Melissa Porier, a Choral Director and Worship Arts Instructor at Grace Christian Academy, has been selected to attend the 2022 Tennessee Arts Academy. The Academy, the nation's premier summer teacher training institute for K–12 arts education, will officially open on July 10, 2022. More than three hundred K-12 public and private school teachers from across the state have been chosen to attend the weeklong session. A program of the Tennessee Department of Education, the Academy has been held annually since 1986 on the campus of Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee.

This year the Academy's nationally and internationally renowned instructors come from across the United States. They will teach a diverse range of classes in music, visual art, theatre and dance, as well as special classes in arts leadership and administration. The Academy's advanced curriculum, cutting-edge methodology and unique philosophical perspective maximize participants' learning experiences.

There will be many special moments throughout the week, starting with TAA’s opening performance on July 10th featuring Young Concert Artists on Tour, including clarinetist Narek Arutyunian, pianist Ying Li, and flutist Anthony Trionfo. On Wednesday evening, July 13, during Bravo! The TAA Awards Banquet and Performance, will be the presentation of TAA awards to Harolyn Blackwell (TAA Distinguished Service Award), Marion and Stephen Coleman (Lorin Hollander Award), and Aaron Lazar (Spirit of Tennessee Award). Following the awards ceremony, two-time Tony Award nominee Kate Baldwin and Broadway and television star Aaron Lazar will present the world premiere performance of All For You, under the direction of Luke Frazier and members of the American Pops Orchestra. Reservations and ticket information may be obtained by visiting the TAA website at http://www.tnartsacademy.org or by contacting the TAA office at 615-460-5451 or by emailing at taa@belmont.edu.

New for 2022 will be a State of the Art Convening session on Monday evening, sponsored by the Country Music Association Foundation. Other major highlights of the week include daily plenary sessions starting on Monday, when jazz trumpet legend, Marvin Stamm will address Academy participants. Tuesday’s session features a presentation by artist Nikkolas Smith. On Wednesday, internationally acclaimed opera star Harolyn Blackwell will speak, followed by a Thursday interview format with Kate Baldwin, Aaron Lazar, and Luke Frazier. The Academy will also showcase four on campus art exhibitions. Under the Rainbow by Beth Edwards will be featured in Belmont's Leu Art Gallery. The Best of the Best Tennessee Student Art Exhibition will hang in Gallery 121 and Connections: The Tennessee Art Education Association Teacher Exhibition will be mounted in the Lobby Gallery of the Leu Center for the Visual Arts. The STARS: State of Tennessee Art Review and Showcase exhibition will be displayed in various on-campus locations throughout the Academy session. Rounding out the week will be performances by New Ballet Ensemble and School (¡José!), Nashville Children’s Theatre (The SpongeBob Musical), and the Nashville African American Wind Symphony, directed by Bruce Ayers. On Thursday, TAA will sponsor an Arts Expo, Vendor Fair, and Artist Market, featuring booths hosted by artsrelated businesses and organizations, along with artwork, crafts, and jewelry items for sale, created by TAA participants. At Friday’s concluding Finale Luncheon, the Joe W. Giles Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Madeline Bridges, followed by a performance of the Tennessee Arts Academy Chorale, under the direction of Sandra Babb.

The teachers and administrators trained at the Tennessee Arts Academy impact more than 200,000 Tennessee students (approximately 20% of the state’s student population) when they return to their individual school districts and classrooms in the fall. With renewed energy and knowledge, educators trained at the Tennessee Arts Academy are better equipped and motivated to raise achievement standards and affect positive and lasting change for Tennessee students, providing them with the necessary skills to become creative and productive members of our work force and society.

Several Academy events are free and open to the public. Visit www.tnartsacademy.org or call 615-460-5451 for more information.