Paul W. Bryant High

At PWBHS, we are fortunate to be the home of the Tuscaloosa Fine Arts Academy. To find out more about this wonderful program available at Bryant to all TCS students who meet the qualifications, please visit the TCS district webpage at this link.

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Art

Program Information: The Fine Art track for TFAA is designed to expose the art students to a variety of areas of study in Art. We provide opportunities for our students with visiting artists, college exposures, and exposure to unique mediums.

Instructors:

Natalie Roig-McKnight
Kaysha Moore-Davis
Olivia Williams

Course Offerings

Visual Art TFAA Major BOLD=required
Year	Fall	Spring
1	Art I	Art II
2	Drawing II or Painting II	Intro to Photography
3	Art III	Visual Art Elective
4	Visual Art Elective	AP Art

	Visual Art TFAA Electives
	3D	Drawing II
	Ceramics II	Painting II
	Drawing III	Painting III
	Intro to Photography	Graphic Design I
	Photography II	Fashion Design I
	Photography III	Graphic Design II

Awards and Recognition

Congress Women Terry Sewell State Art Competition Winner
Scholastic Art and Writing Gold Winner Photography
AP Credit Achieving

Audition Requirements - Students will submit a digital portfolio of three or more artwork pieces.

Additional Information: All TFAA Art students will be required to take and participate in the AP Art course in their senior year.

Choir
Program Information: TFAA choir students focus on developing singing skills in sight-reading and vocal technique, as well as exploring languages, styles of music, theory, history, and pedagogy. These students participate in All-State festivals, honors choir, state assessments, and community performances.

Instructors: Hilen Wilson

Course Offerings: Mixed Chorus 1-4, Chamber Chorus 1-4

Awards and Recognition:
Audition Requirements: Prepared piece of your choice (with or without accompaniment), pitch retention, range check
Commercial Music
Program Information: Commercial music is the business of music. The ultimate goal of the Commercial Music program is to teach students how to create, perform, respond, and connect to all types of music, with the focus being on the Popular Music (rock/hip-hop/R&B/pop) of today. At the conclusion of the program, students should have both a portfolio of work as well as relevant experience for entrance into a post-secondary program or employment in the field.

Instructors: Thomas Furlough and Michelle McDonald

Course Offerings: Levels 1-4: Guitar, Bass, Drum Set, Keyboard, Performing Ensemble known as Studio 106, Music Productions (Levels 1, 2), Song Writing (Levels 1.2)

Awards and Recognition: Student work showcased at music industry conferences.
1. Alabama Vocal Association District II Outstanding Choral Student Competition:
2. Alabama Vocal Association District II Music Education Scholarship Competition:
3. University of Alabama Honor Choir:
4. University of Alabama at Birmingham Honor Choir:
5. Alabama All-State Choral Festival:
6. Alabama Vocal Association State Choral Performance Assessment:
7. Alabama Vocal Association Honor Choir:
8. Alabama Bicentennial Capitol Performing Group, 2018
9. Alabama Music Educators Association Conference Lobby Performance Group, 2018
10. Alabama Association of School Boards Conference Choir, 2019
11. University of Montevallo Men's Honor Choir
12. Alabama Vocal Association Solo & Ensemble Festival:
Audition Requirements: Successful completion of a level one instrumental course or a performance audition on guitar, bass, drum set, or keyboard.
Dance
Program Information: TFFA Dance Mission: The mission of the Tuscaloosa Fine Arts Academy Dance Program is to prepare and inspire young individuals for college and professional careers in dance though consistent dance training, high expectations, literacy through the arts, exposure to various dance styles, and performance opportunities.”

Instructors: Ms. Celeste Crawford

Course Offerings:
1. 1. Introduction to Dance I
  2. Intro to Jazz Dance I
  3. Dance II,
  4. Ballet II,
  5. Dance III - Advanced,
  6. Modern III
  7. Choreography/ Dance Composition I
  8. Choreography/ Dance Composition II
Awards and Recognition

Audition Requirements: Arrive early to sign in & warm- up, dress properly (preferably all black dance attire), hair secured out of the face, positive attitude.

Additional Information: National Dance Honor Society
Instrumental Music
Selwyn W. Reed, Director

The TFAA instrumental music program exists to develop enrolled students in grades 9-12 in mastering the Art of instrumental performance through private instrumental study, music theory, music history and practical instrumental experiences.

