Phoenix
3+ days / 30+ speakers
45+ lectures, seminars, and workshops
National Symposium for Classical Education
Phoenix Convention Center
March 23–25, 2022
March 23–25, 2022
Conference
Agenda
Both days will feature scholarly lectures on the arts, with workshops in the morning and afternoon, as well as focused seminars built on the direct engagement with various art forms. Seminar attendees will, for example, read and discuss a musical score, recreate a dramatic scene, look at and discuss a painting, and read poetry aloud.
There will also be student ensembles, professional performances, and displays of the art created by students from K-12 classical schools.
There will also be student ensembles, professional performances, and displays of the art created by students from K-12 classical schools.
DAY 1
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23
4:30 PM
Registration Begins
6:30 PM
Opening Keynote—Frederick Turner: “Why Beauty Matters”
7:45 PM
Reception
A time to network and meet our sponsors, speakers, and other colleagues in K-12 education while listening to live music and enjoying wine and cheese. Will conclude by 9:30 PM.
DAY 2
THURSDAY, MARCH 24
8:00 AM
Welcome
Featuring a musical ensemble group from Great Hearts Archway Chandler
8:30 AM
Keynote—Carol Reynolds, “Prima Le Parole, Dopo La Musica (First the Words, Then the Music)”
9:30 AM
Workshops and Lectures
Participants will attend a lecture or workshop of their choice.
Lectures
Visual Arts
• Bruce Herman (Gordon College), “The Hint Half-Guessed: A Broken Beauty”
Drama
• Nick Hutchison (Shakespeare’s Globe/Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts), “Shakespeare: Page to Stage (and on to Class)”
Poetry
• James Matthew Wilson (University of Saint Thomas Houston), “Poetic Meter as Habituation to Metaphysics”
Music
• Vern Falby (Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University), “Our Human Yearning for Voyage & Return: Bach’s Goldberg Aria and Persian Carpets”
General
• Peter Quigley (University of Hawaii), “The Great Refusal vs. the Urgent Need: Understanding the 100 Year War Against Beauty”
• Mark Bauerlein (Emory College/First Things), “Yes! The Arts Have Standards—Very High Ones”
• Bruce Herman (Gordon College), “The Hint Half-Guessed: A Broken Beauty”
Drama
• Nick Hutchison (Shakespeare’s Globe/Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts), “Shakespeare: Page to Stage (and on to Class)”
Poetry
• James Matthew Wilson (University of Saint Thomas Houston), “Poetic Meter as Habituation to Metaphysics”
Music
• Vern Falby (Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University), “Our Human Yearning for Voyage & Return: Bach’s Goldberg Aria and Persian Carpets”
General
• Peter Quigley (University of Hawaii), “The Great Refusal vs. the Urgent Need: Understanding the 100 Year War Against Beauty”
• Mark Bauerlein (Emory College/First Things), “Yes! The Arts Have Standards—Very High Ones”
Workshops
Poetry
• David Rothman (Independent Poet and Scholar), “Learning the Secrets of English Verse: The Ballad”
• James Matthew Wilson (University of Saint Thomas Houston), “‘Art Never Improves’: Poetic Rhythm and the Capaciousness of Form”
• Andrew Zwerneman (Cana Academy), “Teaching Poetry in a Post-Poetry Age”
Music
• Timothy Dusenbury (Trinity Schools), “Music Through Composition: An Active Approach to Music Theory”
• Leigh Ann Garner (St. Olaf College), “Kodály-Inspired Pedagogy: the Fine Art of Teaching Part Work”
Drama
• Stefan Novinski (University of Dallas), “Staging the Medieval Spectacle”
• David Loar (Charleston Stage Company), “Physicalizing Shakespeare with Powerful Intentions: An Acting Workshop for Teachers”
• Thomas Dits (Trinity School at Greenlawn), “Clowns and The Art of Comedy”
Visual Arts
• Juliette Aristides (Gage Academy of Fine Art), “Beginning Drawing 1”
• Mary Frances Loughran (Cana Academy), “Leading Your Students to See, Understand, and Enjoy a Work of Art”
General
• Kim and Brian Williams (Eastern University), “The Need for Beauty in the Life of a School”
• David Rothman (Independent Poet and Scholar), “Learning the Secrets of English Verse: The Ballad”
• James Matthew Wilson (University of Saint Thomas Houston), “‘Art Never Improves’: Poetic Rhythm and the Capaciousness of Form”
• Andrew Zwerneman (Cana Academy), “Teaching Poetry in a Post-Poetry Age”
Music
• Timothy Dusenbury (Trinity Schools), “Music Through Composition: An Active Approach to Music Theory”
• Leigh Ann Garner (St. Olaf College), “Kodály-Inspired Pedagogy: the Fine Art of Teaching Part Work”
Drama
• Stefan Novinski (University of Dallas), “Staging the Medieval Spectacle”
• David Loar (Charleston Stage Company), “Physicalizing Shakespeare with Powerful Intentions: An Acting Workshop for Teachers”
