Today is a special day in the New Hampton School community. While art classrooms, stages, and studios are frequently bustling with students, it is a commendable undertaking to spend an entire day as a community focused on and engaging in the arts. Director of Visual and Performing Arts Amy Wilson with the support of alumni, faculty, students, and friends, organizes this event each year. To end the day, we joined together for reflection before dinner and the opening night of the spring play.
Celebrating artistic expression
To begin the Art Awards ceremony, Contemporary Performance Lab took to the stage to perform “How to Save a Life” by The Fray. Interludes throughout the ceremony included Adriana ’25 and Hayden ’25 sharing this year’s yearbook dedication to Ms. Corselli, a sneak preview of tonight’s play—She Kills Monsters—before launching into the Art Awards. In turn, each arts faculty member provided insight into the year our community has experienced. The rising stars in studio arts, music, and theatre, we learned the meaningful stories behind the art created among us. From the classrooms to the gallery and stages, each piece had a story and a person behind them that demonstrates not only creativity, but more importantly a passion for artistic expression and a commitment to growth in their art. Please join us in congratulating all of the honorees!
An Exciting Year Ahead
Mx. E-K, Mx. K-D, and Mr. Cahoon had the honor of announcing the theme and slate of shows for the theatre program’s 2025-2026 season. They noted the year’s theme of “Finding Your Place” which will see each of the plays focusing on tones of self-discovery and belonging. Students interested in participating should watch for details in “News” following the opening of the 2025-2026 academic year in September.
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee – Fall 2025
An eclectic group of six mid-pubescents vie for the spelling championship of a lifetime. While candidly disclosing hilarious and touching stories from their home lives, the tweens spell their way through a series of (potentially made-up) words, hoping never to hear the soul-crushing, pout-inducing, life un-affirming “ding” of the bell that signals a spelling mistake. Six spellers enter; one speller leaves a champion! At least the losers get a juice box.
Mean Girls – Winter 2026
Cady Heron may have grown up on an African savanna, but nothing prepared her for the wild and vicious ways of her strange new home: suburban Illinois. How will this naïve newbie rise to the top of the popularity pecking order? By taking on The Plastics, a trio of lionized frenemies led by the charming but ruthless Regina George. Cady and her friends devise a “Revenge Party” to end Regina’s reign with Cady going undercover as an aspiring Plastic. When the lines between the real Cady and her Plastic self get blurred, she must find her way back to herself and her true friends.
Puffs – Spring 2026
For seven years a certain boy wizard went to a certain Wizard School and conquered evil. This, however, is not his story. This is the story of the Puffs… who just happened to be there too. A tale for anyone who has never been destined to save the world. This clever and inventive play “never goes more than a minute without a laugh” (Nerdist) giving you a new look at a familiar adventure from the perspective of three potential heroes just trying to make it through a magic school that proves to be very dangerous for children. Alongside them are the Puffs, a group of well-meaning, loyal outsiders with a thing for badgers.
2025 Art Awards
Congratulations to the following students who were recognized with Art Awards:
Excellence in Graphic Design Award: Anthony Hester ’26
Excellence in Ceramics Awards: Maddy Isabelle ’25, Thai Uyen Chu ’25, Kayleigh Michaud-Nolan ’25
Emerging Artist in Photography Award: Jesse Jiang ’27
Artist’s Spirit in Photography: You Wu ’27
Portfolio Award in Studio Art: Angel Liu ’25
Emerging Artist in Studio Art: Marta Alum Abril ’27
Artistic Vision Award: Karolina Kasturova ’26
Spirit of an Artist Award: Eric Zhang ’27
Best Behind the Scenes Award: Chase Graves ’26
Distinguished Performer Award: Alycia Leriche ’25
Director’s Award: Jake Stevens ’26
Most Improved Musician Award: Elise Arvidson ’25
Music Citizen Award: Matteo Vecchione ’25
Career Musician Award: Mia LeBrun ’25
Most Improved Musician Award: Jessie Jiang ’27
Whole Artist Award: Asa Gilman ’26
Diploma with Distinction in the Arts
This year marks the first graduating class of the Diplomas with Distinction in the Arts. Ms. Wilson and the arts department extend their congratulations to the seven seniors who have fulfilled the requirements for this distinction. Please join us in honoring the following seniors, as well as the rising classes of student-artists seeking candidacy in the years ahead.
Class of 2025 Inaugural Graduates:
Jocelyn Fan ’25
Alisa Koroleva ’25
Vic Greve ’25
Mia LeBrun ’25
Alycia Leriche ’25
Claire Levesque ’25
Miles Sargent ’25
Candidates for the Class of 2026:
Mary Banker ’26
Asa Gilman ’26
Izzy Baskins ’26
Estelle Jennings ’26
Candidates for the Class of 2027:
Adia Robinson-Woods ’27
Inaya Robinson-Woods ’27
Eric Zhang ’27
Jayden Jones ’27
Casey Song ’27
Ava Perry ’27
Avery Greene ’27
Sarah Pollard ’27
Ezra Grehan ’27
