Maggie Coors ’25 < Back Riding the Cyclone Maggie Coors ’25 Feb 16, 2024 Last weekend, Mercersburg Academy’s Stony Batter Players performed the musical Ride The Cyclone. The show's lead actors included Keri-Ann Denis ’25, William Tutt ’25, Crystal Chiu ’25, Finn McNeil ’26, Janie Miller ’26, Fynn Poulsen ’26, and Ary Small ’27, along with a talented cast of ensemble members. The show depicts a high school choir group that takes a field trip to an amusement park and dies riding a roller coaster called the Cyclone. The start of the show takes place after they have already died, and a fortune teller decides to hold a competition in which the winner is revived. Each character performs a hilarious song to explain why they should be the one to get a second chance at life. During the show, one of the main characters who lost her head during an previous roller coaster accident remains a mystery to the cast. This character, Jane Doe, played by Denis, displays an intrigue that adds a level of mystery to the plot. The show was extremely funny and entertaining. There was well-timed comedic dialogue and absurd musical numbers that kept the audience engaged throughout. One of the most interesting parts of the show is that all of the characters had unique characteristics and distinctive musical styles. Each character was perfectly cast. The actors did an incredible job of embodying their individual characters and were able to bring their roles to life. The production used aerial choreography to make the characters fly through the air, which added a level of complexity for the actors and crew, but brought the performance to another level and thoroughly impressed the audience. Denis in particular was able to do impressive aerial choreography while performing complicated vocals that left the audience in awe. During this, she even hung upside down while she sang! The costumes and set design worked well with the musical and it was clear that a lot of thought had gone into producing the show. My favorite part of the show was the musical numbers. The singing was skillful and the choreography and staging were extremely entertaining. As for the musical itself, I went into the show already knowing the plot, but I have heard from many people that it was hard to follow if you didn’t already have prior knowledge. Despite this, I thought that the show was very visually enjoyable and it was obvious that the cast and the crew had put an immense level of effort into it. Previous Next

Rhiannon Myhre '25 < Back Looking toward to-Morrow Rhiannon Myhre '25 Sep 22, 2023 This year, Mercersburg Academy is pleased to welcome Kristen Morrow, who comes all the way from Austin, Texas Mercersburg’s music department. One can find Morrow in the Burgin Center co-teaching choral and Band; she will also assist with Octet and Magalia, as well as serve as the vocal director and pit conductor for the winter musical. Morrow welcomed the school community at Convocation, leading the Chorale in a beautiful rendition of A Million Dreams from the hit film The Greatest Showman . It was evident from her first performance that Morrow will be a great fit, showing the same strong passion for the arts that has long characterized the music faculty. Morrow first came to Mercersburg because of her love for boarding school: “I have always loved the boarding school environment and I have taught at a wide variety of schools, including public schools, independent day schools, and boarding schools in the past. However, the last time that I was in the boarding school environment was about 15 years ago and I realized how much I truly missed it,” adding, “When this position came up I knew that it was the perfect opportunity to get me back into the boarding school universe and closer to my family and friends, so when I put in for this job it all just seemed right.” Morrow gave some insight into her musical background. “Growing up, my father was a music teacher. He taught band, chorus, and orchestra and all of those things while also playing the organ, the piano, and just all of the instruments… so that is what I grew up around. I have always had a love for music and so I personally started taking lessons around the age of five. Later in high school I was in the marching band, orchestra, choir, and it was all very eclectic, but it was always fun.” Previous Next

