Corbin Kelly '24 < Back Corbin's special review on Heather Corbin Kelly '24 Feb 14, 2023 Perhaps it was just my location in the audience being in the front row, but there were many times when it felt as if I couldn’t hear any of the performers over all the other noise of the performances. It just seemed as though the mics weren’t able to project the actors’ voices over all the things going on. The accompanying music was phenomenal. It is impressive to be able to have an orchestra pit perform live, and it really elevated the entire experience in a way a CD can’t replicate. When the spotlights weren’t blinding me every time they swung our way (again, probably my fault for choosing the front row), the set design and costumes were amazing. I found myself laughing at the visual gags just as much as anything. The performers committed to each of their roles, sticking every joke with a wave of laughter. There was so much going on during each scene that you could find something to laugh at just by watching the background characters throw snarky eye rolls at one another. It kept the performance entertaining the whole way through with very few sluggish moments. I will say I was not prepared for the stepladder scene or to watch Keri-Ann Denis ’25’s character popping pills on stage. I truly didn’t expect to be cackling one scene and then become anxious the next. It was hard to tell when the jokes were no longer jokes. I wasn’t really sure when we were allowed to leave at the end. Maybe it was just the night I went on, but there was an awkward moment after the lights came on when we all had to sit back down and watch gift bags being given out to some of the cast and tech crew. I appreciate celebrating people that helped in the production, but it seemed like they didn’t even know what was going on. Previous Next

Elliott Stein '23 < Back Film club is thinking of ending things Elliott Stein '23 Oct 7, 2022 Film Club's very first meeting of the year saw large student turnout, with a good number of new students and devoted leaders. The club is dedicated to watching and reviewing movies, so on September 24 the club met for the first time this year to watch I’m Thinking of Ending Things, directed by Charlie Kaufman. The movie is a psychological thriller filled with twists and turns. By the end of the movie, the audience is left with a sense of awe and confusion. Kaufman never offers any sense of closure and has stated in many interviews that he never intends to, setting it up so everyone has a different interpretation of the film after watching it. The audience follows three main characters, Isla, a middle aged woman, and her new boyfriend, Jake, as they go in the midst of a snow storm to meet Jake's parents who still live on his childhood farm. In between scenes of Jake and Isla going through Jake’s childhood home, the camera mirrors the story of a high school janitor as he gets into his car, drives to school, and watches a movie of a young couple played also by Jake and Isla. During dinner with Jake’s parents, wrinkles in story begin to emerge shedding questions on how Isla and Jake met, how Jake’s dog has disappeared, and why Isla’s art suddenly begins appearing on the walls. The most horrifying element comes in when time starts to warp. Jake’s mother and father age rapidly until eventually they are found lying on their death beds in just the span of a few minutes. After departing from the confusing, eerie dinner, Jake and Isla decide to leave per Islas request. They stop for ice cream at a local stand. A young female worker covered in rashes warns Isla to leave as soon as possible. Isla is immediately shaken but after questioning Jake once, decides to forget about it. The film slows as Jake takes them both to his old high school, where they encounter the janitor referenced earlier in the film. The movie suddenly turns into a sort of ballet. A different version of Jake and Isla dance through the high school’s freshly mopped halls to classical music in a passionate, romantic embrace. The janitor enters the scene in the gym attempting to fight off Jake in order to protect Isla, and the screen goes black as the janitor kills Jake. The film leaves the audience confused, full of questions, and with a slight headache. By examining the details viewers could piece together multiple possible storylines, the most popular among the group that the janitor was actually Jake many, many years in the future. Jake (the janitor, in this scenario) suffered from schizophrenia and loneliness made up the romance to give him something to live for before he died. The film was an interesting first watch for the club. It invited students to ponder and piece together their own storyline, starting many debates about Kaufman’s craft and his intentions. Previous Next

