Visiting Artist Program

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The Ellie Warburg Class of 1945 Visiting Artist Program was established in 2016 in honor of Elinor Bozyan Warburg ’45, a devoted Foote alumna and lover of the arts. The program brings a different visiting artist to Foote each year to work with and perform for students, faculty and parents. The program was set up with funds donated by Ellie's family and classmates. The daughter of a Yale music professor and organist, Ellie earned a B.A. in music theory from Wellesley College in 1953 and also played organ.

For more information about the program, please contact Jody Abzug, Director of Development and Alumni Programs, at jabzug@footeschool.org.

Ellie Warburg, class of '45, and her father playing a piano together in 1956

Ellie Warburg '45 and her father in 1956

2019 - TOM BRAND '88, FOUNDER OF THE ELM CITY GIRLS' CHOIR AND SAECULA SINGERS

Tom Brand, Foote School Class of 1988, is the founder and artistic director of The Elm City Girls' Choir and the Saecula Singers. He was in residence at Foote for three days in January 2019, and conducted the singers in an evening concert for families on Wednesday, January 30, 2019.

2018 - THE HAVEN STRING QUARTET

The Haven String Quartet serves as the permanent string quartet-in-residence and teaching faculty for Music Haven, a New Haven-based nonprofit that runs a tuition-free strings program for underserved youth. The four musicians—including violinist Yaira Matyakubova, a Foote parent who directs the school's orchestra—spent a week at Foote leading interactive workshops about aspects of music history and theory for every class in the school—23 classes in total! Students learned about the music of Shostakovich and Brahms, as well as innovative works by modern composers such as Steve Reich, who used tape loops to create "phasing patterns." The group wrapped up its residency with a family concert in the Hosley Gym.

2017 - Just Add Water, Yale comedy improv troupe

Yale Comedy Improv Troupe performing on stage at Foote School

Yale's undergraduate comedy troupe spent three days at Foote performing at assemblies and leading improvisational workshops for every grade in the Sandine Theater. Three Foote alumni were among the group''s members: Alex Kronman '10, Zoe Loewenberg '11 and Anna Ayres-Brown '12. The troupe led Foote students in a series of engaging and active theater games to develop their improv skills and nudge them outside their comfort zones. Students worked collaboratively to make up scenes, songs and skits, drawing on their own creativity and public-speaking skills. "These are skills kids can use in all of academia and life," remarked Drama Chair Julian Schlusberg afterward. "This goes far beyond drama."

2016 - Rob Kapilow, Composer, Conductor and Author

Rob Kapilow, composer, conductor and author, presenting to a group of students

The inaugural guest of the visiting artist program was Rob Kapilow, an acclaimed composer, conductor, author and music commentator (well known for his "What Makes it Great" program on NPR). Rob worked with individual music classes and performed for every grade at small assemblies, where he was accompanied by The Haven String Quartet. In music classes, Rob engaged students in a collaborative and energetic exercise called "The Music of Art," in which students used a painting (John Singleton Copley's "The Rescue") as inspiration to create an original piece of vocal music. "Just finished an amazing residency at the extraordinary Foote School," Rob wrote of his whirlwind visit. "Very rewarding to see what an elementary/middle school with a committed music program, great teachers, astonishing facilities and creative kids can accomplish."

Foote's visiting artist program was established in 2016 with funds donated by the family and classmates of Elinor Bozyan Warburg '45, a devoted Foote alumna and lover of the arts.