Arpi Karapetyan '24 < Back Aliens, drugs, or just too much free time Arpi Karapetyan '24 Feb 3, 2023 Minimalism, abstract expressionism, and op-art reached their heyday in the 20th century, and their popularity has not waned. Combine that fact with the trend of “posing next to art we think we could easily create ourselves,” and the sum is hubris, represented by the brash idea that “my neighbour’s kid makes better drawings, and he’s in second grade.” Think about the stark example of a large green square on a yellow background, and you’ll have an idea of such arrogance. When folks encounter paintings that are complex (for example, “The Garden of Earthly Delights”), they might assume the artist is a superhuman being. After all, if they can’t produce it, then why should any person be able to? With the fast pace of life, such folks would deem it impossible for anyone to have the freedom to paint something so elaborate, so intricate. To them, it seems silly for a single person to dedicate 20 years to a painting so detailed that it would take another 20 years to study every square inch. Right? Wrong. From 1490 to 1510, Dutch artist, Hieronymus Bosch dedicated his life to the painting he titled “The Garden of Earthly Delights,” a triptych work spanning three canvases depicting, from left to right, the Garden of Eden, Earth, and Hell. The original is currently housed in the Museo del Prado in Madrid, Spain. The piece is filled with symbolism, and every brushstroke on the canvas has meaning. Bosch didn’t just get bored and start filling empty space with owls, flying fish, and pigs dressed as nuns kissing for the fun of it. He planned the painting with methodical and mathematical precision. At the same time, though, the work depicts ideas that were nearly unheard of at the time, leading some to believe that Bosch was taking hallucinogens. Part of me wants to agree with the theory, but another part of me hates it. Why have people decided that individuals can no longer be creative unless they are under the influence of a randomly-chosen drug? Previous Next

Maddie Stonebraker ‘27 < Back Alfred Ma: from student to mentor Maddie Stonebraker ‘27 Nov 8, 2024 A lfred Ma ‘25 is a four-year member of the school’s band and a music department teaching assistant (TA); he has made history at Mercersburg as the first student selected for the Pennsylvania All-State Concert Band. In addition, his musical excellence has earned him an Associate’s Diploma from the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM). This prestigious milestone recognizes his advanced technical skills and dedication to music. Now in his senior year at Mercersburg Academy, Ma reflected on the achievements and challenges that have marked his journey as a dedicated musician, leader, and mentor. Ma spoke with enthusiasm and gratitude about his musical journey at Mercersburg. “My experiences with the band have been great. Having been a player in the band for four years now, I can confidently say it is a great program that continues to grow,” he says. This year, Ma has taken on the new role of TA, supporting younger students in their musical learning, an experience he acknowledges as both challenging and rewarding. “It has been difficult adapting to the role of TA in the band, as I’ve had no experience teaching others and I’m learning a lot every day,” he reflected. Shami Beni, Mercersburg’s band director, highlights Ma’s growth as a musician and mentor, praising his resilience and humility. “He’s been a part of the music department since freshman year, not just as a player but as a leader. This year, he’s been a strong leader in the music department, helping foster a sense of practice and belonging among other students,” Beni says. “Alfred is great with criticism and is very open to learning new things that he didn’t know before, using that knowledge to improve himself and other students. Overall, he’s grown a lot, not just as a musician but as a person.” Ma credits his growth to mentors like Beni and Professor Steven Mead of the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, UK. Mead, regarded as one of the world’s leading euphonium players, has shaped Ma’s musical path by inspiring him to pursue music performance as a college major. Under Mead’s guidance, Ma feels his musicianship has “improved exponentially.” In addition to his technical accomplishments, Ma is preparing a feature piece for the upcoming spring concert. It is a personal project that marks his final year at Mercersburg. Reflecting on what he has learned throughout his musical journey, he offers advice to younger students interested in music: “Enjoy the music you play and don’t chase achievements. The passion naturally drives you to improve and will provide much more fulfillment.” Looking forward, Ma hopes to continue to develop his talents in college and eventually as a professional musician. Beni speaks for the entire department when he says, “Overall, Alfred is a great person and musician, and I hope he continues in the music field.” With his technical skill, humility, and passion, Ma has left his legacy at Mercersburg Academy. Previous Next

