May 7, 2026
from Mark Segal, Upper School director
As we enter the final weeks of the school year, MPA joyfully arrives at what many in our community know as concert season. This special time brings our choirs, band, and orchestra to the Nicholson Center stage to share the incredible work they have been preparing throughout the year. These concerts are community celebrations, moments when students showcase not only musical skill, but dedication, creativity, and teamwork. Research consistently affirms the value of music education, and a 2023 University of Southern California study showed that “sustained participation in school music programs supports cognitive development, academic growth, and overall student wellbeing.”
One of the most rewarding aspects of concert season is witnessing student growth over time. For some musicians, this marks the completion of their first year at MPA, and for others, it reflects an Upper School musical journey that began four years ago. Studies from institutions such as USC and the Arts Education Partnership demonstrate that musical training strengthens memory, attention, executive functioning, and emotional regulation, all positive skills that will benefit them in Upper School and beyond. Watching students, including my own son, who once approached the stage with hesitation, now perform with poise, is a powerful reminder of how music supports both skill development and confidence.
As students advance, their repertoire grows in complexity and depth, requiring careful listening, collaboration, and perseverance. Research published in journals such as “Frontiers in Psychology” and “The International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health” shows that ensemble music-making strengthens social connection, self-efficacy, and motivation, benefits that extend far beyond the four walls of their music room or the Nicholson Center. These qualities are clearly visible as students perform increasingly challenging pieces with focus and pride. Read More
from Paul Errickson, Middle School director
From James Ewer, Lower School director
Every year, Upper School Applied Painting students at Mounds Park Academy paint a piano together. The first piano was painted in 2012, making this the 14th annual piano! The painted pianos are part of an ongoing partnership between the MPA Art Department and Keys 4/4 Kids, a local non-profit that refurbishes pianos and supports art and music programs in under-resourced communities.
Join In!
from Dr. Lori-Anne Brogdon, head of school
Congrats to Camille Hirsch ’26, who earned top honors at two major art exhibitions!
Congratulations to the MPA speech team on a successful showing at the MSHSL Class A state tournament, earning a second-place team finish behind a series of top individual performances during the meet at Park Center High School.
Join us for a fun evening of connection and celebration as we look ahead to end-of-year festivities at the Upper School Parent Social on Saturday, May 2, from 8-10 PM at Lucky Guys Distillery in Hudson, Wisconsin.