Cabaret! Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

by: Nicole Jung, class of 2025

STJ Cabaret 2024

Elementary “Rising Starts”

Cabaret 2024

STJ Cabaret is an annual performance that showcases students dancing and singing. Not only do elementary to high school students perform on stage, they can work as backstage staff as well. Usually, I participate as a performer but this year, I just went to watch my friends. Seeing them at the concessions or on the stage gave me so much joy and inspiration.

Every year, Cabaret has a theme that all the songs are based off of. This year it was Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Songs like “Sweet Dreams” by The Eurythmics and “I Feel for You” by Chaka Khan introduce new music and good oldies to me. The ride back home is when I listen to the newfound songs blissfully! The sparkly outfits the performers wear are dazzling especially when they are matching for small group performances. Speaking of small groups, the dance ensemble does impressive dances that showcase their amazing talent! Other small groups have only singing in which they serenade the audience with their vocals or instruments.

Cabaret is performed for 3 nights and on the last night, it is tradition for the sophomores and juniors to make a speech for the graduating seniors. This touching occasion fills me with warmth and many of the performers shed tears for their last performance with their loved upperclassmen. It was amazing to see how much effort and dedication went into creating such a production. For next year‘s Cabaret, make sure to grab a ticket and enjoy the show!

Nicole has been a Trojan since the 2nd grade. She is a member of the STJ choir, youth legislature and youth judicial, SGA, and cheerleading. Nicole also serves as a Student Ambassador.

#wearesaintjamesschool

Cabaret 2023: We Got Your Number!

by: Selina Sun, senior

The cast of Cabaret “We Got Your Number” during the closing song.

Selina Sun playing the cello during Cabaret.

Another year, another Cabaret! This year’s theme was “We Got Your Number,” so the set list was filled with all-time favorites that have numbers in the title, such as Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5” and Taylor Swift’s “22.” Starting from the beginning of second semester, about 110 elementary, middle, and high school students met in the PAB after school almost every day to learn the lyrics, harmonies, and dance moves of all the songs. The dance ensemble worked hard on their upbeat numbers, such as Prince’s “I Would Die 4 U,” and small groups of cast members mastered their vocal parts for more emotional songs like Christina Perri’s “A Thousand Years” and Sam Smith’s “I’m Not The Only One.” The Rising Stars of the elementary brought the energy to all their rehearsals as they learned songs such as “Zero to Hero” from Hercules. This year’s show was extra special with Regina Spektor’s “Two Birds,” a small group number that featured ASL. I also had the privilege to play my cello in a rendition of Prince’s “Nothing Compares 2 U.” After learning the tune and choreography of about 20 songs in one month of rehearsals (which was about as hard and hectic as it sounds), the cast was ready to put on a Cabaret worthy of the STJ stage for three nights in a row—February 9-11. All three nights’ tickets sold out fast as the STJ family showed their support for this year’s Cabaret, put together by directors Mr. Harrison and Dr. York, stage manager Lily Everett, 15% of the entire STJ student body (including cast and crew), and many others. The show nights were full of song, dance, excitement, and tears, especially on the last night—when the seniors performed on the Cabaret stage “one last time.” As a senior and a student who has been part of the STJ Performing Arts for about 6 years, I especially cherished Cabaret 2023 and all the sweet friends and amazing memories I made. I am so grateful that Saint James showcases the talent of its student body and celebrates the performing arts. #wearesaintjamesschool

photos by Mary Catherine Phillips

Marching Trojans on the Plains

by: Rose Statam, STJ Marching Trojans Drum Major

Honor Band students marching on the field at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Four Saint James marching band members were selected to perform at halftime during the Auburn University vs San Jose State football game. To play with the Auburn University High School Honor Band is a unique opportunity for high school students to experience taking the field to perform alongside the AUMB in front of a crowd of over 80,000.

Saint James band students Davis Taylor, Ari’Yah Brown, James Ezra Brown, and Rose Statam.

To play with the Auburn University Marching Band really was a treat! We got to see them practice in the morning, and then practice with them in our specific instrument section. The college students and staff were all very friendly and made the experience very enjoyable. Getting to play on the field was really cool! Compared to playing for a crowd of high school students at Friday night games or even at large competitions, playing at Jordan-Hare Stadium was something special. The scale of people really didn’t hit me until we got onto the field right before we performed. I really am grateful and honored for the incredible opportunity to play with the Auburn University Marching Band! #wearesaintjamesschool

STJ Arts in the Summer: Exploring and Inspiring

by: Dr. Sallye York, Arts Department Chair

Senior Natalie Magee in Savannah, GA learning acrylic painting techniques and fashion design at SCAD.

