About Us

The Performing Arts Program at Pius XI Catholic High School is designed to enable students to:

• Perform a wide variety of repertoire, both alone and in groups.

• Authentically communicate the message of the repertoire, using appropriate technical and interpretive tools.

• Develop a working understanding of the collaborative nature of group performance.

• Describe, analyze and evaluate the meaning of a wide variety of repertoire and media.

• Develop a sense of their artistic potential.

• Understand and express other points of view—social, cultural, historical, etc.—through performance.

• Find beauty and power in the performing arts.

Program Highlights:

• A full four-year, scoped and sequenced curricular program in Dance, Drama, Vocal and Instrumental Music that ranges from absolute beginner, to college audition major preparation and AP Music Theory.

• State-of-the-Art Father Robert V. Carney Performing Arts Center featuring the 500 seat Wendy Joy Lindsey Theater.

• More than 150 various performance opportunities each academic school year including: concert performances, musicals, plays, dance recitals, liturgical service, Wisconsin School Music Festivals, Community Performances, Opera Scenes and even a Madrigal Dinner.

• Pius XI is one of the most highly awarded programs in the state, receiving Tommy Awards for Outstanding Musical, Best Direction, Best Musical Direction, Best Choreography, Best Set and Lighting Design, and many Outstanding Lead Performers. 

• Our combined total of Wisconsin School Music Association Honors Project students ranks Pius XI High School as the #1 private school in the state for Accepted Honors Students, and one of the top ten among all public and private schools in the state.

• Our Performing Arts students have received millions of dollars in academic and merit scholarships to attend some of the most prestigious performing arts programs in the country.

• Pius XI students perform with NYU Summer Music Theater Intensive Program, Boston Conservatory summer musical theater dance intensive, NAfME all-national honor choir, all national Catholic Honor choir, First Stage, the Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra, Milwaukee Ballet School and Academy, The Sunset Playhouse Rising Star Program, ComedySportz, Milwaukee Chamber Theater, Milwaukee Symphony Chorus and the Florentine Opera.

For a complete list of courses and descriptions, click here to access our curriculum guide.
 

Performing Arts Faculty

• Barry Applewhite - Instrumental Music

• Tina Coe – Dance

• Talia Hyatt – Choral Music

• Kate Sarner – Theater