John (Xi) Cong ‘23

John marched with the Bluecoats Drum & Bugle Corp this summer as a member
of teamhands. Bluecoats creates performing arts experiences that inspire, educate, and promote excellence as we enrich the lives of young people, and those who encounter their art. Serving as a conductor in the corp, John travelled with the Bluecoats for their 80-day national tour in the US. The Bluecoats placed 2nd in Drum Corp International World Championship 2023. John was the drum major
of the Marching Spartans during his senior year at GAC. John attends Georgia Tech and is majoring in Industrial Engineering.

“The GAC band program provided resources that helped me develop my musicianship. I’d like to thank Mr. Wallace Conrath and Dr. Marcus Miller for their patience and guidance throughout my music career at GAC.” - John Cong

Young Artists Shining Brightly

Exploring the world of arts from a young age is a journey filled with the wonder of a first stroke of color on canvas, the excitement of stepping onto a stage, or the magic of discovering your voice. GAC fosters early artistic passions and talents, ensuring that our youngest Spartans have the chance to grow into accomplished artists and performers.

THEATRE THROUGH THE AGES

Lower School: In addition to their annual grade-level production, Students in
K4 to 5th grade have the opportunity to participate in two musicals each school year through Discovery Theatre, one of GAC’s many after-school activity options. Last year, students brought “Annie Jr.” and “Peter Pan Jr.” to life, igniting the stage with their energy and talent.

Middle School: Our Middle School students have a range of options to immerse themselves in the world of theatre. They can opt for a theatre class as an elective during the school day, which allows them to participate in the One Act Play and class productions or they can audition for the Middle School Musical outside of school hours.

Congratulations, Middle School Theatre

Congratulations to our Middle School Theatre team for winning first place in the 2023 Georgia Theatre Conference (GTC) Middle School One Act Play competition. This distinguished event is the sole middle school one act play competition in the state, and GAC’s production of “Miss Nelson is Missing” triumphed against competitors from across Georgia.

High School: The arts continue to thrive at the high school level. Last year, our
high school students performed the One Act Play, “Alice in Wonderland,” and
were awarded the 5A Region Champions at the GHSA One Act Festival.
Moreover, Amari Riley (Class of 2024), earned recognition as the Best
Supporting Performer for her portrayal of the Queen of Hearts. The High
School musical is open to all students to audition. In February of 2023,
students presented “Matilda” and competed at the Georgia High School
Musical Theatre Awards, famously known as “The Shulers.” They won the Showstopper award for their performance of “Revolting Children” and even had the opportunity to perform this number on live television at the Shuler Awards Ceremony.

And we're LIVE! From Elementary to High School

LOWER SCHOOL

Our 5th-grade students participate in the Elementary Broadcast program, known as “Spartan News”. This program is produced, directed, and recorded by the entire 5th grade throughout the school

year. It’s a hands-on experience where students take turns as newscasters, read from teleprompters, and operate the technical aspects of the show. The program not only hones their

presentation skills but also teaches them technical, directing, and leadership skills.

MIDDLE SCHOOL

In Middle School, students have the opportunity to take the elective course, “Intro to Video Production.” In this class, students produce a weekly news broadcast that includes various segments, such as sports

reporting, human interest stories, and more. The course covers a wide range of topics, including ethics, copyrights, teamwork, lighting, audio, and editing. It’s a dynamic class that encourages self-motivation, self-discipline, and creativity, helping students build a strong foundation in various areas.

HIGH SCHOOL

At the high school level, students can choose to enroll in the advanced course, “Broadcast Journalism.” In this class, students produce “Live
@ 1575,” a student-run broadcast encompassing school news, world news, sports and arts updates, feature videos, and interviews. Whether focusing on writing and reporting or filming and editing videos, students have the flexibility to pursue their interests. The course fosters a fast-paced, creative environment where students produce relevant content on strict deadlines, teaching them valuable skills in adaptability and composure under pressure.