Matt Burgy, Head of School

Dear Oakridge Family,

It’s not often that our stellar Arts program is on display, but this weekend we are in for a real treat. Our annual musical started on Thursday and runs through Saturday, February 21. This year our musical, String, is truly unique. We are the first Upper School in the United States to be putting on this show.

There is a certain magic that happens in the theater during a production like this. When you walk through the Fine Arts Performance Hall, you can feel a palpable shift in energy. There is a mix of focused intensity and pure, joyful discovery. Because our students are the first in the nation to tackle this production, there was no "how-to" guide or previous performance to mimic. They have had to build this world themselves.

While the performers on stage are incredibly talented and carry the story with such grace, a production of this magnitude is a massive, collective journey. When the lights dim and the music begins, we aren't just seeing a performance, we are seeing the culmination of months of grit and "academic excellence" applied in the most creative of ways. 

The magic of String isn't found only in the spotlight. It lives in the quiet, focused energy of our technical theater program. These students have spent countless hours sawing, painting, and wiring to build a world from scratch. Behind the scenes, student crews are expertly navigating the shadows, running the lights, and managing a complex production that has never been staged by a high school before.

This is the Oakridge mission in its most vibrant form. We often talk about nurturing and challenging each student on their unique journey, and this weekend, that journey leads directly to the stage. To see a student find their voice, master a complex harmony, or navigate a technical cue for a brand new show is to see them seeking their potential in real-time.

It takes immense character and confidence to be a trailblazer. By stepping into roles that have never been played by high schoolers before, our students are doing more than just performing; they are embracing the spirit of a lifelong love of learning. They are learning that they are capable of doing hard things, new things, and beautiful things.

I invite you to join us this weekend. Come see the result of their hard work, but more importantly, come celebrate the bravery and academic excellence that our students bring to everything they do. I look forward to seeing you in the audience as we cheer on these incredible young artists.

Warmly,

Matt Burgy
Head of School