FWCD Seniors to Pursue Arts in College

Seniors Brooke Baldwin and Anna Rodgers will follow their passions for the arts in college. Baldwin plans to double major in photography in the College of Fine Arts and business in the Neely School of Business at Texas Christian University. Rodgers auditioned for a spot in the Ritter Family Classical Guitar Program at the University of Colorado and was accepted. 

Baldwin studied photography at FWCD with Upper School Photography Teacher Sil Azevedo. “On winter break four years ago, when no emails were coming in, I received an unexpected message from young Brooke. She explained she received a new Fuji X-T200 [camera] and shared a link with an impressive first series of 30 or so images, beautifully shot and edited,” Azevedo said. “No assignments were due. Brooke simply could not contain her enthusiasm. This love for the craft and curiosity for the world have driven Brooke to continue to photograph and develop a style of her own. She has a gift for setting perfect strangers at ease and capturing wonderful portraits. Her gift and dedication are powerful assets as she enters this new phase of her journey, which is sure to be filled with discovery and growth.” 

“I started teaching in the conservatory in 2017, the year guitar was added as an option for the students. Anna was among the original guitar students, and she studied with us until she started high school,” said Quint Olsen, Conservatory Instructor. “Anna was immediately one of the brightest talents in the program.  She plays so musically and with such expression … and she is easily the best sight reader I have ever worked with. I’m really proud of all she has accomplished.”

Melissa Scott, Music Conservatory Director, added, “I am especially proud of Anna for her dedication this year. “Her success spotlights the Music Conservatory in a wonderful way, and her partnership with Quint is a great example of the value of private music instruction.”

Director of Fine Arts Chelsy Beninate initiated art signings at the School last year. “Celebrating students who chose to continue an artistic passion in college should be a tradition each year,” she said. “We are fortunate to have a school that values the arts, and we hope our students continue to be patrons and participants of the arts throughout their lives.”