Derrick Park '25 and Alice Yoo '27 < Back MASQed avengers Derrick Park '25 and Alice Yoo '27 Apr 4, 2025 Disclaimer: Satire edition From February 10 to 14, in recognition of Valentine’s Day, Mercersburg Academy’s Strings Quartet (MASQ) offered the dedication of beautiful strings serenades. The talented students of MASQ—Thomas Zhu ‘26, Daniel Liu ‘25, Lisa Wei ‘26, and Karin Sugiyama ‘27—brought warmth to the community through their music. As Wei was feeling unwell, Anežka Pospisilova ‘26 stepped in to play the violin. The group’s heartfelt renditions spread love across campus, as both faculty members and students were serenaded during lunch announcements in the dining hall and at various requested locations. But the serenades didn’t stop here. Some community members took advantage of the anonymity behind the serenade requests in unconventional ways. The love serenades extended beyond campus boundaries, as MASQ privately offered additional musical services to members living off-campus. Liu said, “The delight of music should be everywhere, and MASQ is committed to spreading love and warmth. This private test run allowed us to prepare for a more public offering.” This trial proved to be a success, as one of the most popular serenade recipients, Michelle Eichelberger expressed her delight in the attentions of MASQ members during her morning commute. “No surprise I was hearing tunes of Can’t Help Falling in Love in between my Scorpions songs. I had no idea they were all crammed together in my trunk. My car rides were always lonely, but I surely shed tears of joy. It was nice finding some surprise company.” Zhu said, “I love the challenge of taking my art into unexpected and constricting places. This proves that all my practice hours are finally paying off.” With such a successful launch, MASQ has officially expanded its services to the entire community, following a regular schedule. Sugiyama said, “Initially, the serenades were meant to celebrate Valentine’s Day and help people express their love for one another. But we realized that music can bring people together at any time of the year. By making this a year-round project, we hope to foster a warmer, more connected atmosphere on campus.” According to MASQ, the serenades will take place twice a week—one session on campus and the other off campus. While on-campus performances will continue during lunch announcements, off-campus serenades could happen at any time and location, preferably within the Mercersburg area. Community members beyond the confines of campus should be prepared for an unexpected doorbell ring, as well-dressed musicians may be waiting to perform at their doorstep. And this is only the beginning. MASQ has ambitious plans to take their initiative even further. Next year, they hope to coordinate with Ms. Parsons and Experiential Learning to expand the service beyond domestic performances, potentially reaching an international audience. Though details remain under wraps, the musicians hinted at exciting future plans. Wei said, “I can’t reveal too much just yet, but we have a major project in mind. If everything goes well with our expanded domestic service, we might just be booking plane tickets and taking our instruments around the world.” Previous Next

Susanna Huang '27 < Back Spirited songs at Spoken Word Susanna Huang '27 Apr 12, 2024 Surrounded by the darkness, a singular, round beam of light focusing on a performer draws the audience in, creating an intimate setting. The scene brings the audience and performer into a single space. The warm orange lights reflect from the wooden floor, establishing a warm and comfortable ambiance. The audience engages in soft chatter, which slowly dies down as the performer gets into position. As the school year moves toward its end, the final Spoken Word performance offered one “last chance” for community artists to showcase their talents. This was also the last chance for the two experienced emcees, Bob Hollis and Kevin Hang, to host the Spoken Word evening at Mercersburg. Unfortunately, due to weather conditions, the event was forced indoors to the Hale Black Box Theater. This shuffled some plans; however, presenting in the black box brought an unexpected immersive experience to both the performers and the audience, adding novelty and innovation which brought the community together. Throughout its history, Spoken Word has offered a stage for “a variety of performers,” observed former faculty member Jack Hawbaker, providing opportunities for a wide assortment of performances. Moreover, Spoken Word has always been a timely event that “lets people that aren’t already in singing groups, or instrumental groups, or even just people that can’t really put their work out there to have an outlet to perform,” said Pema Namdol ‘27. The event showcases the hidden artists within the community and celebrates their hard work. Some high points included Jerry Jin ‘26 and Namdol’s rendition of “From the Start” by Laufey, Hang’s reading of a personally written piece, a guitar and vocal performance by Ethan Stiffler ‘25, and an exciting finale, with Addie Heldman ‘25 performing an original song followed by an unexpected promposal. Unlike the concerts featuring instrumental groups, Spoken Word has “no rehearsal and no need to polish Spoken Word; there just needs to be people coming out with a willingness to share their talents, truth, and voice. It’s really unique,” said Michele Poacelli, head of the English department and Writing Center Director. Many performances were constructed-last minute. “My