Junior Austin Oh at the University of Montevallo’s week-long Young Musicians Camp.

At Saint James School, the arts are a part of every student’s path.  We are truly proud of our visual and performing arts programs and all they have to offer the whole child education.  STJ Arts not only educate, but they also inspire!  The arts programs at Saint James School inspire so much that students further their art exploration into their summer breaks!  Many STJ students spent their time off from school attending arts camps and programs throughout the Southeast.  

Senior Natalie Magee spent a week at the Savannah College of Art and Design learning acrylic painting techniques and fashion design.  Students from around the nation come to SCAD for this summer program where they receive instruction from professors who are truly experts in their crafts.  Students also get to enjoy dorm life and spending time getting to know new friends from all over our country!

Junior Erin Waggoner at the Washington School of Ballet’s Summer Intensive Program.

Junior Austin Oh spent a week at the University of Montevallo’s Young Musicians Camp where he furthered his studies in choir and vocal performance.   At YMC, Austin was able to perform in the camp’s choir, receive instruction from college professors, and attend music seminars.  Austin was also able to enter a composition competition with fellow campers in which he was one of the winners!  He even was selected to sing a solo in the final camp concert.  

Sophomore Lily Everett in Memphis for the Orpheum Theater’s Summer Camp Intensive.

Junior Erin Waggoner danced in the upper division of the Washington School of Ballet’s Summer Intensive Program.  She stayed on campus at American University, danced 6 hours a day, and got to explore nearby Georgetown and the District with new friends!  Classes she attended were technique, pointe, flamenco, partnering, and variations under the instruction of Kristina Windom, Cece Farha, Tamás Krizsa, Françoise Thouveny- Doyle, Nancie J. Woods, and Rafael Bejarano.  Truly an amazing experience!

Sophomore Lily Everett applied for and was accepted to the Memphis Orpheum Theater Summer Camp Intensive.  She spent a week in their "Technical Theater Strand" and spent each day in a different realm of the backstage operations of the theater.  Lily spent a day in each of the following intensives: set design, lighting, sound, costuming, and stage management.  She is so excited about bringing the new things she has learned back to the Saint James Theater Program!

Eighth grader Abigail Roark performed at Summer Show Offs and attended The Red Mountain Theater’s Acting Out Academy.

Eighth grader Abigail Roark attended the Acting Out Academy at the Red Mountain Theater in Birmingham.  During this week of young actor training, Abigail studied with some of the country’s best acting coaches.  The week ended with a showcase that was attended by agents, managers, and casting directors.  In addition to this camp, Abigail also attended the beloved Summer Show-Offs here in Montgomery with many more STJ students at the elementary and middle school level!

These are just a few examples of our amazing arts students here at Saint James School.  Be sure to check them out in action this coming school year as they perform and create!

#wearesaintjamesschool

All State Choral Festival 2022

by: Dr. Sallye York, choir director and performing arts department chair

STJ students at the 2022 All-State Choral Festival in Birmingham, AL

This past weekend, several Saint James choral students attended the Alabama Vocal Association All State Choral Festival at the BJCC in Birmingham, Alabama. The All-State Choral Festival is a three-day event that culminates in a professionally recorded concert. The Festival is an opportunity for students with outstanding ability and initiative to receive public recognition, to sing under the direction of nationally recognized choral clinicians, and to perform choral literature of the highest quality. The students had tons of fun working in rehearsals with amazing conductors, attending and performing in wonderful concerts, and even had time for some fun at places like Cheesecake Factory at the Summit, Davenports Pizza Palace in Mountain Brook, Dave and Busters at the Galleria, and a late night cookie party! #wearesaintjamesschool

Cabaret 2022: Road Trip!

by: Taylor Potts, junior

Taylor Potts performing a dance routine to the song “Pink Cadillac”

photos courtesy of Mary Catherine Phillips

The elementary Rising Stars performing “Ticket to Ride.”

