Ballard High School Performing Arts programs get very little District funding
Sadly, performing arts programs at schools are way underfunded. At the Ballard High School Foundation, we make up for a lot of that lack of sufficient funding with some considerable support.
A great Performing Arts program starts with great instruction
The Ballard High School Music program is professionally led by Jay Gillespie, Courtney Rowley, and Daniel Valdez
Mr. Gillespie, upon his exit from the Navy Band, earned a music education degree at the University of Washington. He has been at Ballard High School since 2020 as Director of Bands.
Ms. Rowley earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Voice Performance and Choral Music Education from the University of Michigan and a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from Michigan State University. She has been at Ballard High School since 2007 as Director of Choirs and is the Ballard Performing Arts Department Chair.
Mr. Valdez earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Double Bass Performance from the University of California at Santa Cruz, and a Master of Music and Human Learning degree from the University of Texas at Austin. He has been at Ballard High School since 2022 as Director of Orchestras.
The BHS music program is one of the most successful programs in the state. Ballard Music Alumni have attended many of the nation’s most prestigious music schools and universities, including the Berklee College of Music (Boston), University of Michigan, Northwestern, Oberlin, The New School (NYC), Stanford, University of Oregon, University of Washington, Cornish College of the Arts, Pacific Lutheran University, Point Park University (Pittsburgh), Loyola University, and Chapman University.
Ballard High School Foundation support for the Music Department includes the current effort to update LED lighting, as well as wireless microphones and support systems in the Earl Kelly Performing Arts Center. Also, over its many years of support, the Foundation has helped fund concert and marching uniforms for close to 300 students, a state-of-the-art sound system in the Performing Arts Center, a new grand piano for the stage, choral risers and acoustical shells, and numerous musical instruments.
The Ballard High School Theatre Department is led by
Graduates of Ballard High School Theatre have gone on to major acting and performance schools in the country which have led them to Broadway, film, and television.
The Foundation has served the Theatre program greatly by helping fund the new sound system, wireless microphones, and LED lighting in the Performing Arts Center. For complete details on Ballard Performing Arts, visit the www.ballardperformingarts.org