friend and I, we last-minute decided [that] we wanted to sing a song, and we did it probably in two days,” commented Pema Namdol ‘27. The unrehearsed, unpolished aspects of the performances open up opportunities for the audience to interact with and cheer for their friends before and after each piece, unlike the other more formal concerts by performance groups. The event serves as a model for freshmen, who can witness the performances during the fall term and step up on stage during the winter and spring terms. Spoken Word is not only a performance stage for community artists but also a community engagement platform for building relationships. As Anne Sehon ‘25, the emcee-in-training, observed, “I first did Spoken Word my freshman year fall term, and I literally found my best friends through Spoken Word; it is important to me.” The event not only brings the community closer together but also fosters a supportive environment around campus. As it wraps up the final weeks of school, this term’s Spoken Word left cherished memories for all in attendance. Previous Next

Sophie Han ’27 < Back Ryoma: Mercersburg’s newest band Sophie Han ’27 Sep 27, 2024 Ethan Stiffler ’25 and Billy Quick ’25 have officially announced the formation of their new band, Ryoma, sparked by their mutual love of and enthusiasm for music creation. Both are talented in their own right, and with their dynamic performances previously showcased on stage, Stiffler and Quick have built a strong bond as close friends and collaborators. “It wasn’t a definite formation, but primarily spurred from our mutual fondness in playing and making music,” Stiffler said, “And as we got into the studio, somehow, we naturally started to write music together.” Stiffler explained their songwriting process. “We start everything by ourselves, from recording the guitars and bass in the studio. We work together by creating something small individually at first.” Quick added, “Then we play it to each other, and expand it by adding more of what we both favor.” Quick shares that he finds the process emotionally rewarding. “When you make something that you’re proud of and later listen back, it can be so surprising to realize that it was you who created this music from scratch, and the countless efforts are worth it.” Although the details of the band’s style and upcoming projects are still under wraps, the duo has revealed some of their insights and experiences. “Everything revolves around the guitar. The lyrics, the vibe, and the other instruments all follow,” Quick said, “The songwriting process gets more creative when you experiment with different guitars, which offers more room to creative music with its range of notes.” Drawing from their experience in the Jazz Band together, Quick added its influence to his style: “I feel like it takes part in the music genres that I enjoy, and probably it will too for our band’s music genre.” The duo draws inspiration from their previous experiences, from their performances at the seasonal Spoken Word events to unexpected moments. “Last weekend, during a football game, I had this sudden idea for a new song,” Quick shared, “ So, I just started adding guitar loops, drums, pianos, and lyrics subconsciously. At some point when you make music, you realize that you need to take a break and wait for a spontaneous revelation.” “One of the most important things is not to stress about the future,” Stiffler and Quick said about the band’s future plans. “We’re already constantly writing music off and on, which is progressing pretty well, and so we just want to focus on the present and the things that we can control.” Stiffler added, “But we’re planning something big, like working on an album and collaborating with people in Art Practicum to capitalize our band and creativity.” The formation of this band has left eager audiences awaiting their next move, and both musicians are excited for what’s ahead. “Embarking from sharing our favorite music to creating it together, it’s fascinating how things progressed,” Quick reflected. To those interested in writing music, especially potential musicians on the Mercersburg campus, Stiffler offered his advice from his journey, which started in his early sophomore year. “Don’t hesitate to start, and don't worry about whether it’s perfect right away. My first piece of music was a complete flop, but I learned that writing music is a skill, really. And there’s always room to be skillful at it.” Interested readers can find the band’s music on Spotify under the name Ryoma, where they currently have 14,000-plus monthly listeners. Previous Next

