Throughout its history, the Robbinsdale Area Schools District has produced many talented graduates in the arts. Our alumni are professional opera singers, singers and instrumentalists; choral and orchestra conductors; film actors and producers; literary writers; theater actors, directors, designers and managers; television and radio producers/directors; news reporters; television actors, editors and photographers; dancers; artists; designers; illustrators; animators and art educators.

Many teachers in Robbinsdale Area Schools are also professional artists, musicians and writers, and many receive special recognition from arts organizations. We are proud to have these talented individuals working with children in our schools.

Continuing its tradition of excellence, Robbinsdale Area Schools was selected as one of the "Best 100 Communities for Music Education" in 2007 in the eighth annual survey of U.S. school music programs by the American Music Conference (AMC).

Bringing professional artists-in-residence into the classroom is an integral part of the art experience in Robbinsdale Area Schools. Special grants and partnership organizations continuously offer support for this important endeavor.

Each year, our high school students produce a full-scale musical, a drama or comedy show, a one-act play, and an original or improvisation performance for their school. Each of our middle schools also produces an annual musical. Professional choreographers train students for our high school musicals.

Both high schools have successful speech programs that consistently produce regional and state champions. Speech opportunities help students with effective communications and public speaking.

Music education starts in elementary school, as each grade level has its own music program every year. String orchestra begins in grade 4, and band is introduced in grade 5.

Special auditioned groups for students in grades 5-12 include All-District Orchestra, All-District Band, All-District Choir, Honors Orchestra, Chamber Singers, Chamber Strings, Jazz Bands and select choral groups.  Fifth graders interested in vocal performance can audition for All-District Choir.

Each year, our music program consistently produces state champions for all-state choir, all-state band and all-state orchestra recognition.

District students have been invited to perform at prestigious locations around the world, including the White House, Boston, New York City, Orlando, China and Europe.

Making music on a grand scale, our combined high school choirs and orchestras, along with the fifth-grade All-District Choir, perform at Orchestra Hall each fall. Direction for the Fall Music Festival is provided by a guest conductor of national acclaim.

Other unique concert performances include the districtwide Orchestra Festivals in November and March, and the Pyramid Choir Festivals for grades 5-12 at each high school in February. Annual recordings are another highlight for our performing groups.

Parents and families play an important role in the music program at Robbinsdale Area Schools. Our music booster organizations are very active and assist students with financial support for equipment and instruments, clothing and costumes, tours and trips, lessons and scholarships.

Nationally recognized discipline-based art education was developed in 1986 at Robbinsdale Area Schools with support from the Getty Foundation and is a model for school systems across the country. This curriculum is based on four disciplines of study: 1) art history, 2) art criticism, 3) art production, and 4) art aesthetics.

Art specialists teach at every grade level from grades 3-12. They provide a foundation in art history, integrate visual arts into academic themes to improve academic learning, and help children produce quality artwork using a variety of media.

Each Robbinsdale Area High School has two full-time art instructors; our art classes include painting, drawing, sculpture and ceramics, jewelry design and graphic design.

We are proud to exhibit our student artwork throughout the community at local galleries, libraries, businesses, and schools. Click here to see an archive of student visual arts in our on-line art gallery.

Award-Winning Performances in Literary Arts

Creative writing and journalism classes teach students to communicate effectively and express ideas creatively.  Our students use electronic publishing to produce works of literary arts at all grade levels.  Award-winning student newspapers, school yearbooks and literary magazines are published at the high school levels.

For more information about the arts at Robbinsdale Area Schools, please contact Paul Preimesberger, Fine Arts Director, at 763-504-8106 or paul_preimesberger@rdale.org.