Tennessee Governor's School for the Arts

- 1439 Faulkinberry Dr, Murfreesboro, TN 37130

The Tennessee Governor's School for the Arts (GSFTA) represents the pinnacle of summer arts education for gifted high school students across the Volunteer State. Established in 1984 by then-Governor Lamar Alexander, it is Tennessee's oldest and largest of the Governor's Schools, designed to provide a pre-professional, intensive, and high-quality arts education that rivals the best programs in the nation. This prestigious four-week summer residency program, hosted on the beautiful campus of Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) in Murfreesboro, serves as a vital platform for rising 11th and 12th-grade students to immerse themselves in their chosen artistic discipline, fostering exceptional talent and providing a significant stepping stone toward collegiate and professional careers in the arts.

The core mission of the Governor's School for the Arts is to cultivate Tennessee's next generation of artists, musicians, dancers, and filmmakers. The program's curriculum is deliberately demanding, requiring a deep commitment from students who spend up to four hours a day, six days a week, working intensely in their major area of concentration. Students are nominated by their high school faculty and selected through a rigorous audition or portfolio review process, ensuring that only the state's most talented and highly motivated young artists are accepted into the program. This high level of selectivity ensures a truly stimulating and peer-driven environment, critical for serious artistic growth.

The Tennessee Governor's School for the Arts is held at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, a city easily accessible from across the state and a major hub in Middle Tennessee. The program's administrative location is:

Address: 1439 Faulkinberry Dr, Murfreesboro, TN 37130, USA

Operating as a full summer residency, students live and study on the MTSU campus, providing a true taste of college life and utilizing the university’s cutting-edge facilities, studios, and performance venues. The administrative contact information is available for prospective students and nominators:

Phone: (615) 898-2223

Mobile Phone: +1 615-898-2223

In terms of accessibility for visitors and guests, the facility hosting the program is prepared to accommodate individuals with mobility concerns. The campus setting includes essential accessibility features:

• Wheelchair accessible entrance
• Wheelchair accessible parking lot

This attention to detail ensures that the program is not only good for the ambitious, talented high school students—it is also accessible to all who come to support the final showcases and performances.

The curriculum is designed to be multifaceted and interdisciplinary, providing students with both foundational knowledge and advanced technical skills in their specific fields. The primary academic focus areas, which students concentrate on during the four-week period, include:

• Visual Art: A comprehensive program focused on facilitating technical skills in the production of art and understanding the expression of ideas through various mediums, including access to modern tools like 3D printers and welding materials, in addition to drawing, painting, and printmaking.
• Music (Vocal and Instrumental): Dynamic instruction for students skilled in strings, wind ensemble, piano, and classical guitar, as well as cultivation of outstanding young voices in choral and opera technique. The program includes both individual and group instruction.
• Dance Classes / Dance Training: An intensive, multifaceted summer dance program focused on developing self-awareness, communication through movement, and performance art, exposing students to a community of interdisciplinary arts professionals.
• Theatre: Dedicated and focused study in all areas of theatrical studies, with an emphasis on the process of creating live theatre. The program provides instruction in both performance and technical design, covering aspects like scenes, lighting, and costumes.
• Filmmaking: Introducing students to both the theory and technical aspects of cinematic storytelling, with hands-on experience in all three phases: pre-production, production (camera, lighting, grip, sound), and post-production (editing software).
• Summer Arts Program: The overarching four-week residency itself, which is a full-time, highly-intensive living/learning experience for the duration of the program, including scheduled activities and masterclasses on weekends.

The prestige and structure of the Tennessee Governor's School for the Arts offer numerous features and highlights that make it a standout institution not just in Tennessee, but nationwide for pre-collegiate arts training:

• College Credit: Each student who successfully completes the summer session receives three hours of college credit, a significant head start on their academic career.
• High Selectivity and Quality: Open only to rising 11th and 12th graders from Tennessee's public, private, and home-schools who are nominated by high school faculty and selected via competitive audition or portfolio review.
• Expert Faculty: Students are immersed 24/7 with working musicians, artists, and professionals who serve as both instructors and mentors, providing real-world insights and connections.
• State Recognition: All successful completers receive a certificate of merit personally signed by the Governor of Tennessee, a distinguished addition to any college application or resume.
• Alumni Network: With an alumni count of over 10,000, the program boasts an influential network that includes respected business leaders, educators, and accomplished performers, demonstrating the broad creative impact of the program.
• Rigorous and Focused Curriculum: The demanding schedule and focused instruction—about four hours daily in the major concentration—provide unparalleled depth of training, far exceeding a typical summer camp experience.
• No Tuition/Housing/Meals Cost: Accepted students are typically awarded a scholarship that covers the cost of tuition, housing, and meals for the entire four weeks, with some students receiving partial or no scholarship but a high percentage receiving full or partial aid to offset the program fee.

What is worth choosing the Tennessee Governor's School for the Arts? For gifted and talented Tennessee high school students with a serious passion for the arts, there is simply no comparable experience in the state. This program is not merely a set of art classes; it is a life-changing, pre-professional immersion that bridges high school achievement with college-level expectation. The receipt of three college credits, the prestige of being a "Governor's School" alumna/alumnus, and the intensity of the specialized training are invaluable. Furthermore, the supportive, peer-driven environment, as noted by former students, creates a community of like-minded individuals, fostering creative collaboration and lifelong connections. Attending the GSFTA is a definitive step toward mastering a craft and preparing for a future where creative capacity is essential, no matter the final career path.

Tennessee Governor's School for the Arts

1439 Faulkinberry Dr, Murfreesboro, TN 37130, USA