Cara Buck ‘29 < Back The sound of the future: how AI is changing music Cara Buck ‘29 Nov 14, 2025 Whether music is your passion or simply background noise, you will not be able to escape the fact that artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping how music is created and experienced. While many already use AI as a tool for learning music’s mechanics, its impact on the industry goes far beyond convenience. The true question is, can it actually help improve our musical abilities? From generating sheet music to replicating the voices of specific artists, AI is already blurring the line between human creativity and machine imitation. Shami Beni, Director of Band, said, “I do think it is a little weird. For example, during the whole Drake and Kendrick beef, when Drake used Tupac’s voice in one of the songs.” In pop culture, the use of AI-generated voices, especially those of existing artists, is widely controversial. Yet, in educational settings, AI can serve a very different purpose. “I had a couple of kids in my mixing music class use AI for their voice component for their project,” Beni said. At Mercersburg, students are using AI as a creative support tool rather than as a shortcut. Cellist Thomas Zhu ’26 believes AI has the potential “to inspire more people in general to be able to create music.” By lowering barriers to entry, it can make music more accessible to everyone. AI can even help complete unfinished music or that lost to time. Beni noted, “You can recreate someone’s music from thirty years ago that isn’t alive now.” Similarly, Zhu added, “Those symphonies that composers didn’t finish and died—AI took inspiration from their previous work and kind of finished it.” This demonstrates that when used with a clear, direct purpose, AI can be of good use: to preserve and extend musical legacies. On the other hand, not everyone sees AI in music as a positive development. Karin Sugiyama ’27 expressed skepticism. “I think it’s good for friends and just for fun, but I don’t see the reason why people would have to use AI to create [serious] music when there are so many wonderful musicians and artists around the world,” she said. James Coors ’27 echoed her sentiment, pointing out, “I would worry about whether or not it will put real artists out of a job.” Although the thought of AI replacing real hardworking artists is intimidating, AI-produced pieces lack the human essence of authenticity and feeling. Without personal subtle flaws and imperfections, music would simply be bland and distant from the audience. Sugiyama said, “It just destroys the whole purpose of having human artists if we can just use AI to make anything.” At Mercersburg, we value human creativity and experience. However, AI can responsibly be used by those who are experimenting and learning. If you are using AI to practice or make music, it is important to use it as a tool and not a replacement. As Beni stated, “It will definitely bridge the gap between people who have the resources to learn about the music industry and the people that don’t.” Previous Next

Liza Hoa '27 < Back Stellar dancing Liza Hoa '27 Jan 17, 2025 Stella Johnson ‘25 has been an integral member of the Mercersburg dance program for the past four years and earned recognition as Mercersburg’s resident ballerina. “Before Mercersburg, I’d only ever done ballet so it was definitely a bit of a steep learning curve trying to start other styles. But because of such a supportive space and community, the transition was smooth and as easy as it could be. It gave me the confidence to explore different things that I hadn’t done before," said Johnson. She has taken her four years here as an opportunity to learn and grow her artistry. Director of Dance, Kelsey Rupp, said, “I've had her since she was a sophomore and I think the biggest growth I've seen is in her performance quality. I would say seeing her perform in the Fall Dance Concert was like watching a totally different person perform than when I first saw her as a sophomore. Stella was very timid, so I had to often remind her to smile. And when she got on stage as a dewdrop in the Fall Dance Concert, it was really great. Everyone that I spoke to mentioned that her performance was stellar.” Johnson has taken advantage of every opportunity to engage in dance at Mercersburg through original choreography, clubs, and more. “I’ve really liked exploring choreography since I got here. I'm currently working on a group piece that I haven't really done before. So I'm very proud of that. I’m not a choreographer naturally. It takes me a really long time. Some people, they get into the studio and they put on music, and boom, they have choreography. And I'm not like that at all. It takes me hours and hours to come up with anything. So, I’m definitely on the slower side. And then working with peers to bring it all together and teach it to others has also been really kind of a learning curve for me. “And I've just really liked getting to become an upperclassman because I get to step into my role as a leader more in the dance studios. This year, I’m a co-captain and in the national honors society for dance arts members at large. You could also call it the dance panel where we help with basically everything: organization, answering questions, adjudicating pieces inside what goes in the concert of student choreography, etc… I also run a recreational dance club. In my recreational