The Academy

The nation's premier performing and visual arts high school. Click below to apply and learn more about our Summer and Saturday Programs.

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At The Chicago Academy for the Arts, high school artists master the skills necessary for academic success, critical thought, and creative expression.

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Arts Departments

Featured

Dance

Media Arts

Music

Musical Theatre

Theatre

Visual Arts

Academic Departments

Featured

English

Math, Science, and Technology

Social Studies

World Languages

AP and Honors Courses

Academic and Arts Electives

Upcoming Events and Recent News

NEWS

Youth and Government Visits Springfield

The Student Leadership Conference & General Assembly took place from March 7 to 10, with 15 Youth and Government students representing The Academy in Springfield.

Justin Tranter (Musical Theatre '98) Discusses Grammy Nomination with AP News

The Academy proudly congratulates alum Justin Tranter (Musical Theatre ’98) for being nominated for Songwriter of the Year (Non-Classical) at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards!

Elisabeth Withers (Music '88) Visits The Academy

Justin Tranter (Musical Theatre '98) on NBC Chicago

See Justin Tranter on NBC Chicago’s new series “It’s OK to Ask Questions”.

Zachary Jeppsen (Dance '18) and Jason Patera in Chicago Tribune

Check out Jason Patera and Zachary Jeppsen (Dance ‘18) featured in Chicago Tribune!

Alumni Stories: Hengyu Wang (Visual Arts ‘18)

Read our interview with Academy Alum Hengyu Wang (Visual Arts ‘18)!

Interview with 2023 Gala Emcee: Ally Ahern (Musical Theatre '17)

Read our interview with Academy Alum and 2023 Gala Emcee, Ally Ahern (Musical Theatre ‘17)

Student Profile: Ava Baldassari (Musical Theatre '23)

Read our interview with current Musical Theatre student Ava Baldassari.

Alumni Stories: Emma Thatcher (Musical Theatre '10) and Sarah Franke (Media Arts '11)

Read our interview with Emma Thatcher (Musical Theatre ‘10) and Sarah Franke (Media Arts ‘11)

Alumni Stories: Maisie Schloss (Visual Arts '09)

Read our interview with Maisie Schloss (Visual Arts ‘09)

Alumni Stories: Morgan Clune (Dance '18)

Read our interview with Morgan Clune (Dance ‘18)

Jason Patera in Chicago Tribune

Check out Jason Patera in the Chicago Tribune!

Alumni Stories: Marissa Cameron (Media Arts '12)

Interview with Marissa Cameron (Media Arts ‘12)

The Academy Newsletter: Summer 2022

Arayah Lyte - Dance '22

Hear from the Class of 2022!

2022 Summer Program

Pictures from the 2022 Summer Program!

Izzie Claudio - Musical Theatre '22

Hear from the Class of 2022!

Hear from the Seniors: DeeDee Kinzie (Visual Arts), Gabe Bell (Media Arts), and Sloane Dyer (Music)

Hear from Academy seniors!

Hear from the Seniors: Mia Nadborne (Theatre) and India Renteria (Musical Theatre)

Hear from Academy seniors!

Bazyli Siwek - Music '22

Hear from the Class of 2022!

The Academy in on WGN and ABC7

Check us out on WGN and ABC7!

40th Anniversary Gala

Highlights from our 40th Anniversary Gala!

Alumni Stories: DeMone Seraphin (Musical Theatre '93)

An interview with Academy alum DeMone Seraphin

Media Arts Department in the Chicago Reader

Check out the Media Arts Department in the Chicago Reader!

The Visual Arts Department on City Cast Chicago Podcast

The Visual Arts Department on City Cast Chicago Podcast!