Rachel Zhang ‘28 < Back From canvas to campus Rachel Zhang ‘28 Oct 11, 2024 As seniors at Mercersburg Academy engage in the college application process, art students face unique challenges and opportunities. The Mercersburg News interviewed six seniors applying to college for six different art forms: Lucia Gamble ’25, a photographer; Stella Johnson ’25, a dancer; Alfred Ma ‘25, a euphonium player; Anne Sehon ‘25, a graphic designer; Syd Watts ‘25, a stage manager; and Maddie Weiss ‘25, an actor. They shared their experiences applying to college in the arts and offered insights on the journey. Weiss emphasized the importance of early involvement. “Something I wish I did was get involved sooner,” she reflected. “I think that limited my opportunities.” By starting early, students can build a robust portfolio and gain essential experience in their craft. Ma concurred, “[M]ost students… don't have to record other [music] pieces or have to do paintings. We do a lot more stuff, and with that obviously comes stress.” Weiss described the varied process of applying to arts colleges. “Typically, the process includes an interview where you introduce yourself to them, answering a couple of questions, such as ‘Who are you?’ and ‘Why do you want to pursue the craft?’” Concerning the audition Weiss said, “You usually bring in two monologues. They're usually contrasting, one is dramatic and then the other is comedic, or any modern/contemporary monologue and then a classical monologue.” There is also the extra step of submitting an art portfolio. Watts explained, “Basically what a portfolio is, is another application on top of everything else. So some schools require you to write another essay or an interview.” How exactly should one build a strong portfolio? For Gamble, it has not been as stressful because she not only prepared her applications early, but she is also very confident in her artwork. “I've been doing a lot of different art styles for a few years, so my portfolio is quite vast. I haven't found it as stressful as other people,” she said. Another crucial aspect of a successful application is guidance from college counselors and teachers. Weiss said, “Mr. Hulse… [has] been very helpful…. Before he came to Mercersburg, he worked at a performing arts school as a college counselor in Orange County, so he had a lot of experience with aspiring performers and drama students.” However, not all college counselors are experts, so students must turn to teachers. Watts said, “The reason I was able to get through my basic college applications was because of [my college counselor’s] help, but the portfolio I kind of have to do on my own. So, basically, I have to ask my art teachers… for their help with my portfolio because the college counselors don't have a lot of experience with that.” Johnson also pointed out, “The college counselors are a little bit less equipped to help arts students when they don't know much about the art form [students] are applying for, so it is difficult to give feedback on the actual arts pieces of the applications.” She added, “But that is why we also have arts teachers and other support systems.” The same experience also applied to Sehon. She mentioned arts teacher Sydney Caretti as a helpful resource. The journeys of Gamble, and Johnson, Ma, Sehon, Watts, and Weiss illustrate the dedication required to pursue the arts in college and continue doing something they are passionate about. As Watts said, “It's a lot of added stress, but in my opinion, it's so worth it because you get to do what you love.” Previous Next

Alice Yoo '27 < Back Behind the scenes with William Tutt Alice Yoo '27 May 10, 2024 William Thayer Tutt ’25 is famous on campus for his participation in the Stony Batter Players. He is best known for his passion for acting, participating in most Mercersburg's theatrical productions over the past two years. Tutt said, “With Clue , I feel like my best skills are seen there, but I had the most fun during The Importance of Being Earnest .” Tutt attributed his passion for acting to “the sense of community you are able to build” and “improving and creating my own spin on things.” Since his youth, Tutt was exposed to various movie and theatrical performances, especially with his sister, who is one of his “biggest acting inspirations,” along with “Jim Carry, Danny DeVito, Raul Julia, and Robin Williams.” Tutt explained, “For the longest time, I loved movies, but none of them really pushed me out onto the stage until I saw my sister act as a tree in The Wizard of Oz . I never really thought of acting, then I saw her as a tree and joined theater, falling in love with it.” Despite “falling in love” with acting, he faced some challenges as a person with dyslexia, ADHD, and dysgraphia. Tutt remarked, “These give me a hard time reading, writing, and paying attention.” These