Naríthjábæk College of the Performing Arts

**Colors** |              Red, yellow, and blue

**Naríthjábæk College of the Performing Arts** (Velkanian: *Sköli Hrantursárturath Naríthjábækrath*, **SHN**), abbreviated in English as **NCPA**, is a public upper secondary technical school specializing in the performing arts in Naríthjábæk, and the only school in the Velkanian Isles dedicated solely to the performing arts. The school was first established in 1934, and has been run by headmaster Melkíor Dadisson since 2004.

NCPA offers three major programs of study, which can be further specialized by students at their own discretion. The school educates students in grades 11 and 12, with no third year of study being offered like in most technical schools.

## Admissions

NCPA has stricter admissions criteria than other technical schools. In addition to grades from primary school, the NCPA also requires that applicants audition for the school in front of an admissions panel. For the drama program, the audition consists of two dramatic monologues, for the musical performance program, the audition consists of two pieces sung or performed on by an instrument of the student's choice, while for the dance program, the audition consists of two self-choreographed routines.

## Curriculum

NCPA offers three major programs of study: drama, musical performance, and dance. Students enrolled in the drama and dance programs do not have much room for specialization, but students enrolled in the musical performance program can specialize in vocal performance (which can be further specialized by genre), instrument performance, where students focus on a single musical instrument, or musical theater, where students combine classes from the drama and dance programs and the vocal performance specialization, in addition to unique musical theater classes. All students must complete the nationwide technical school academic requirements which consist of one credit of Velkanian language studies, one credit of history or a social science, one credit of mathematics or a natural science, one credit of a foreign language, and one credit of combined physical education and health. These requirements are typically completed within the first semester. Students need twelve credits in their chosen program in order to graduate. This typically leaves students with room for several elective credits in their final year, which they may fill with any classes they choose.

NCPA follows the nationwide six-credit semester schedule; students enroll in six credits per semester, for a total of twelve credits per academic year. Each course is worth one credit; a one-credit course meets every-other-day on an alternating schedule. This leads to students having three-courses everyday; each class lasts an hour and a half-long, meaning school lasts four and a half hours everyday. Students cannot graduate without at least 18 credits, meaning most students have enough credits to graduate after finishing the first semester of their second year. However, students cannot graduate early, as the school requires at least four semesters of study.

### Timetables

A typical timetable over the course of a student's four semesters at NCPA may look like this:

     – Required course

## Student life

NCPA has a number of extracurricular activities and clubs for its students, the majority of which are dedicated to the performing arts. There is no athletic department at the school, and no school athletics teams. The school participates in the annual *tímihratnáfötúlnaristath* celebrations.

Along with the Velkanian School of the Arts and Naríthjábæk Junior College, NCPA is said to have one of the most thriving arts community at the high schools of Naríthjábæk. Several theatrical productions are put on throughout the school year, with much of the school's population taking part in it. There are additionally biannual showcases of the performing arts, where students perform for members of the community and members of the performing arts industry.