Oconomowoc High School students have the opportunity to learn about and be involved in an impressive array of arts opportunities from musical and performing arts, to visual arts, and more!  Whether students are interested in the arts for enjoyment or as a pathway after graduating from OHS, there are opportunities for everyone.

OHS is fortunate to utilize the Oconomowoc Arts Center, a fully equipped professional arts facility.  Learn more about the Oconomowoc Arts Center by clicking here.

Performing Arts

The OHS Players, under the direction of Tiersa Ferraro, perform throughout the school year.  They present a musical at the Oconomowoc Arts Center every fall and several stage shows throughout the year.  For the last 15 years, the OHS fall musical has been nominated for and won several Jerry Awards for the quality and talent of our students and staff in the musical theater program.

Bands

The OHS Band program is second to none and has traveled around the world to play for invitation-only crowds.  Under the direction of Kate Hardt and Andrew Szymanek, students at OHS have access to the Symphonic Band, Concert Band, and Wind Symphony, along with the Jazz Band, Marching Band, Pep Band, and the opportunity to audition for the Pit Orchestra in the Fall Musical.

Choirs

The OHS choral program has a long history of musical excellence and presence in our greater Oconomowoc community and the state of Wisconsin, having earned the highest honors at the Wisconsin School Music Association Festivals.  Under the direction of Beth Kauffeld, curricular choirs include Choraliers, Treble Choir, and Concert Choir.  Students can enrich their OHS vocal music experience with co-curricular opportunities in Gold Vibrations, Golden Gals, and the OHS Players musical production where pop, jazz, and show tune genres are explored and performed.

Orchestra

The Oconomowoc High School Orchestra is recognized across the state as a high-achieving strings program. Under the direction of Rebecca Fix, the curricular Orchestra class performs multiple times throughout the school year, combining with the Wind Symphony to put on symphonic performances. Students additionally learn chamber music repertoire and have opportunities to perform in the club group, Rockestra, to perform more pop/rock tunes, or in the Pit Orchestra to work with the theater department.

Image A Day Youth Art Gallery

A collaborative effort between the Oconomowoc Area School District and the Courtney Bella Imagine A Day Foundation has established the Imagine A Day Youth Art Gallery in the Oconomowoc Arts Center lobby for children and students from preschool through the 12th grade to showcase their talents through the visual arts.

Visual Arts and Design

The Visual Arts and Design program offers students traditional and innovative avenues for gaining experience in the visual arts.  Students have the opportunity to pursue drawing, painting, ceramics, sculpture, and photography, in addition to newer classes like advertising and design, industrial design, and the Adobe Suite, all of which lay a foundation of artistic skills.  Students can then hone their talents and creative problem-solving processes in advanced drawing and painting, advanced ceramics, and advanced photography, as well as AP art and design, where students can choose between a drawing, 2D, or 3D portfolio for submission.  Every class gives students the chance to display their work in formal galleries and digital portfolios.