were also the reasons why his least favorite part of acting “would be having to memorize lines as a dyslexic.” However, he is always striving to grow both as a student and an actor. Kelly Dowling, Arts Department Head, said, “What's great about William is that in his career here he has always taken the note! He is definitely most comfortable being a comedic goofball exploring physical comedy, but I'm so impressed by how he challenges himself to express more dramatic and tender moments.” Dowling added an example from the recent musical, Ride the Cyclone , “where his character cried after singing about his lost love. He really went there and it was a very touching moment that we hope took the audience by surprise.” Jessica Doubell, Burgin Center Director of Operations, said, “It has been fun to watch William grow the last few years as an actor and as a human being. He has worked with two strong directors and when he has been given feedback about a performance, he listens with intent and works hard to take that critique and grow from it.” With his “great sense of timing,” according to Doubell, and the “challenges he gives to himself,” according to Dowling, Tutt has spreads positivity on campus and to members of the community. Not only does he show a great passion for acting, but he also makes the people around him joyful. Doubell added, “He is himself no matter where he is and who he is with. He makes the people around him feel safe to be themselves, which I personally think is an important trait in any human. He allows for honesty of human emotion and never makes you feel bad about it. I love it when we have a speaker because I always know at least one student will ask a question, and that student is always William.” Previous Next

Celia Kerf ‘25 < Back Tae is going way… to Art School! Celia Kerf ‘25 Sep 29, 2023 Dean Tae ‘24 is in the process of applying to art school for architecture. The Advanced Studies Studio Arts class he took his junior year allowed him to fully immerse himself in the arts and related work. The feedback Tae received from his seven peers in the class and the conversations they engaged in challenged him to continuously find ways to improve his work. “Art, especially painting, is a recollection of my memory. I try to capture the moment I’m in, and express it in different ways: texture, composition, color, and even the subjects,” Tae said. This process requires a lot of thought and attention to detail which challenges Tae to find deeper meaning within his work. Architecture always has a purpose but often leaves room for the viewer’s interpretation. “All structures of a building are placed in a way that they harmonize to hold up the whole, and it is the viewers’ job to render the purpose and the meaning of it,” Tae states. Before his sophomore year at Mercersburg, Tae had never painted, and he only took Painting I to fulfill his art credit requirements. Art teacher Sydney Carretti pushed Tae to take Painting II and later take Advanced Studies Studio Arts. Although Tae was unsure at first, he discovered his love for art through these classes and realized that art would forever be a part of his life. He expressed his gratitude by acknowledging Caretti and the significant impact she had on him, saying, “[Ms.] Caretti nurtured my inherent passion for art and challenged me to become a better artist. She guided me through a very transformative moment, and I am truly grateful for everything she has done for me. All wouldn’t have been possible without her guidance!” Over the summer, Tae attended the Summer Architecture Program at Columbia University and diligently worked on his portfolio. He is still developing and polishing his pieces as he is determined to put his best foot forward. Tae is now looking to pursue a career in art and architecture and is applying to various fine art schools that offer studio space and encourage collaboration. This includes Cooper Union, Cornell, Pratt, RISD, Syracuse, and Tufts, among many others. Previous Next

Shubhlean Kaur '27 < Back Arts Showcase: diversity in creativity Shubhlean Kaur '27 Oct 4, 2024 This past Saturday, Mercersburg Academy’s Fall Arts Showcase served as the year’s artistic kickoff during Family And Alumni Weekend. The night began with a preview of Stony Batter’s production of Puffs , an entertaining twist on the plot of Harry Potter from the perspective of the Hufflepuff house. The scene introduced many new student actors as well as veterans. Ary Small ‘27, the narrator of the show, said, “I enjoyed being able to perform for the parents because some might not be able to come to other performances.” The full production of Puffs will go up on October 25 and 26 at 7:30 p.m. in the Simon Theatre. Following the thespians, Chorale showcased their voices and talent with two pieces. New