Recent graduates of the TFAA Instrumental Music Program have accumulated scholarships in excess of 3 million dollars. Several of these students have chosen music as their college major or minor. We are excited about the opportunities that our graduates are afforded and we would like to think that their exposure to instrumental music here is partly to blame.

To be admitted to the TFAA, students first apply by the deadline date which is posted by the Tuscaloosa City Schools early spring semester each year. Once an application has been submitted, students interested in instrumental music are required to complete an audition with the I.M. director.

Audition Requirements are as follows:
- Being enrolled in an instrumental prior to submitting the application.
- Perform a minimum of 7 major scales with related Arpeggios.
- Sight Read Music Level 1-5.
- Perform a short prepared piece.
Students who have successfully completed the audition process are eligible to participate in any of the following instrumental ensembles listed below:
- Concert Band (1-4)
- Symphonic Band
- Marching Band (1-4)
- Jazz Band (1-4) (TFAA Elite Ensemble)
Each of the above ensembles has participated in state-sanctioned events and has received a Superior Rating. They have all participated in various community functions, school and district events. The I.M program has hosted the Marine Band, Alabama A&M University WInd Ensemble, Stillman College Jazz Band, Shelton State Community College Jazz Ensemble, The University of Alabama School of Music Professors (Performance Group) and a host of professional musicians who sometimes drop in to share their talents with students of TFAA.
Orchestra
Orchestra
1. Program Information: The orchestra program at the Tuscaloosa Fine Arts Academy is home to student performers on the violin, viola, cello, and string bass. Students perform on instruments in large and small ensembles as well as pursuing solo and chamber music opportunities. In addition to the performing opportunities offered, students engage in music theory, composing and arranging, exploring western and non-western musical experiences as well as developing lifelong musicianship skills appropriate to continue making music beyond high school.
1. Instructors: Mr. Stephen Finley is the instructor for this course.
1. Course Offerings: The course is offered in four levels over two semesters per year. In the fall semester students enroll in Orchestra 1, Orchestra 2, Orchestra 3, and Orchestra 4. In the spring semesters students will enroll in Chamber ensemble 1, Chamber ensemble 2, Chamber ensemble 3, and Chamber ensemble 4
1. Awards and Recognition: Students in this program have participated in local music performance assessments and consistently earned superior status. Every two years, students are given an opportunity to travel to a national music festival.
1. Audition Requirements: Students entering the performing arts program must show a willingness to excel at music through dedicated practice and continued participation at advanced levels. Students who enter the program will be required to complete 2 solo recitals, 2 chamber music recitals, complete a digital portfolio, and audition for Alabama's All State Orchestra each year before graduation.
Other Program Information: Students entering this program should have adequate control over performing pitches in first position, have a comfortable bow grip, and be comfortable reading music in the first position. It is highly encouraged that students in this program have a disposition to continue to practice their instrument outside of formal class settings.
Theatre

Program Information: PWB High School’s Theatre Program continues to accomplish the journey that all young artists must realize – the continuous journey to make your art your own. To put it more plainly, PWB artists will always strive to “Make it You.” These three words embolden our program and our students to focus on their own personal journey through the arts. Much like life, you cannot look at anyone else and compare journeys. Our Theatre Program must continue to grow by glancing at the past while reaching for the future. We will create and nurture our most authentic self. This program will look to produce honest and truthful work that allows students to not get trapped in a box – but rather allow them to acknowledge their own “box” and learn to make it their own through artistic challenges and personal growth.

Instructors: Theron Taylor Montgomery - Mr. Montgomery was born in Troy, Alabama and fell in love with Theatre his junior year of high school and never turned back! He received his Bachelors’ Degree in Theatre with a minor in Performance Techniques from Troy University in the summer of 2020. During his time at Troy, he was lucky enough to perform in multiple shows, win second place in the Irene Ryan acting competition for Region IV at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, and perform in Pietrasanta, Italy for the DAP Festival during his study abroad. While he has been performing collegiately, professionally, and touring for seven years, he has zero experience of teaching! So, he is very excited about this new challenge to help grow young artists and give back to the art form that has given him so much!

Courses: Theatre Lab, Theatre I, Acting Techniques II, Musical Theatre, Theatre II, Technical/Production Class

Awards - Best Studio Performance

Audition materials to get into the program: 30 Second Monologue, 30 Second song, A Funny Story from Your Life, Clear Understanding of Professionalism, Clear Understanding of Theatre Etiquette