By The Bronxville School PTA Arts Council

May 13, 2026: Blue. Robin’s egg blue skies and apple green foliage. Those colors were in abundance on the Bronxville School front lawn on May 16^th, 2022. The calendar and the weather proved that it was officially spring, a time of newness, growth, joy and hope.

Next to the flagpole, stood a large-scale community sculpture - white block letters spelling out BXV ARTS. Students of all ages moved about the letters using circles of varying sizes and hues to create a colorful community masterpiece. Picnic tables and blankets scattered the grass as families came together to patron the local food trucks, and the auditorium steps were littered with guitars, microphones and speakers awaiting the open-air Open Mic performances. Inside the school, hallways and gymnasiums were transformed into galleries filled with vibrant and inspirational student artwork. The entire Bronxville School, inside and out, was abuzz with excitement for the first annual Arts Festival!

The idea to create an Arts Festival originally stemmed from then-seniors, Eliza Brennan, Elizabeth Burnell, Grace Gramins, and Maggie Lockwood. As members of the Arts Society club, the students enlisted the guidance of their faculty advisor and visual arts teacher, Courtney Alan, with the hopes of creating an opportunity to bring the community together and showcase student art and artists. Soon a partnership was born with the Bronxville School and the PTA, and plans were put into motion. Then-PTA president, Jennifer Heathwood, officially created the PTA Arts Council, a PTA committee that provides parent volunteers and funding to support the arts students’ and teachers’ initiatives. In short order, the students’ vision came to life with the support of a generous and dedicated parent volunteer committee representing grades K–12. Together, they transformed the front lawn into a vibrant celebration filled with music, art, community, and joy.

2022 Bronxville High School Arts Society seniors and founders of the Arts Festival: Grace Gramins, Eliza Brennan, Elizabeth Burnell, Maggie Lockwood

The Arts Festival’s first large-scale community sculpture, BXV ARTS

The Arts Festival has now become a beloved tradition and is celebrated every year. Along the way, notable additions to the original format include live music performances by HS Jazz Band and Orchestra students, a fashion show by HS fashion design student, Jack Colangelo and joyful vignettes by the MS musical theater thespians. Music and sound equipment for the live music performances were generously funded by the Bronxville School Foundation.

Maggie Lockwood, one of the original students leading the charge to create this event remembers “...we envisioned a space where artists of all ages could feel valued and where both visual and performing arts could be celebrated across the community. Our goal was to bring together students, faculty, and families to create, connect, and appreciate student work. We believed the arts are central to community culture and wanted an event that reflected the Bronxville Promise in an engaging, inclusive way. We never anticipated how meaningful the festival would become, and we are deeply grateful to the school and the PTA for supporting and helping realize this vision.”

The first Arts Council Chairs, Justine McEnerney and Lyndal Vermette, along with parent volunteer, Tom Dordevic have designed and facilitated the student creation of a large-scale sculpture every year. Justine McEnerney shares, “A highlight for me, and for many, is the large-scale sculpture created each year at the Festival by students from every grade. This year, all five sculptures will be on display to celebrate our fifth anniversary. It is my sincere hope that the Festival continues to inspire artistic expression and shared joy for many years to come.”

The talented Bronxville School visual and performing arts teachers have been critical in the evolution and success of the Arts Festival. Giving the student artists another opportunity via the Arts Festival to showcase their talents reflects their remarkable commitment and dedication to our youth. Visual arts teacher and curriculum leader Courtney Alan explains, “The Arts Festival demonstrates that creativity is a developmental necessity. When students engage in the arts, they cultivate the persistence and critical observation that define both academic success and a thriving community, further equipping them with the visual literacy to navigate a complex world.”

We invite you to come join in the fun and creativity at the 5th Annual Arts Festival taking place Monday, May 18th from 2:30-4pm and Tuesday, May 19th from 5-8pm. This year’s Arts Council Tri-Chairs Michelle Horvers, Jennifer Jaquette, and Diana Loft with the leadership of PTA President Susan Satterfield Frehse, along with Arts Society co-Presidents Katie Fezza and Louise Jacobs and faculty advisor Courtney Alan, are planning a spectacular line up! Katie Fezza notes, “The Arts Festival is truly special. It has been so exciting to see how the event has grown and developed throughout my time as a high schooler. We have so many talented students showcase their art, and every year I’m always so impressed. The feeling of community and celebration is the best part.”

We hope to see you there!

Looking back! Enjoy the photos below from past Arts Festivals provided by the PTA Arts Council and David Fenner.