Taking Laughter Seriously

From Nick Roux, Humanities Department Co-Chair

Music Department at Fulton Street Collective

Photos from the Music Department at Fulton Street Collective

Senior-Choreographed Dance Concert

Watch the video of the show

Visual Arts Winter Juried Exhibition

Photos from the Visual Arts Winter Juried Exhibition

Head of School Jason Patera in Block Club Chicago

UPCOMING EVENTS

Apr 19

Encore 2024 – An All-School Showcase

Please join us for our all-school showcase, Encore!

Apr 20

Encore 2024 – An Academy Celebration

Please join us for our all-school showcase, Encore!

Apr 23

Music Department Spring Festival: That Old Feeling – An Evening of Song

Please join us for That Old Feeling: An Evening of Song!

Apr 24

Music Department Spring Festival: Ella Herman Senior Jazz Recital

Please join us for the Senior Jazz Recital of Ella Herman!

Apr 24

Music Department Spring Festival: Gabi Fues Senior Recital

Please join us for the Senior Recital of Gabi Fues!

Apr 25

Music Department Spring Festival: Bobby Meinig Junior Recital

Please join us for the Junior Recital of Bobby Meinig!

Apr 25

Music Department Spring Festival: Sage Ceron Senior Recital

Please join us for the Senior Recital of Sage Ceron!

Apr 26

Music Department Spring Festival: Sally Zhang Senior Classical Recital

Please join us for the Senior Classical Recital of Sally Zhang!

Apr 26

Theatre Department: Our Town - Friday, April 26 • 7:00 p.m.

The Theatre Department’s Spring Play: Our Town!

Apr 27

Theatre Department: Our Town - Saturday, April 27 • 3:00 p.m.

The Theatre Department’s Spring Play: Our Town!

Apr 27

Theatre Department: Our Town - Saturday, April 27 • 7:00 p.m.

The Theatre Department’s Spring Play: Our Town!

Apr 28

Theatre Department: Our Town - Sunday, April 28 • 2:00 p.m.

The Theatre Department’s Spring Play: Our Town!

Apr 30

Music Department Spring Festival: Piano Studio Recital

Join the Chicago Academy for the Arts pianists for an End-Of-The-Year concert!

May 3

Visual Arts: Spring Exhibition (tentative)

The Visual Arts Department’s Spring Exhibition! Please note that this date is subject to change. Stay tuned for more info!

May 4

Dance: Spring Concert

The Dance Department’s Spring Concert! Stay tuned for more info.

May 5

Music Department Spring Festival: Sally Zhang Senior Jazz Recital

Please join us for the Senior Jazz Recital of Sally Zhang!

May 7

Music Department Spring Festival: Classical Vocal Showcase

Please join us for an evening of art song, arias, and opera all performed by Music Department voice students in our Classical Vocal Showcase!

May 7

Music Department Spring Festival: Ella Herman Senior Classical Recital

Please join us for the Senior Classical Recital of Ella Herman!

May 8

Music Department Spring Festival: Electronic Ensemble

Join the Recording Arts and Commercial Music program for the third annual Electronic Ensemble concert!

May 9

Music Department Spring Festival: Caleb Marcella Senior Recital

Please join us for the Senior Recital of Caleb Marcella!

May 10

Music Department Spring Festival: Without Genre 3.0 – 4:45 p.m. Performance

The Music Department invites you to a unique and unforgettable musical experience! Blending various styles to create an illustrious listening experience, this concert highlights the fluidity and ambiguity between genres and styles.

May 10

Music Department Spring Festival: Without Genre 3.0 – 7:00 p.m. Performance

May 17

End of Quarter 4

May 17

2024 All-School Prom (tentative)

May 20

Academic Final Exams

May 21

Graduation Rehearsal 2024 (tentative)

May 22

Senior Luncheon

May 23

Graduation 2024 (tentative)

May 25

Theatre Department: 2024 Senior Show

The Theatre Department’s Senior Show! Stay tuned for more info.

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Academy Alumni

A chart-topping songwriter, Broadway actors, Grammy Award-winning artists, physicists, attorneys, and business people. The Academy is a blueprint for success.

Alumni Stories