Far Hills Country Day Builds New Performing Arts Center

Far Hills Country Day School in Bernardsville has opened a new Performing Arts Center (PAC) at the private school that offers students the opportunity to perform and work behind the scenes in a professional performance space.

The PAC accommodates 570 seats and can hold the entire student body, teachers, parents, and friends, according to the school.

The opening of the PAC is the completion of a ten-year campus transformation at the prekindergarten to grade eight school, which is located off Route 202 at the Far Hills border. The long-term plan included a new primary wing, outdoor athletic fields, music conservatory and school auditorium.

A school announcement said a highlight of the PAC is the projection, lighting and sound system that was designed and installed by experts including acoustical engineers. The control booth features programs like the MIDI/Music Tech lab, which allows students to gain proficiency in the use of the technological equipment ranging from synthesizers, samplers, digital controllers and software applications to create their own music.

Far Hills Country Day School’s broad arts program covers music performance, theory and fine arts classes, as well as drama and an annual musical, the announcement said. The school offers Integrated Performing Arts Curriculum, which incorporates performance and presentation skills into the academic classroom.

The school currently presents 24 annual performances and assemblies. This diversity of offerings allows students on all levels to participate and experience the feeling of being on stage, which develops their poise, confidence and public presentation skills, said the announcement from the school.