director, Ben Demerath said, “It was a great experience, the kids did great. It’s really amazing to see how much they can do in just a few weeks.” The first piece was “Siyahamb,” a South African folk song, and the second song, “No Shortcuts” by Heather Maloney, involved the audience laying down the rhythm for the singers. Members of Advanced Students Musical Theater then took the stage to perform an act from the musical Mamma Mia , involving acting, singing, and dancing. The audience received the number “Voulez-Vous” energetically. Next came the dance pieces. Caroline Hobbs ‘26 and Elizabeth Orders ‘25 presented their duet, which they choreographed to “Your Needs, My Needs” by Noah Kahan. Members of the dance PGA danced to “Bette Davis Eyes” by BOY. The Fall Dance Concert will feature these pieces and the entire show on November 9 at 7:30 pm in the Simon Theatre. To close off the night, the Jazz Band performed “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Soloists Zara Kimotho ‘28 and Ethan Stiffler ‘25, displayed their skills along with those of the entire band. Tristan Paulette ‘27 noted, “There was definitely energy from the audience and the players, which I think really brought out the best of the players, especially in their dynamics and how they worked together. I just thought it was really good.” The galleries of the Burgin Center for the Arts featured works from a range of visual art mediums: painting, ceramics, photography, and drawing. Art teacher Kristen Pixler said, “It’s really early in this work, and I’m always so incredibly amazed at what they can pull off in less than a month.” The entire Fall Arts Showcase was an important way for parents to see their children's artistic abilities on the stage and around the Burgin. With the Fall Arts Showcase completed, the performing arts groups are now preparing for their next performances. Paulette explained, “I’m really looking forward to performing on and off campus this year and I think it’s awesome what the arts groups have been able to make and do this year.” Previous Next

Rachael Zhang '28 < Back "Save the music" charity concert Rachael Zhang '28 Apr 25, 2025 Last Friday, the charity concert “Save the Music” fundraiser was held in the Simon Theatre. The event showcased a variety of musical acts, including vocal performances and purely instrumental music. The concert was organized and hosted by Claire Chow ’26. A notable highlight was the appearance of a special guest, former music teacher Bryan Morgan ’07. Chow explained, “I've had the same singing teacher since I was six in Hong Kong, and she was like a second mother to me. She had a very big impact on my life... because she was always there for me and encouraging me. Last spring break, her daughter passed away... and so I came up with this idea in a way to remember her.” As the main faculty organizers, Burgin Center Director of Operations Jessica Doubell and Director of Experimental Education Emily Parsons had a clear vision for the event. “Even here in Mercersburg, at the elementary school, they cut the strings program because they don't have the funds, they don't have a teacher. So music education everywhere is at risk of not existing anymore,” said Doubell. Parsons brought her fundraising expertise to the table. She said, “Claire did a great job... I don't know how much she's raised so far, but it's at least $800. I think she's gonna hit $1,000 pretty easily.” For the performers, it was also an amazing experience. The show-stealing band ‘The Daves’, composed of Bella Levina ’25, Ethan Stiffler ’25, Billy Quick ’25, Phuong Vo ’27, and physics teacher Dave Holzwarth, elicited laughs from the audience as they performed in colorful Hawaiian shirts and baseball caps, a nod to Holzwarth’s signature look. The group faced challenges while preparing for the concert. Levina commented, “We met only a total of two times before we had to perform.” Despite limited rehearsals, the performance still went smoothly. Quick added, “I didn't play just to have fun, but because personally, it made me really happy to see that Dave was really happy to play with all of us. I also just enjoyed playing music for other people.” Another highlight was a duet featuring Addie Heldman ’25 and Pedro Abranches ’26 who performed a rendition of Bob Dylan’s “It Ain’t Me Babe” reminiscent of Dylan’s own duets with folk legend Joan Baez. Other performers, such as Annie Wu ’27 and Alli Caretti ’26, also shared impressive performances. Their incentives for getting up on stage differed however. Wu, a guzheng player, said, “I wanted to let people know what this [traditional Chinese] instrument is.” Caretti simply hoped that the audience “got to hear some new songs that they may have not heard before and can appreciate all the work everyone who was a part of the show put in. I also hope they realized the impact that music can have on young kids and maybe even have been moved to donate. And had fun of course.” In the end, Chow reports raising over $1000 from the concert with donations continuing to pour in. She looks to repeat this initiative next year, saying, “I hope that people can take away from this experience the importance of music education, and how even small donations or efforts can make a big difference in other people's lives. Music can truly change someone's life and impact them in ways beyond imagination.” Previous Next