dance club I get a lot of people who keep saying “I can’t dance’ but I think everyone can dance as long as you really just go for it and try.” Rupp knows that Stella’s work ethic and dance discipline have influenced her fellow dancers and Mercersburg students. “I would say that Stella is a leader among her peers. I think that she brings really positive energy into the studio. She wants to work hard. She loves dancing and has a great passion for it. When we’re in the studio, she wants to be dancing, and I think that is evident in her to her peers. She makes other people better and allows her peers to make her better as well. The girls in our dance program have a very collaborative environment, especially this year. And Stella is a huge contributor to that environment.” As she prepares to leave Mercersburg in the spring, Johnson is looking forward to her pursuit of dance after high school. “I definitely plan on studying dance in college either as part of a double major or a minor depending on where I go and what program is offered. And beyond that, I would like dance to be a part of my life, but I don't think it is going to be my main career,” said Johnson. Previous Next

Maddie Mamoudis ‘27 < Back Groovin’ back in Maddie Mamoudis ‘27 Oct 10, 2025 Mercersburg’s Recreational Dance Club is stepping back into the spotlight this fall under the leadership of Paris Zhang ’27 and Manika Dalai ’26. With the departure of last year’s leaders, the two took charge to keep the dance club alive for interested students. “The club already existed, but the leaders graduated, so we wanted to continue it,” Dalai said. Zhang recalled early conversations that helped shape the group’s mission: “I was talking to some of my friends, and they said they’d be interested in dance classes.” Both leaders emphasized their desire to creating a welcoming and low-pressure atmosphere. “Dance classes can just be fun. By coming and taking dance classes, you can have fun without having the commitment of doing shows,” Dalai explained. Zhang added, “There are a lot of people who want to dance outside of the dance community and might be intimidated by some of the choreography that dance PGAs do, so we wanted to make dance accessible to everyone.” To accommodate a range of experience levels and dancers of any ability, Dalai explained, “Our hope is to have different levels of classes. For example, beginner hip-hop, intermediate or advanced level hip-hop. We hope that by doing this, we can keep the classes small enough to give individualized attention to help others improve.” Keagan Killinger ’28, who recently joined the club, is excited to develop his skills, “I love to dance, and I don’t really get any opportunity at school other than classes, so this is a great opportunity to do it. I hope to become a better dancer because I want to pursue musical theatre.” Club adviser, Director of Dance Kelsy Rupp, praised Zhang and Dalai for revitalizing the program: “Our seniors last year didn’t keep up with a consistent schedule. I’m really excited to see them do this; they have been working very hard and doing lots of planning. I am helping and ensuring that their content is beginner-friendly and accessible for everybody.” For Dalai and Zhang, the bigger picture is about building confidence and community. They hope to keep the momentum going and to continue fostering excitement throughout the year. “We want people to see dance as something fun and accessible to everyone, not just a PGA, because everyone is a dancer,” Dalai said. “People will come to us and say things like, ‘I don’t dance,’ and I’ll just say, ‘You don’t dance YET!’” Previous Next

William Shen ‘27 < Back Amy Wilson: In the Wild Blue William Shen ‘27 Sep 26, 2025 The Burgin Center for the Arts hosted the first Sips and Nibbles event of the 2025-26 school year in the Cofrin Gallery, continuing the custom of pairing of community gatherings and light refreshments with visiting artists whose work sparks dialogue across campus. This year’s first show features Amy Wilson, a professional artist and arts educator, showcasing her exhibition In the Wild Blue , a collection of cyanotype artworks created over the past year and a half. Wilson described her work as deeply influenced by her surroundings, specifically the natural environment, “My general inspiration would be connecting with nature and finding the plants really beautiful; each one of these plants I picked myself from a certain location, so for each one, I have a connection with a place and with a time.” Her work reflects both the delicateness and resilience of the natural world. Using elements such as snowflakes, water, and pigments released from plants, Wilson creates cyanotypes that balance texture, depth, and subtle variation, which bring out the nuances in the subject matter, as well as overall diverse aesthetics. Through her cyanotype collection, Wilson wants to convey a central message: “I think that people today are very busy, and they are very focused right here [on the