation land, including the Quabbin Reservation, Harvard Forest, the Swift River Reservation, and Federated Women's Club State...
, Brookfield
Brookfield, Massachusetts
Brookfield is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 3,390 at the 2010 census.-History:Brookfield was first settled in 1660 and was officially incorporated in 1718...
, Sturbridge
Sturbridge, Massachusetts
Sturbridge is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. It is home to Old Sturbridge Village living history museum and other sites of historical interest such as Tantiusques.The population was 9,268 at the 2010 census...
, and Athol
Athol, Massachusetts
Athol is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 11,584 at the 2010 census.-History:Originally called Pequoiag, the area was first settled by five families in September 1735. When the township was incorporated in 1762, the name was changed to Athol...
.
PVPA was founded by Ljuba Marsh and Bob Brick.
Overview
Pioneer Valley Performing Arts (Charter Public School) in Western Massachusetts is known for its outstanding performing and visual arts concentrations woven into its curriculum. Students are required to take all courses that Massachusetts public schools mandate (mathematics, science, english, languages, history, etc.) but also participate in a wide variety of performing arts and visual art courses. Students take dance courses, sculpture and other visual arts, theater, and a variety of athletic activities in addition to arts courses. PVPA serves over a thousand students grades 7-12, from over 60 towns throughout Western Massachusetts. PVPA aims to "connect the creative process with critical thinking to inspire a love of learning. As a charter school, the work we do informs educational policy at local, state and national levels." The students also participate in the revision of the school charter as a democratic process when the charter goes through renewals.The school has two performance spaces, a main theater and a studio theater. In the 2005-2006 school year, PVPA made a deal with the Academy of Music to hold their big musical production of the year at their facilities. From 2009-2011, PVPA relocated their musicals to UMass Amherst's
University of Massachusetts Amherst
The University of Massachusetts Amherst is a public research and land-grant university in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States and the flagship of the University of Massachusetts system...
Bowker Auditorium. In 2012, PVPA's musical productions will relocate back to the Academy of Music. PVPA also holds graduation annually at The Calvin Theater in downtown Northampton.
Music
PVPA is nationally known for its contributions to field of music. The school's a cappellaA cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
ensemble, 5 Alone, has been acknowledged with 1st place in the Berklee College High School Jazz Festival, and 3rd place in the ICHSA competition. The Music Department covers all different styles of music-from rock to classical.
Theater
PVPA holds many theatrical productions during the school year. With shows ranging in style from Shakespeare to the sketch comedy group "Headgear" to Commedia dell'ArteCommedia dell'arte
Commedia dell'arte is a form of theatre characterized by masked "types" which began in Italy in the 16th century, and was responsible for the advent of the actress and improvised performances based on sketches or scenarios. The closest translation of the name is "comedy of craft"; it is shortened...
and the school's World Drama production, and culminating with the school's annual Musical Theater production. Students from PVPA have gone on to attend such colleges as NYU Tisch School for Performing Arts, Boston University, and Carnegie Mellon Drama.
Dance
As in all other forms of Art PVPA holds high standards in dance. The Dance department provides many different types of dance such as modern, jazz, ballet, and hip-hop. The highly acclaimed Catayst Dance Company is a pre-professional group that tours nationally and attends the National High School Dance Festival annually.Visual arts
The visual arts program is run by Martin Bridge and encompasses stage craft, costume design and lighting in addition to more traditional forms of art, such as mixed media, painting, and figure drawing. It has been much improved since the move to South Hadley, since the rooms were once portable classrooms.Lottery
PVPA uses a lottery system to determine who receives entry to PVPA, because over 300 students apply for fewer than a hundred places each year. If accepted, the student's respective city/town will pay for the student as they would for their own students at their own school.Emotional Significance
Many of the students of PVPA are more attached to the school than to the typical public high school, due to its accepting and almost familial environment. Students call their teachers by their first names, perform in plays with their teachers, and often stay connected long after graduation. The student body is generally harmonious, as dialogues are often the remedy for social problems rather than harsh discipline. Students have a sense of community as they enjoy small class sizes, close relationships with teachers, and a weekly open-mic session that brings the entire school together.PVPA introduces a new kind of work and school environment, one that promotes trust and understanding, and gives students faith in their fellow students and teachers. This environment is not only work conducive, but also provides a source of belonging and family outside of the students' own homes. Many PVPA students call the school their "second home" or "real home".
Controversy
On 27 May 2009, the Evaluation Committee of the PVPA Board of Trustees recommended that the 3-year contract of co-founder and Executive Director Bob Brick not be renewed after it expires at the end of the 2009-2010 academic year. The committee's decision came as a surprise to most faculty, staff, students and parents, many of whom are organizing in support of Bob Brick and his continued tenure as the Executive Director.It was released to student body that, as a result of pressure from the Board of Trustees, Bob Brick would be stepping down from his post as executive director at the end of the 2009/2010 school year, but would remain in an administrative position to help the school through the rechartering process until late fall 2010.
Noteworthy Alumni
Alicia Chakour, singer and songwriterElisha Yaffe
Elisha Yaffe
Elisha Yaffe is a comedian, actor and producer. He has co-created several webseries, including Downers Grove, Minor Stars and Remember When: A Comedy Series which, according to Gigaom, was recently taken out to pitch as a television series. Currently he can be seen in commercials for Mike's Hard...
, comedian, actor and producer
Former Musical Director Mitch Chakour was also Joe Cocker
Joe Cocker
John Robert "Joe" Cocker, OBE is an English rock and blues musician, composer and actor, who came to popularity in the 1960s, and is most known for his gritty voice, his idiosyncratic arm movements while performing, and his cover versions of popular songs, particularly those of The Beatles...
's musical director
Sonya Kitchell
Sonya Kitchell
Sonya D. Kitchell is an American singer-songwriter. Sonya Kitchell formed her first band and began writing music in 2001...
, singer and songwriter
Seth Glier
Seth Glier
Seth Glier is an American singer-songwriter, pianist, and guitarist.USA Today has called Glier a singer with an exquisite tenor, echoing Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel in the piano pop style of his latest release The Next Right Thing....
, singer and songwriter
Zoe Weizenbaum
Zoe Weizenbaum
Zoë Weizenbaum is an American child actor.-Life and career:Weizenbaum was born in Seattle, Washington to an American mother and a Chinese father. She grew up from the age of two in Amherst, Massachusetts. For years, African Dance was her primary love. She also enjoyed being part of Amherst's local...
, actor