Leslie Della Valle
Director of Fine Arts
Hamden Public Schools
60 Putnam Avenue
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Hamden, CT 06517
ldellavalle@hamden.org
203-407-2215
Visual Arts
The Hamden High School Visual Arts Department works hard to encourage the creativity of every student. While we believe it is important to teach the principles and techniques of art, it is equally important to encourage the process of creativity. Hands on experience in the fine arts provides our students with benefits such as promoting self-esteem, aesthetic awareness, cultural exposure, improved emotional expression, as well as an appreciation of diversity. We offer a wide array of courses for students including Art 1, Art 2, Advanced Art, AP Art and Design, Ceramics, Photography, Multicultural Arts and Digital Arts.
Music
The Hamden High School Music Department is a comprehensive music program. The curricular programs include two sections of concert band, a string orchestra, a section of percussion (band) and a concert choir. The marching band is an academic part of our concert band program. The extra-curricular ensembles include chamber chorus, jazz big band, and jazz combo, and a string ensemble. The music program also collaborates with the theater department to produce their spring musical.
In addition to the academic ensembles, the HHS music program offers many music classes including AP music theory, music theory, music technology, and piano lab. All music classes offer performance opportunities as well as extensions to their learning which can lead to level 9 credit, and Hamden High School Music also runs a chapter of the national Tri-M Music Honors Society.
Theatre
The Hamden High School Theatre Department has been well known throughout the state and region for many years. The department has always worked to provide students the opportunity to explore the worlds of acting and technical theatre, through classes and after-school productions. Students work together to examine the various dimensions of characters through analysis and class discussions. Along with classroom performance and working from scripts students explore a variety of time periods and cultures. They learn to see things from the characters point of view and learn the importance of building relationships between the characters and the audience. The theatre department believes that educational theatre should be a training ground for students. A focus on creativity, communication, empathy, safety and professionalism helps prepare students for things to come later in life, whether in theatre or other careers. The Hamden High Mainstage Ensemble provides students the opportunity to put their learning into practice with a play and musical each year.
