Performing Arts
Embrace Your Creative Side
There are so many opportunities to find (and showcase!) your abilities, have fun, and grow in confidence with our performing arts programs.
From singing, dancing and acting to guitar, bell, and orchestral instruments, you can cultivate skills such as collaboration, generosity, and introspection, and share your unique talents with performances throughout the school year. Learn more about the benefits of the performing arts in "Take a Bow," a post on our blog!
Private lessons are offered at Merion Mercy for guitar, voice, piano, and string instruments.
Please contact Department Chair Dr. Cara Latham with any questions.
Honors Music Program
Students who complete the two-and-a-half-year academic program—Renaissance Revels, Honors Music, and AP® Music Theory—and who also participate in two ensembles each year, earn the distinction of Honors Music.
Merion Mercy Music Theater (MMMT)
Led by Chris Monaco, who also directs for the esteemed Upper Darby Summer Stage program, MMMT performs two shows yearly—traditionally a drama in the fall and a musical in the spring. Almost a quarter of the school participates in the MMMT program, either on the stage or on stage crew.
Music Scholarships
We offer partial tuition music scholarships that are awarded on the basis of a personal audition and performance on the Scholarship and Entrance Exam. See Affording MMA to learn more.
Tri-M Music Society
Tri-M Society is an international music honor society, which recognizes musical achievement, academic excellence, and community service. In order to participate, students must be active in two different Performing Arts activities and contribute 20 hours of community service. This may be in the form of performing at the Convent for the retired Sisters of Mercy, singing or playing at nursing homes, helping with the needs of the Performing Arts Department, and singing or playing for the liturgies, open houses, and other school functions. An award ceremony is presented at the end of the year.
"Music has been a very important part of my life, and at Merion Mercy I have the opportunity to grow and explore across many musical formats.”
–Hannah Turek '26, Maple Shade, NJ
Extracurricular Activities (Open to All!)
All students (not just Honors Music students) are welcome to participate in these activities:
Chamber Ensembles
Chamber ensembles are small groups of musicians who are paired together and meet during or after school to prepare chamber music for concerts or other events. These groups have played concerts for the Sisters of Mercy in their beautiful convent chapel, and at the McAuley Home for Retired Sisters.
Chorale
Through this half-credit course, you will elevate your vocal skills with a cappella singing, multi-lingual works, and complex part-singing while exploring sophisticated repertoire in a chamber setting. Members of Chorale sing at concerts throughout the year. Merion’s Chorale has consistently received the highest possible ranking, Superior, at the Pennsylvania Music Educators Adjudication.
Sirens of Baggot Street
This small, select, auditioned A Capella group performs at various fundraisers, competitions and events. All who are in Sirens also participate in Chorale.
Dance Team
Perform hip-hop dance and spirit moves with this cheerleading group that supports our Golden Bears athletic teams. They also perform at the Christmas concert.
Liturgical Choir
This special group leads our community in sung prayer at liturgies. They become a community that does service together and shares prayer at the end of each rehearsal.
Handbells
Collaborate and create beautiful music through the sound of bells, offered for beginners through experienced bell-ringers! Handbells perform at the Christmas and spring concerts.
Guitar and Ukulele Mercy Beat Band
This student-led club performs at the Christmas and spring concerts.
Orchestral Ensemble
Study and perform a vast array of repertoire with other instrumentalists, from classical music to popular theatrical extravaganzas. This is a half-credit course.