phone]. I want people to be aware of their surroundings and how beautiful nature is. A lot of people have told me today that they come in here and it reduces their stress to be in this environment, and that’s what being outside does for me: it reduces my stress, it centers me and grounds me, and I wanted to share that.” Students responded enthusiastically to Wilson’s artworks. Harry Cameron ‘26 said, “I really enjoy all the different colors and it’s a new take on the mix of environment and artwork.” Xiomara Del Rosario ‘26 mentioned the “likeness of the clear thematic blue and greens, but also the incorporation of different elements, like the leaves and flowers, and other everyday things you see in nature.” Sydney Caretti, Mercersburg’s Director of Galleries and a long-time friend of Wilson, offered her perspective, commenting, “I think that her [Wilson’s] work—any solid piece of fine art—can evoke emotion and peer into the environment which is really in jeopardy right now. A lot of people have commented on how they feel like they can breathe when they go in nature, and this work brings me so much peace and harmony and solitude.” Building on the sense of peace and reflection, Caretti emphasized how Wilson’s art draws attention to the often unnoticed intricacies of nature, “This is something that we should cherish and we should notice, and the details that these [artworks] have are things that I don't necessarily notice when I'm out in nature on my own, but the way that she captures it brings it to my attention in a beautiful way.” Furthermore, having attended one of Wilson’s summer workshops, Caretti described Wilson’s creative process as “the magic of working with nature.” Wilson was invited to open the year because Caretti’s believes Wilson’s art can shape the thinking of the student body. Caretti explained, “In our hopes of being more sustainable for future generations, having nature on exhibit and showing that we support it, we see it, and we know it’s around us, ties into the mission of Mercersburg, which is to steward our students forward and to make the world better.” Previous Next

Lisa Wei '26 < Back You've Godt to see this show! Lisa Wei '26 Oct 14, 2022 On Friday, October 21, 2022, Chad Godt’s show, Beauty is Suspect , will open with a reception at the Burgin Center for the Arts. Godt will also be at Mercersburg Academy Thursday and Friday during the school day to speak to students in the art classes taught by Sydney Caretti, Director of Galleries and member of the fine arts department. Formerly an art teacher at the University of Arizona, Godt currently teaches art at Alamance Community College in North Carolina. He has also shown his work at galleries across the country. However, in his Mercersburg show, he has more control over what is being shown and how. “I met Chad Godt when I was in graduate school in Marywood University. I reached out to him after I invited Pamela Parsons [to do an art show], who was our painting mentor and professor,” said Caretti. Parsons suggested that Caretti reach out to Godt with an invitation to show his work at Mercersburg Academy, because she thought students would benefit from the clever way in which he portrayed his subjects and from the relatability his brings to his artwork. “I started out wanting to be a comic strip artist… I started drawing and copying what I liked from that genre. I then moved to wanting to be an animator and needed to develop better drawing skills. I eventually realized that I hate computers and the idea of sitting in front of a computer all day for months and years at a time doing repetitive drawing was like torture. I was a little lost in life at that point and took my first painting class and fell in love with the medium. However, I still loved drawing. Through a lot of doing what I thought painting was… I wasn’t feeling like I was expressing who I was and wasn’t expressing anything that fulfilled me mentally. I started thinking about what I loved about art and the artists I admired… and what I felt really showed who I was… That was combining drawing and painting together. I loved it…It continued and evolved from there,” Godt said. Now, Godt’s focuses on everyday objects, mainly broken toys. “I think the work he’s showing us in the gallery, while it has a simplistic style, is also heavily charged with meaning and connection to all of us,” said Caretti. Godt’s work and inspiration are mainly self-referential. He found that art was the best way to express who he is and what he was and is dealing with. Caretti hopes that Chad Godt’s visit to Mercersburg Academy will open the eyes of students to new possibilities. “I want our students to know what is happening beyond our microcosm and that the intention of an artist has such a larger meaning than what is represented. Our students can learn from Chad that after an artist learns the elements of arts and principles of design, they then can break the rules and have areas of space that are not activated,” said Caretti. Previous Next