Rachael Zhang '28 < Back Taking a Gamble Rachael Zhang '28 Jan 24, 2025 Though only in her first year at Mercersburg, Lucia Gamble ‘25 has made her mark across Mercersburg’s broad arts department. By her own account, she has experienced rich and fulfilling growth in the arts at Mercersburg. “My time has been really positive. There are so many opportunities here. I've been able to try a range of different subjects, which has broadened my horizons,” Gamble said. She has explored everything from sculpture, ceramics, videography, and p hotography to dance and chorale. Kelsey Rupp, Gamble’s dance instructor, spoke highly of the artist: "When Lucia came in this year as a postgrad, her willingness to jump in was truly remarkable. She has a positive p resence in the dance studios, always eager to work hard.” She further commended Gamble for her positive energy in the dance studios and her willingness to make the most of the opportunities available through Mercersburg's dance program, all of which have contributed to Gamble’s technical and performative progress. “When she started, she didn't have much prior dance experience, but her confidence has soared. I've seen her excel in j azz dance, and her ballet training has also improved greatly. Her strength lies in her ability to adapt, learn, and take feedback,” said Rupp. “I'm really proud of her and wish we had more time.” Nevertheless, Gamble’s art journey has not been without its challenges. “With ceramics, it was hard to pick up at first. It was more challenging than I expected, but with practice, it got easier,” she said. She also had to adapt to the structure of course offerings at Mercersburg in contrast to the United Kingdom, where “you don't have as much free range to choose what you wanna do; back home, you choose something, and then the teacher approves it and then you go ahead with that. At Mercersburg Academy, you receive an assignment and then you complete it.” One of her greatest accomplishments has been her work in Arts Practicum, in which she experimented with a photographic print technique called cyanotypes, leading to impressive results despite her inexperience. Gamble has moved on to linocuts, turning her photos into carvings and printing them with ink. After graduating from Mercersburg Academy, Gamble plans to study commercial photography and journalism, potentially at the University of the Arts London or another university in her home country. She credits her teachers at Mercersburg and her previous school as well as photographer Andy Gotts as her greatest influences. For younger students interested in the arts, Gamble offered, “Try as many elements of the arts as you can” and “Put yourself out there.” She suggested, “Just because you haven'tdone something before doesn't mean it's not for you. It takes time to develop and hone a skill. Make the most of every opportunity.” Previous Next

Devin Rotz '25 < Back It would be "Beautiful" Devin Rotz '25 Dec 9, 2022 Excitement was stirred within the Mercersburg community due to the Dance concert and Gaslight play. Now, many students await the Winter Dance Concert as well as musical. Recently, Kelly Dowling, the Director of Theatre, announced significant changes to Stony Batter’s Winter production. Dowling announced that they would no longer be performing the musical Les Miserables but instead be performing Heathers: the Musical. Les Mis and Heathers are similar in cast size but have major differences in popularity and story. Dowling said, “ Les Mis is really a Broadway classic that will still be talked about decades in the future… Heathers is more of a cult hit. It has actually never had a Broadway run, but it really connects with current teenagers, and, of course, it is a bit edgier.” Les Mis is also noted by Dowling to be the more difficult of the two performances. Dowling said, " I made a mistake picking Les Mis . It was well-intentioned, but it turned out that I made a bad choice.” Heathers, however, has more dancing. To those who may have been looking forward to the production of Les Mis, it will be making a comeback. Dowling said, “ Les Mis will find its time eventually when the moment is right.” In Stony Batter’s productions, the biggest factor in their success is the