Ricordia: A Guide to the Arts at Merion Mercy

by Cara Plover '29

The arts are an immense part of the culture at Merion Mercy—concerts, plays, musicals, showcases, and classes. But what are the arts? This article is a breakdown of the arts and what Merion Mercy offers to students.

The textbook definition of the arts is described as “painting, sculpture, music, theater, literature, etc., considered as a group of activities done by people with skill and imagination.” In short, it’s everything creative. Visual art, performing arts, music, and writing are some of the examples. So what does Merion offer in relation to the arts?

Firstly, Merion Mercy allows students to express their creativity during the day. As a freshman, you can participate in classes like Principles of Design and Renaissance Revels. Principles of Design dives into the world of art and how artists can use art to show off their emotions. Freshman Valentina Tartaglini, says,  “My favorite part about Principles of Design is being able to express myself through colors. The class teaches us about what makes a piece of art good and how to replicate that in your own pieces.” She speaks about how the class projects are creative and not “mainstream high school art pieces.” The second available class involving the arts is Renaissance Revels, which I will be taking as a second-semester class. The course is described as a study into the Renaissance era and the instruments that were played back then. At the end of the semester, the class puts on a costumed showcase that is time-accurate to the Renaissance era.

Meanwhile, during office hours, you can participate in activities like Chorale and Orchestra. Chorale sings in the concerts and starts preparing Christmas music in September, which gets all of the members in the Christmas spirit. Some of Chorale’s pieces for this year’s Christmas concert include “Grown-Up Christmas List” and “Gesu Bambino.” Another office hours activity is Orchestra, which offers many instruments to play. I discussed the ins and outs of Orchestra with Gianna Lucido, a freshman who plays the violin. Gianna says, “My favorite part of Orchestra is that I made some nice friends there. We’re practicing 'Sleigh Ride' and 'Greensleeves.’”

Private music lessons are also available at Merion for trumpet, trombone, euphonium, tuba, violin, viola, cello, bass, piano, guitar, and voice. As a piano student, I have already learned so much in the short span of time I’ve been taking lessons at Merion. Each lesson is once a week and is very much worth your time.

There are also many clubs and activities that are arts-related. National Art Honor Society, Dance Team, Handbells, Sirens of Baggot Street, Image Explosion, Meriannal, and Liturgical Choir are just a  few of the opportunities that allow students to explore the arts outside of school and participate in different events.

Last, but most certainly not least, there is Merion Mercy Music Theater. This year, they are doing two musicals over the course of the school year: "Into the Woods" in the fall, and "Legally Blonde" in the spring. "Into the Woods" is a magical story that puts spins on fairytales and their actions and consequences. The performances are taking place from November 14 to the 16. Tickets are now available for purchase. "Legally Blonde" is a comedy that follows Elle Woods while she struggles with societal norms. "Legally Blonde" is set to be performed from February 21 to March 1.

The arts at Merion have so much to offer students. From classes to clubs, the sky is the limit. The arts are so important in the world we live in, and I’m glad that they are well-represented at Merion Mercy.