• Thomas Dits (Trinity School at Greenlawn), “Clowns and The Art of Comedy”
Visual Arts
• Juliette Aristides (Gage Academy of Fine Art), “Beginning Drawing 1”
• Mary Frances Loughran (Cana Academy), “Leading Your Students to See, Understand, and Enjoy a Work of Art”
General
• Kim and Brian Williams (Eastern University), “The Need for Beauty in the Life of a School”
11:00 AM
Seminars
• “Singing Schubert’s Song, Goethe’s Poem”: musical scores
• “The Play’s the Thing”: staged scenes
• “Conceptualizing Objects in Visual Art”: select paintings
• “Rendering the Proper Prosody”: select poems
• “The Play’s the Thing”: staged scenes
• “Conceptualizing Objects in Visual Art”: select paintings
• “Rendering the Proper Prosody”: select poems
12:00 PM
Lunch (including student performances)
Plenary Session: Fine Arts as Manifestations of Beauty in K-12 Classical (Martin Cothran, Andrew Kern, Chris Perrin, Carol Reynolds)
1:00 PM
Lectures and Workshops
Lectures
Visual Arts
• Juliette Aristides (Gage Academy of Fine Art), “The Transformative Power of Art”
Music
• Leigh Ann Garner (St. Olaf College), “Kodály-Inspired Pedagogy: For the Love of Making Music”
• Junius Johnson, “Truth Robed in Splendor: How the Fine Arts Illumine and Interpret Truth”
Drama
• Stefan Novinski (University of Dallas), “Educating the Body: a Modest Proposal (and a practical guide) on the Importance of Theater for Classical Education”
Poetry
• David Rothman (Independent Scholar and Poet), “Learning the Secrets of English Verse: Curriculum and Pedagogy”
General
• James Hankins (Harvard University), “Leon Battista Alberti on Why Artists Need a Classical Education”
• Patrick Wolf (University of Arkansas), “A Tale of Two Classical Schools: The Founding of Anthem Classical Academy and Ozark Catholic Academy with a Focus on the Appreciation of Beauty”
• Juliette Aristides (Gage Academy of Fine Art), “The Transformative Power of Art”
Music
• Leigh Ann Garner (St. Olaf College), “Kodály-Inspired Pedagogy: For the Love of Making Music”
• Junius Johnson, “Truth Robed in Splendor: How the Fine Arts Illumine and Interpret Truth”
Drama
• Stefan Novinski (University of Dallas), “Educating the Body: a Modest Proposal (and a practical guide) on the Importance of Theater for Classical Education”
Poetry
• David Rothman (Independent Scholar and Poet), “Learning the Secrets of English Verse: Curriculum and Pedagogy”
General
• James Hankins (Harvard University), “Leon Battista Alberti on Why Artists Need a Classical Education”
• Patrick Wolf (University of Arkansas), “A Tale of Two Classical Schools: The Founding of Anthem Classical Academy and Ozark Catholic Academy with a Focus on the Appreciation of Beauty”
Workshops
Drama
• Nick Hutchison (Shakespeare’s Globe/Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts), “Words, Words, Words: Shakespeare’s Advice to the Players (and Teachers)”
• David Loar (Charleston Stage Company), “Bringing Shakespeare to 3-D Life: An Acting Workshop for Teachers”
Music
• Timothy Dusenbury (Trinity Schools), “From Quarrel to Choral: Rehearsal Techniques for Untrained Singers”
• Vern Falby (Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University), “Thinking by Ear”
Poetry
• Christine Perrin (Messiah College), “Participatory Reading”
Visual Arts
• Bruce Herman (Gordon College), “Empathic Life Drawing”
Dance
• Ambre Emory Maier (BalletMet), “Movement in the Classic Education Classroom”
General
• Peter Quigley, “On Housing the Environmental Imagination”
• Christopher Palladino, “Dadaism, Futurism, and the Bauhaus: The Legacy of the Artist and the Great War”
• Andrew Zwerneman (Cana Academy), “The Confidence of Culture”
• Nick Hutchison (Shakespeare’s Globe/Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts), “Words, Words, Words: Shakespeare’s Advice to the Players (and Teachers)”
• David Loar (Charleston Stage Company), “Bringing Shakespeare to 3-D Life: An Acting Workshop for Teachers”
Music
• Timothy Dusenbury (Trinity Schools), “From Quarrel to Choral: Rehearsal Techniques for Untrained Singers”
• Vern Falby (Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University), “Thinking by Ear”
Poetry
• Christine Perrin (Messiah College), “Participatory Reading”
Visual Arts
• Bruce Herman (Gordon College), “Empathic Life Drawing”
Dance
• Ambre Emory Maier (BalletMet), “Movement in the Classic Education Classroom”
General
• Peter Quigley, “On Housing the Environmental Imagination”
• Christopher Palladino, “Dadaism, Futurism, and the Bauhaus: The Legacy of the Artist and the Great War”
• Andrew Zwerneman (Cana Academy), “The Confidence of Culture”
2:30 PM
Special Session: How Do School Leaders Cultivate the Fine Arts?
