The Arts Philosophy

Here at Covenant, we believe the Arts are central to being human. If you are a living, created human being, young or old, then we would expect you to be exhibiting your creativity in any number of ways. Therefore, we provide a wide variety of experiences in the Arts for all of our students, Pre-K through Grade 12. Some of these are across-the-board requirements, some are electives for those who want to go farther, dig deeper and reach higher, and some are extra-curricular initiatives.

Jerry King, Former Arts Director

If our school is about the business of forming full, whole people, then doing some creative work in the arts is not so much an addition to an educational experience but a stream running somewhere right near the center of it.

An Interdisciplinary Approach

We understand the Arts rightfully occupy a place right at the heart of the school culture. So it is normal for us to work cross-disciplinarily, not only between sectors of our own department but also with Literature, Science, History, and even Math! A Gerard Manley Hopkins poem can be the launch point for a Visual Art project in typography, composition, layout design, and low-relief paper sculpture. Western hemisphere migratory flyways will appear as a two-story hanging curtain sculpture, seemingly of multi-colored abstract shapes, but actually depicting scientific data points. Every project we do has layers and facets from several other domains to ground and fortify media exploration and skill development.

    • Chris Campanelli

      Arts Director

Meet the Arts Director

Chris Campanelli has been teaching eleventh grade English Literature at The Covenant School for the past six years, during which time he has also been serving as the Music Director for the Church of the Holy Cross in Crozet. He has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Virginia and a Master of Arts in Theology from the University of British Columbia, Regent College, which focused on the intersection of Theology and the Arts. Mr. Campanelli brings a deeply rooted understanding and love for the Arts as connected to every other facet of human life. His innate curiosity and thoughtful ponderings have already ignited our school community in the English classroom, songwriting lab, and chapel gatherings. Mr. Campanelli hopes to foster community-wide engagement with all of the Arts in body, mind, spirit, and relationships.

    • Julie Nemeyer

      Lower School Music

    • Ethan Mitchell

      Hickory Theater

    • David Euans

      Drumline

    • Dan Warren

      Middle and Upper School Band, Vocation Choir

    • Annie Brooks

      Middle School Music

    • Karen Proce

      Middle School Art, Upper School Photo I & II

The Covenant School

Birdwood Campus | Lower School | Pre-K–Grade 5 |
1000 Birdwood Road Charlottesville, VA 22903 | 434.220.7309

Hickory Campus | Middle and Upper School | Grades 6–12 | 175 Hickory Street Charlottesville, VA 22902 | 434.220.7329
Located in Charlottesville, VA, The Covenant School is a non-denominational, private, Christian day school for Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12. Students benefit from a challenging academic program, visual and performing arts, competitive athletics, and a wide selection of extracurricular activities.
Copyright © 2026, The Covenant School