students who make them happen. Members of the upcoming winter production shared their thoughts about what it felt like to get through the change and what it means to them. Tyerra Rooffener ‘23 said, “ While Les Mis is a classic, in my opinion, Heathers is more fun for both the actors and the audience and I’m really excited to put it on for everyone…The set design [of Les Mis ] was going to be very unique and I was excited to see it come together. ” Another member of Stony Batter, Kerri-Ann Denis ‘25, shared similar thoughts saying, “ While Les Mis is a classic and I am sad to see it go, I am very happy to produce something that is catered towards the student body.” Both shared the similar idea that, while they will miss Les Mis , Heathers seems to appeal more right now to the students of Mercersburg. Dowling also said “Our program is very lucky to have their trust to make this show possible.” She is also thankful for the support and leadership from the Head of School Quentin McDowell, and the interim Associate Head of School for Student Life Jen Craig. Previous Next

Maddie Chu ‘27 < Back A magical performance Maddie Chu ‘27 Nov 1, 2024 On Friday and Saturday, October 25 and 26, Mercersburg’s Stony Batter Players performed their fall production of Puffs in the Simon Theatre. The play is a “parody on a certain movie series with wizarding magic, but for copyright reasons we cannot say” according to Keagan Killinger ’28, who played Oliver Rivers, a lively math whiz from New Jersey. He added, “It's through the perspective of a house called Puffs and they're really a bunch of caring, kind, a little bit dumb people going on adventures everyday.” The play chronicles seven years of schooling ending with an elaborate battle scene. Nate Cumiskey ’28 starred as eleven-year-old Wayne Hopkins from New Mexico, who, in 1991, was “just playing his Game Boy one day when he got a letter that says that he's a wizard and needs to go to a school for magic in England.” Cumiskey added that after arriving and “finding out that magic is real,” Wayne was “determined to try to become the greatest wizard that has ever lived; emphasis on ‘try.’” Cumiskey and Killinger were joined by Seren Gibbs ’28 comprising the main trio of the show. Gibbs noted that her character, Megan Jones, was “very emo” and that she “wears a lot of interesting clothing and interesting makeup.” Regarding preparation for the show, cast members came to the consensus that it involved “a lot of repeating and doing the same stuff over and over. There’s some PGAs where we just sit at a table and repeat lines over and over again to help the memorization process.” Ary Small ‘27, the narrator, added that it involved “a lot of accent work” and “just a lot of knowing your lines, knowing where you have to go, when and where and just the dynamics with everyone on stage.” Killinger said, “We would go back to our dorms and have to study our lines and memorize everything. It took a lot, like a hundred hours.” Their hard work truly paid off on opening night; according to Small, “Everything went really well.” The actors also agreed that the set was wonderful. “One of the most beautiful sets I've ever seen,” said Small. “I have to give tech crew a hand because they put in so much work. We’re just trying to work up to what they gave us.” The basilisk prop was also a huge hit and elicited a lot of excitement from the crowd. It was operated by Emmie Kelley ’28 and was made from a “mattress topper and a cloth,” said Small. After a terms’ worth of work, the Stony Batter crew of “one senior, one upper middler, two lower middlers, and nice freshmen” as well as “ten students from other PGAs, several tech crew members, and a few faculty” have bonded well, according to director Matt Maurer. Cumiskey said, “Having such a colorful cast of so many different personalities and all have their own basic gags just makes it really entertaining to watch.” Alex Ferrari ’28, who played J. Finch Fletchley, said, “All my castmates are now some of my closest friends and Mr. Maurer and Ms. Doubell have been amazing.” Previous Next

Cara Buck ‘29 < Back First on the dance floor Cara Buck ‘29 Feb 20, 2026 On February 7 and 8, Mercersburg Academy’s Pre-Professional Dance Team traveled to Altoona, Pennsylvania to attend the Motion Dance Competition and Convention at the Grier School. Competing against talented dancers from across the region, the team showcased pieces they have been refining since the fall term. This annual contest is the only event in which Mercersburg Dance competes against other teams. Preparing for a competition requires a different approach than preparing for a performance at home. Caroline Hobbs ’26 compared the experience to sports: “When you are preparing for a show, it’s like having home-field advantage. It’s different at a