Peace, Power, Purpose

When I first arrived at Brearley, I marveled at the School’s commitment to the arts. Students develop their skills in the visual and performing arts from kindergarten onward, eagerly demonstrating their prowess as they rise through the divisions. This is where we see the nexus of curriculum and culture: What is valued at a school is visible in its curriculum, and what is practiced in the curriculum spills beyond the classroom and into the culture. At Brearley, the call to create, collaborate and compose is undeniable. 

I have also never seen students more enthusiastic to perform and more generous with their time to do so, even when their greater interests may lay elsewhere. Student art adorns the walls in both buildings and there seems to be a drama production every week at this time of year. Not to mention the amount of singing that happens at Brearley—which is of course only surprising to new members of our community. We sing at assemblies and Lower School gatherings. We sing at the opening of school, Last Day and too many times in between to count. Some of our favorite songs are written by students for students or for their teachers. The songs XIIs and IVs write for each other as they hand over their classes’ beloved mascot at the annual mascot assembly is always a special treat and not soon forgotten by the audience. 

Leonard Bernstein, whose daughters attended Brearley, said, “Life without music is unthinkable. Music without life is academic. That is why my contact with music is a total embrace.” I would say this describes Brearley as much as it could any school that is not a conservatory. 

In fact, one of my most treasured traditions is coming up. Every winter, I look forward to Brearley’s choral concert which brings the performance hall to life with Middle and Upper School voices. The title of this year’s program, directed by Mathew Brady, is Peace, Power, Purpose. This gorgeous evening of music will fill you and your family’s hearts with joy and community. 

As a taste of what’s to come, I offer two of the readings that will be featured in the program.

Hope to see you there!

Jane

The onus is upon us all to work 
to improve the human condition.
Perform good deeds, for that is truly
the way to battle the forces of entropy
that are at work in our world.
The composite of all our efforts can 
have an effect

Good done anywhere is good done everywhere.

When we unite in purpose,
we are greater than the sum of our parts.
-Maya Angelou


Peace flows into me
As the tide to the pool by the shore;
It is mine forevermore,
It ebbs not back like the sea.
I am the pool of blue
That worships the vivid sky;
My hopes were heaven-high,
They are all fulfilled in you.

I am the pool of gold
When sunset burns and dies, —
You are my deepening skies,
Give me your stars to hold. 
- Sara Teasdale