New Orleans Center for Creative Arts in Riverfront

Just where the Mississippi River bends in the heart of New Orleans, is a magical place. You won't find it listed as a New Orleans attraction, nor is it something that The Big Easy is known for. It's the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, an arts conservatory for high school students. This is no ordinary arts school. It's something that most students of the arts dream of.

Founded in 1973 by a diverse coalition of artists, educators, business leaders, and community activists who saw the need for an institution devoted to [the] region's burgeoning young talent (http://www.nocca.com/Explore/glance.php) , NOCCA is located at 2800 Chartres street, just down the road from the famous New Orleans French Quarter. In 2000 NOCCA moved to this campus which is equipped with the best resources for its budding artists. NOCCA offers programs in creative writing, dance, media arts, classical instrumental, jazz, vocal, drama, musical theatre, theatre design, visual arts, as well as culinary. Each of these departments have received state and national recognition.

Not only are the programs themselves renowned, but there are many famous NOCCA Alumni. Famous musician, Harry Connick Jr. is a music program graduate. Jazz musicians Terence Blanchard, Nicholas Payton, and the Marsalis brothers studied jazz at NOCCA. Visual artist, Wanda Boudreaux, opera singer, Jeanne-Michele Charbonnet, novelist and poet, Nicole Cooley... the list goes on. It's a school with such success, that "90 percent of its graduates continue their studies at universities and conservatories across the country "(http://www.americansforthearts.org/news/annual_awards/public_leadership/arts_programs_youth/001.asp).

Local to the New Orleans area and want to see if your child can attend? Enrollment in NOCCA is decided by audition only. The first step is contacting an admissions counselor. They'll answer any questions you may have about the audition process. While the audition process does take a couple of months to complete, it is well worth the wait. Once a enrolled at NOCCA, students have access to teachers who don't just teach their art --- they are masters of their art. Instead of hiring educators who went to school just for educating, NOCCA enlists experienced painters, sculpters, dancers, musicians, photographers, writers, chefs, all with an ample portfolio of masterful work. NOCCA even goes the extra mile, to bring in guest artists, to inject fresh insight and creativity into the students' curriculum.

The facilities at NOCCA are second to none. Visual art program students are given professional grade materials to work on homework assignments. While at the school they have access to a state of the art digital arts studio, a full 2d studio with a large still life library, and even live models are brought in. The dance department gives training in every aspect that a young dancer needs -- from the basics of ballet and tap all the way to proper nutrition and injury prevention. Creative writing students flourish and display all of their hard work at the end of the year with a annual publication, "Umbra."

It's best to get an application filled out and sent in as soon as possible. The application does require letters of recommendation as well as report cards. After the application is reviewed, NOCCA will send a notice of the scheduled audition time. After auditions, students who are selected to be invited to join will be notified. There is a small fee, based on materials required for the course, but tuition is free.

Even if you are residing in a nearby city outside of New Orleans, it is worth commuting to. Students who graduate from NOCCA are far more likely to attend college, and more likely to receive college scholarships. It's an investment of time, effort, and love for the arts that will be cherished, drawn upon, and shared for a lifetime.