Cabaret 2022 was a hit! This year, the theme was Road Trip, which featured songs about travel and fun on the road. It was my favorite show yet! We performed songs like “Seven Bridges Road,” “Driver’s License,” “Life is a Highway,” “Freeway of Love,” and many more. Cabaret looks a little different for me because I help choreograph. It is so much fun to put a number together with my friends and then see it come to life on stage through our wonderful cast. Cabaret is a large production that involves students from all three grade levels. The elementary Rising Stars performed several numbers which had the crowd tapping their toes. I remember looking up to the older performers when I was their age, and now it is so fun to perform alongside these budding stars. Some of my favorite full cast numbers were “Get Ready / Dancin’ in the Street” and “Rockin’ Down the Highway.” I also really enjoyed the dance ensemble numbers — “Pink Cadillac” and “Crusin’ for a Bruisin.’” It would not be fitting of me to talk about cabaret without thanking the people who make it all happen; a big thank you to Dr. York, Mr. Harrison, our stage manager Lily Everett, and assistant stage manager Hamilton Cunningham! Also thank you to all of the women working on our costumes and the crew who worked so hard behind the scenes. We could not do it without all of you. It truly takes a village to put a show like Cabaret together, and there is a place for you! Whether you want to be on stage, help with lights, work with the set, or greet people entering on show night, there is room for you in Cabaret! If you couldn’t make it to this year’s show, be sure to make it to next year’s! I don’t want you to miss out! #wearesaintjamesschool

Tri-M Music Honor Society "Instrument Petting Zoo"

Recently, the Saint James Chapter of the Tri-M Music Honor Society presented an “instrument petting zoo” to our 5th graders. Students rotated to different stations to learn about and hear different types of instruments. The stations included higher woodwinds, saxophones, low brass, strings, percussion, and choir. Tri-M members led the discussions and enjoyed performing for the 5th graders. Tri-M is a national honor society for student musicians who strive to promote music education, appreciation, and service through monthly projects. Currently, there are over 2,100 chapters in all 50 states, involving more than 84,000 students.

Spreading Joy for All to Hear

The Holiday Stars, Saint James School’s elementary choir singers, made a special visit earlier this month. Students traveled to Oak Grove Inn, an assisted living and retirement community in Montgomery. Residents enjoyed performances of upbeat holiday favorites like “Feliz Navidad,” and “Step Into Christmas,” as well as traditional songs like “Silent Night.” The Holiday Stars have performed at school events like Holiday Convocation and the Winter Choral Concert, but the visit to Oak Grove was the group’s first off-campus performance. Mr Will Reese, our elementary music director, is proud of the students not only for their beautiful singing, but also for their giving hearts and excitement to share their talents and spread joy to the Oak Grove residents.

#WeAreSaintJamesSchool

A capella: Blending Voices Without Accompaniment

by: Selina Sun, junior

STJ now has its own a cappella group: Fortissimo! What started as just a fun idea for an extracurricular activity has become a special opportunity for those who love to sing to come together and perform beloved songs with the beautiful harmony of just their voices, no instruments. Right now, a number of students and I are rehearsing “Mary, Did You Know” by Pentatonix, an a cappella classic that tugs at the heartstrings of Christmas spirit believers. Every Monday afternoon, we head up the stairs to the choir loft and annoy each other with our aca-jokes (“Don’t we just sound aca-awesome? Aca-scuse me??” are classics) and warm up our voices. When we first started the song, we realized that we had to become our own backup singers and make some interesting sounds; there are “ooo”s, “hoo”s, “dum”s, and “ah”s all over the sheet music. Tenors/baritones/basses have to deal with some high notes, altos have some difficult low notes to master, and sopranos have their own challenges to overcome. When we begin to sing; however, it all becomes okay, and it is simply magical to hear our voices blend the way they do. I get goosebumps after almost every run-through. “Mary, Did You Know” is the perfect song to showcase our talents: everyone gets the chance at the melody, and each section supports one another in every measure of the music to create this a cappella Christmas classic. As Dr. York guides us with her expert ear and musical gifts, we work out our challenges and enjoy each run-through as an opportunity to make our voices sound better together. By the time of the winter choral concert in December, our hard work and passion for music will have made something truly wonderful. I can’t wait for our a cappella debut in December; it will be the beginning of something that will surely last a long time. I cherish those Monday afternoons in Dr. York’s room where our amazing group gets to do what we love most: sing our hearts out—this time, without accompaniment.

A Land of Courage, Faith, and Honor

#WeAreSaintJamesSchool

Third graders in Mrs. Rodgers and Ms. Broughton’s classes classes performed the musical “Let’s Hear it for America,” which celebrates our country's history and diversity. Students recited monologues, performed choreography, and sang musical numbers before an audience.

“This is America! A land of courage, faith and honor. A land of true equality; a land of hope and pride, a land of unity, a land of liberty.”

— "This is America" the musical

“I love my country, I love my freedom, I love my flag and Independence Day, I am a citizen. I have equality. I love my country, the U.S.A.”

— This is America, the musical