competition because we are going up against dancers who have experienced that stage. Especially at Grier, the stage really differs from the stage here.” Performing in an unfamiliar environment challenged the dancers to quickly adapt their spacing, formations, and stage presence. Dance Captain Manika Dalai ’26 emphasized another key difference: the audience. She said, “You’re also preparing for different eyes. Because at home, the majority of the audience doesn’t understand dance or technique, whereas at the competition, you’re being judged by professional dancers.” As a result, rehearsals shifted from focusing primarily on entertainment to refining technique and precision. Dance Director Kelsy Rupp noted the team’s greatest challenge: “I wish we had more time to perfect our dances and to get our team dancing and working together.” Despite the limited time to adjust and the added pressure of a professional setting, the dancers still managed to rise to the occasion and display the best versions of themselves and their art. Expressing optimism about the team’s growth, Paris Zhang ’27 said, “Even though we only rehearsed for a few months and the first time entering as a group performance, I think we were pretty well prepared.” The frigid weekend proved highly successful, earning commendations for all five pieces entered. Sub Oculus, a contemporary piece choreographed by Rupp, won Gold ranking and 1st place in the Senior Duo/Trio category. 15 Months, choreographed by Hobbs, also won Gold ranking and 1st place in the Senior Group category. The piece represented the themes of community, hope, and belonging. I Miss You, choreographed by Michela Smallwood, won Gold ranking and 2nd place in the Senior Group category. Long Ride Home, choreographed by Rupp, won Silver ranking and 3rd place in the Senior Group category. The last commended piece was Hey Pachuco, choreographed by Tara Nalley, originally featured in the Fall Dance concert, which earned Silver ranking. Individual dancers were also recognized for their excellence. Dalai was selected as a member of the Motion Elite Dance Company for the weekend and received a 100% scholarship to Point Park University's International Summer Dance Program, along with a $250 scholarship to Earl Mosley's Diversity of Dance Summer Intensive. Renee Jin ’26 was awarded a full scholarship to attend the Motion Dance Convention in 2027. Rupp reflected, “Jocelyn Hrzic always throws a fantastic event with great guest artists. We love attending and being a part of their dance community.” The Motion Competition and Convention marked not only a weekend of competition but also a meaningful step for the development of the Mercersburg Pre-Professional Dance team. Previous Next

James Coors ‘27 < Back A new voice on campus James Coors ‘27 Sep 20, 2024 As everyone is adjusting to a new year on campus, many have noticed a new face in the Burgin Center for the Arts. That face belongs to Ben Demerath. Demerath has been teaching since 1996 and in a variety of subjects. Demerath recounted, “We started out at the Bement School and then Williston Northampton for fifteen years. After a great experience at a rural public school, I coached tennis at Deerfield Academy, followed by a fun year back at Bement before moving on to Eaglebrook School for five years. And now, here I am at Mercersburg!” Demerath loves teaching, especially “having a front-row seat for students finding their passion while helping them succeed.” Outside of his Mercersburg responsibilities, Demerath is a true Renaissance man. He said, “In my free time, I like to walk, bike, hike, ski, skate, pass, catch, shoot, hit on the courts, listen, play, and read,” so keep an eye out for him around (and off) campus. On campus, Demerath has a wide range of responsibilities. He said, “In the classroom, I’m working with singers primarily, and helping with the band program as well. I’m also an adviser to eleventh-grade boys, coaching football, and I’m one of the dorm faculty in Fowle Hall.” This is Demerath’s first time living in a girls dorm, which is definitely a big adjustment, but he seems to be enjoying it so far. “It’s a fantastic place to be and a great community within our community! Having lived in a ninth-grade boys dorm for many years, it’s nice to see how the other half lives. We really like our apartment and my commute to work is amazingly short so... what’s not to love, right?” One of Demerath’s most important roles on campus is helping direct the acapella groups, Magalia and Octet. The Mercersburg Academy community can look forward to seeing his hard work with these groups in the Parent’s Weekend Arts Showcase and Fall Pops Concert. Demerath said, “I’m so thrilled to be here and can’t thank everyone enough for the warm welcome and support we’ve felt from the start.” Previous Next