Remarks from Michael Poliakoff (ACTA)
3:30 PM
Networking
4:00 PM
Professional Performance
DAY 3
FRIDAY, MARCH 25
8:00 AM
Welcome
Remarks from Pano Kanelos (the University of Austin)
8:30 AM
Keynote—Anika Prather: “The Black Tradition of Artistic Expression of Classic Literature”
9:30 AM
Workshops and Lectures
Participants will attend a lecture or workshop of their choice.
Lectures
Visual Arts
• Christopher Palladino (Cairn University), “Little Boxes: Postwar Suburbia and the Arts”
• Barnaby Fitzgerald (Southern Methodist University), “The Emperor and the Painter”
• Karen Bohlin, “The Schooling of Desire: Rembrandt Teacher of Teachers”
Dance
• Ambre Emory Maier (BalletMet), “Les Ballets Russe: Socio-political Dance in the Russo-Parisian Spaces”
Music
• Melissa Knecht (Hillsdale College), “Learning through Analogical Transfer of the Fine Arts”
• Emily Maeda (the Paideia School), “Cultivating Desire: Musical Education for the Ordering of Loves”
Poetry
• Christine Perrin (Messiah College), “Tolkien the Poet and the Education of the Poetic Imagination”
• Christopher Palladino (Cairn University), “Little Boxes: Postwar Suburbia and the Arts”
• Barnaby Fitzgerald (Southern Methodist University), “The Emperor and the Painter”
• Karen Bohlin, “The Schooling of Desire: Rembrandt Teacher of Teachers”
Dance
• Ambre Emory Maier (BalletMet), “Les Ballets Russe: Socio-political Dance in the Russo-Parisian Spaces”
Music
• Melissa Knecht (Hillsdale College), “Learning through Analogical Transfer of the Fine Arts”
• Emily Maeda (the Paideia School), “Cultivating Desire: Musical Education for the Ordering of Loves”
Poetry
• Christine Perrin (Messiah College), “Tolkien the Poet and the Education of the Poetic Imagination”
Workshops
Music
• Carol Reynolds (Professor Carol), “Grab the Goat by the Horns: Establishing Music as Essential to a Classical Education”
• Leigh Ann Garner (St. Olaf College), “Nurturing Our Lyrical Little Ones: Making Music in the Primary Grades”
Drama
• David Loar (Charleston Stage Company), “Physicalizing Shakespeare with Powerful Intentions: An Acting Workshop for Teachers”
• Nick Hutchison (Shakespeare’s Globe/Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts), “I Will Go By Thy Direction”
Poetry
• James Matthew Wilson (University of Saint Thomas Houston), “‘Art Never Improves’: Poetic Rhythm and the Capaciousness of Form”
• Mark Bauerlein (Emory University/First Things), “Kids Don’t Hate Poetry—Really, They Don’t”
Visual Arts
• Mary Frances Loughran (Cana Academy), “Leading Your Students to See, Understand, and Enjoy a Work of Art”
• Brighton Demerest-Smith (Great Hearts Academies), “Seeking Beauty Through the Avenue of Truth: Observational Drawing and the Liberal Arts”
• Juliette Aristides (Gage Academy of Fine Art), “Beginning Drawing 2”
General
• Jim Weiss, “The Art of Storytelling”
• Carol Reynolds (Professor Carol), “Grab the Goat by the Horns: Establishing Music as Essential to a Classical Education”
• Leigh Ann Garner (St. Olaf College), “Nurturing Our Lyrical Little Ones: Making Music in the Primary Grades”
Drama
• David Loar (Charleston Stage Company), “Physicalizing Shakespeare with Powerful Intentions: An Acting Workshop for Teachers”
• Nick Hutchison (Shakespeare’s Globe/Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts), “I Will Go By Thy Direction”
Poetry
• James Matthew Wilson (University of Saint Thomas Houston), “‘Art Never Improves’: Poetic Rhythm and the Capaciousness of Form”
• Mark Bauerlein (Emory University/First Things), “Kids Don’t Hate Poetry—Really, They Don’t”
Visual Arts
• Mary Frances Loughran (Cana Academy), “Leading Your Students to See, Understand, and Enjoy a Work of Art”
• Brighton Demerest-Smith (Great Hearts Academies), “Seeking Beauty Through the Avenue of Truth: Observational Drawing and the Liberal Arts”
• Juliette Aristides (Gage Academy of Fine Art), “Beginning Drawing 2”
General
• Jim Weiss, “The Art of Storytelling”
11:00 AM
Seminars
• “Beholding Bach”: musical scores
• “The Play’s the Thing”: staged scenes
• “Conceptualizing Objects in Visual Art”: select paintings
• “Rendering the Proper Prosody”: select poems
• “The Play’s the Thing”: staged scenes
• “Conceptualizing Objects in Visual Art”: select paintings
• “Rendering the Proper Prosody”: select poems
12:00 PM
Lunch
Making the Arts Integral to the School—with Style!
