BISFA Experience

The Barbara Ingram building has been like a home to us, and every student that passes through its doors are like a part of our second family. Everyday we as students train both our minds and our artistic abilities to become the best at what we do. In our case, it's to become better violinists and smarter people. :)

What Makes BISFA Special?

BISFA is not just a school. It's so much more than that, not only to us, but to all the students who go there as well. For many, BISFA is what we call 'home'. It's a safe haven where we can just be ourselves, do the things we love to do, spend time with people who are as dedicated as we are to our disciplines, and follow our artistic passions every single day! We truly are so grateful and happy to be attending a school such as this one!

Our BISFA Experiences

Elizabeth's Experience

I feel like it's because of BISFA that I was able to grow so much, not just as a student, but as a person as well. Back when I attended middle school, I only went to school to learn, do my work, and get a good GPA. Other than that, I really didn't have much of a presence in school. I always thought that high school would be pretty much the same, which is the mentality I had when I entered my freshman year at BISFA. But boy was I wrong! Even just the first year, I found myself buried in schoolwork, extracurricular activities dealing with my discipline, and plenty of other things I was sure I wouldn't have to be worried about if I had attended my local high school! But you know what? I loved it! Everyday was filled with something new and there was never a time where I found myself not wanting to go to school! The BISFA lifestyle was just so insane and exciting, and all of the teachers are always so nice and helpful, I knew that by the time I graduate in July of 2018, I would be way more than college ready, I would be ready for whatever life (especially dealing with stairs #onlyatBISFA) has to throw at me! ^-^

Stephanie's Experience

I have only been at BISFA for little over a year, and I already feel as if it's my second home. Sure the schedule is rigorous, and more than often I find myself doing my homework at the last minute, but everyday I find myself laughing at someones joke or smiling because I've learned something new. And before I knew it, I was looking forward to next day of school. The teachers always help me to achieve to my fullest potential in both my discipline and academics, and all the students, freshman or senior, are kind and supporting and passionate about their art. You know you love this school when you walk almost 10 flights of stairs per day and are still willing to come back the next day. @w@

Congratulations to Elizabeth for Graduating BISFA at the Top of Her Class!!

Elizabeth giving her Valedictorian speech at graduation

Elizabeth with the BISFA principal, Dr. Robert Hovermale

At BISFA, there are 6 major arts disciplines: [Musical] Theater, Instrumental (Band + Orchestra), Vocal, Dance, Visual Arts, and Creative Writing. We are a part of the Second Floor Instrumentalist discipline, playing violin for our orchestra.

Our band/orchestra conductors are Mr.Hollin and Ms.Swanson and our private teacher is Mrs.Stone. We wanted to give them a big shoutout because without them, we wouldn't have been able to get to the point we are today both musically and in our everyday lives as they all have given us many pieces of knowledge, experience, and a diversity of opportunities that we will hold dear in our memories and hearts forever. We also would like to thank Dr.Hovermale, our school principle, as well as the rest of our teachers, the BISFA Foundation, BISFA staff, and BISFA alumni for making this school the absolute best experience, and pretty much a second home, for the two of us. We couldn't be happier these past 4 years that Elizabeth has attended BISFA and 2 years for Stephanie. So thank you, so much for everything. We are excited to see how BISFA will continue to grow in the future, especially with the extension coming soon! (^_^)

Stephanie and Elizabeth with their orchestra conductor and music teacher, Mr.Hollin

Elizabeth and her orchestra conductor and music teacher, Mrs.Swanson

Cool Things We Get To Do At BISFA

Every other year, the band and orchestra get to travel someplace out of state during the spring break to play with high school students from Montana! It really is one of the best "out of home" experiences ever! In 2015, Elizabeth (a sophomore at that time) got to go to Seattle and Montana where she learned what it was like to spend time away from her family and improve upon her independence, with friends of course!
Elizabeth got to play at our town's Crab-fest.
Since our school is located literally right next to the Maryland Theater, we get to listen to any Maryland Symphony Orchestra concerts for free.
Every year, before the winter break, our school puts on this GIANT show at the Maryland Theater (that's how big it is, we always sell out on tickets!) called the Holiday Spectacular where all the disciplines in the school get together and perform various shows for a whopping 2 and a half hours! And when the show is over, the students have the responsibility of clearing out the Theater which leaves us getting back home at around midnight!
Another big show our school puts on annually in the springtime is the school musical, also shown in the Maryland Theater. Shows our school has put on before include The Phantom of the Opera, Beauty and the Beast, The Seaussical, The Little Mermaid, Shrek the Musical, Legally Blonde, and others!
Every week we, as violinists, get to have private lessons with Mrs. Austin Stone. The second chair first violin of the Maryland Symphony Orchestra. Not many schools have an opportunity to learn from such an amazing violinist!
Being an art school means we get to play advanced pieces of music, which make the playing the pieces both challenging and fun. There is always something new you can learn or something you can always improve on
The BISFA building is located near the Washington County free Library, so it's very easy to walk to whenever you need to check out a book or find a quite place to do your homework. BISFA is also located near several delicious cafe's and restaurants that serve as a good stopping point to relax and eat delicious food before or after school
BISFA offers various clubs that are both fun and informative. For instance say you are in the visual arts department but have an interest in drama. Well BISFA offers a drama club to anyone who is interested

Elizabeth and friends play in a local restaurant for the Maryland Governor, Larry Hogan.

Elizabeth (left) and Stephanie (right) play in the BISFA lobby during a morning Continental Breakfast for the BISFA Foundation.

Elizabeth with BISFA guest, Christy Crowl. Elizabeth volunteered to play a solo piece in front of the entire school as an example of self discipline in Ms.Crowl's presentation.

Elizabeth as a freshman in high school auditioning for a spot in the pit orchestra for BISFA's annual big musical which was Shrek the Musical that year. I ended up getting the concertmaster position! Unfortunately, because I could not attend the tech week rehearsals in April due to the fact that it was the same week that the 2015 VEX Worlds Championships were being held, the music director kicked me out of the pit literally a week before the show. :(

Elizabeth (very left) organized a small ensemble to play at the annual BISFA Foundation morning breakfast meeting held at the school lobby (2017)