Canterbury Brook Academy spring showcase celebrates students with Michael Jackson theme

Michael Jackson’s music took over Canterbury Brook Academy of the Arts’ gym Friday night, as the Newburgh school turned its annual spring showcase into its first all-theme performance and put student work from across grade levels on full display.

Friends and family walked in past artwork lined along the gymnasium walls, giving the room a gallery feel before the first performance began. Foam roses and raffle tickets were sold as part of the evening, making the event feel like both a showcase and a fundraiser for a school that says it depends on tuition and fundraising to sustain its arts programming.

That matters at Canterbury Brook because the school’s arts model is built into the day, not added on after class. The independent private school says it serves students from kindergarten through 12th grade, uses small classes, and employs full-time arts directors who attend staff meetings and school events. Its tuition page lists a flat $5,000 annual rate for primary and upper school students, with no separate arts fee, a structure that helps explain why a spring showcase can double as a community gathering and a window into the program families are paying for.

Scott chose the Michael Jackson theme and said he wanted to try a different format. He has said he was inspired by Jackson and was already thinking about future themes, although he did not reveal next year’s concept. For a school that opened in Cornwall-on-Hudson in September 2023 and is still building traditions, the show served as an early test of how much a single concept can unify students from the youngest grades through upper school.

The reactions were mixed, which made the evening feel more real than a polished recital script. Upper school student Samuel M. called the theme “okay,” while Primary 3 student Sean M. said the timing felt especially fun because it came as a new Michael Jackson film was set to open the same day. That film, Michael, stars Jaafar Jackson and is directed by Antoine Fuqua.

The performances were paired with visual art projects from younger students, including work based on Paul Klee’s Cat and Bird and ceramic pieces displayed beside the stage. That mix of music, movement and visual art reflected the school’s larger pitch, preparing students for both college and arts careers while showing families exactly how those skills look in practice.