1:00 PM
Lectures and Workshops
Lectures
Music
• Matthew Post (University of Dallas), “Music and Morality”
• Emily Maeda (the Paideia School), “Rhythm and Reality: Awakening Students to the World’s Pulse”
Poetry
• Albert Cheng (University of Arkansas), “Social Science Does Poetry: The Effects of Poetry on Attentiveness, Curiosity, and Affinity in a Science Class”
• Fred Putnam (Eastern University), “And the Star in the Wind is a Word“
• David Mason (The Colorado College), “Performance as Pedagogy”
Visual Art
• Frederick Turner, “Natural Classicism and the Role of the Critic”
General
• Owen Anderson (Arizona State University), “The Philosopher and the Artist”
• Matthew Post (University of Dallas), “Music and Morality”
• Emily Maeda (the Paideia School), “Rhythm and Reality: Awakening Students to the World’s Pulse”
Poetry
• Albert Cheng (University of Arkansas), “Social Science Does Poetry: The Effects of Poetry on Attentiveness, Curiosity, and Affinity in a Science Class”
• Fred Putnam (Eastern University), “And the Star in the Wind is a Word“
• David Mason (The Colorado College), “Performance as Pedagogy”
Visual Art
• Frederick Turner, “Natural Classicism and the Role of the Critic”
General
• Owen Anderson (Arizona State University), “The Philosopher and the Artist”
Workshops
Drama
• Stefan Novinski (University of Dallas), “Exploring Shakespeare’s Characters Through Status Exercises”
• Thomas Dits (Trinity School at Greenlawn), “Playing Shakespeare in High School”
• David Loar (Charleston Stage Company), “Bringing Shakespeare to 3-D Life: An Acting Workshop for Teachers”
• Nick Hutchison (Shakespeare’s Globe/Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts), “Playing A Round”
Poetry
• David Rothman (Independent Poet and Scholar), “Learning the Secrets of English Verse: Anglo-Saxon Strong-Stress Alliterative Meter”
• Andrew Zwerneman (Cana Academy), “Leading Students in the Study of Poetry”
• James Matthew Wilson (University of Saint Thomas Houston), “Teaching the Practice of Verse through its History”
Music
• Melissa Knecht (Hillsdale College), “Developing Your Musical Mental Map: Teaching Strategies for Connecting Music to Other Areas of the Curriculum”
• Junius Johnson, “Meaning through Melody and Harmony: a Great Books Approach to Teaching Western Music”
• Leigh Ann Garner (St. Olaf College), “Cultivating Creative Musicians: Making Music in the Intermediate Grades”
• Stefan Novinski (University of Dallas), “Exploring Shakespeare’s Characters Through Status Exercises”
• Thomas Dits (Trinity School at Greenlawn), “Playing Shakespeare in High School”
• David Loar (Charleston Stage Company), “Bringing Shakespeare to 3-D Life: An Acting Workshop for Teachers”
• Nick Hutchison (Shakespeare’s Globe/Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts), “Playing A Round”
Poetry
• David Rothman (Independent Poet and Scholar), “Learning the Secrets of English Verse: Anglo-Saxon Strong-Stress Alliterative Meter”
• Andrew Zwerneman (Cana Academy), “Leading Students in the Study of Poetry”
• James Matthew Wilson (University of Saint Thomas Houston), “Teaching the Practice of Verse through its History”
Music
• Melissa Knecht (Hillsdale College), “Developing Your Musical Mental Map: Teaching Strategies for Connecting Music to Other Areas of the Curriculum”
• Junius Johnson, “Meaning through Melody and Harmony: a Great Books Approach to Teaching Western Music”
• Leigh Ann Garner (St. Olaf College), “Cultivating Creative Musicians: Making Music in the Intermediate Grades”
2:30 PM
Special Session: Integration Across the Arts—a Panel Discussion Among Artists
3:30 PM
Networking
4:00 PM
Professional Performance
Symposium 2022
Register Today!
Exercise your creative muscles through music, theater, and the fine arts. Register by January 31st and save $50 on registration. Plus, if you register in a group of 5 or more you’ll save an additional $50 per person (a $100 total discount per person!).