ARTS
We believe the arts are essential to a well-rounded education. Through visual arts, music, theater, and dance, students are encouraged to explore their creativity, develop their voice, and share their God-given talents with confidence.
From their earliest years to graduation day, the arts are woven into every stage of the FRA experience. Whether performing on stage, painting in the studio, or composing in our recording lab, students discover the power of creative expression.
Culminating experiences allow students to showcase their progress and passions in over 30 on-campus arts events grades K-12. For students interested in pursuing the arts at the highest levels, we proudly offer AP courses in the arts for AP Drawing, AP 3-Dimensional, AP Art History, and AP Music Theory.
Lower School
For our youngest learners, the arts are about joyful discovery. Through weekly enrichment activities in music, movement, and visual art, students explore self-expression, build confidence, and begin to uncover their unique gifts.
Middle School
In middle school, creative exploration expands. Fifth and sixth graders can choose between choir and band, while seventh and eighth graders delve deeper into theater and music, discovering new talents and building artistic confidence along the way.
Upper School
Upper school students take their creativity to the next level with enriching electives, productions, and co-curriculars. Many travel for performances or gain acceptance to selective programs, such as the Governor’s School for the Arts. Whether preparing a portfolio, leading a band, or performing on stage, our students leave FRA with refined skills and a lifelong love for the arts.
Friends of the Arts (FOTA)
Franklin Road Academy's Friends of the Arts (FOTA) was established to provide comprehensive support for the school's arts programs across all grade levels, from pre-k through 12th grade.
FOTA offers financial assistance, moral support, and volunteer opportunities for students and teachers involved in music, drama, and visual arts.
While the annual FOTA Flower sale contributes to fundraising efforts, the organization primarily relies on memberships to sustain its mission of enriching the arts community at FRA.
2025-26 Arts Dates
Evening with the Arts Auditions & Art
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Evening with the Arts
3rd Grade Musical Concert
Middle School Musical
Middle School Musical
Middle School Musical
Student Art Show
all day
Student Art Show
all day
Student Art Show
all day
Student Art Show
all day
Student Art Show
all day
Student Art Show
all day
Student Art Show
all day
Student Art Show
all day
Student Art Show
all day
Student Art Show
all day
Student Art Show
all day
Upper School Drama Opening Night Event
Upper School Drama
Student Art Show
all day
Upper School Drama
Upper School Drama
Student Art Show
all day
Student Art Show
all day
Student Art Show
all day
Arts News
![Jaden Holtschlag ’20 Joins Global Tour of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1758803190/franklinroadacademycom/g2eq9lfr87xej5xxmo1e/JadenHoltschlag.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1758803190/franklinroadacademycom/g2eq9lfr87xej5xxmo1e/JadenHoltschlag.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1758803190/franklinroadacademycom/g2eq9lfr87xej5xxmo1e/JadenHoltschlag.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1758803190/franklinroadacademycom/g2eq9lfr87xej5xxmo1e/JadenHoltschlag.png","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1758803190/franklinroadacademycom/g2eq9lfr87xej5xxmo1e/JadenHoltschlag.png","width":1418}])
Franklin Road Academy alumnus Jaden Holtschlag has joined the global tour of the award-winning Broadway musical Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
![Ross Bolen Receives Outstanding Teacher Award]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1757593603/franklinroadacademycom/udjwsoauucdsetqo52vi/RossBolenAP-1-edit.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1757593603/franklinroadacademycom/udjwsoauucdsetqo52vi/RossBolenAP-1-edit.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1757593603/franklinroadacademycom/udjwsoauucdsetqo52vi/RossBolenAP-1-edit.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1757593603/franklinroadacademycom/udjwsoauucdsetqo52vi/RossBolenAP-1-edit.png","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1757593603/franklinroadacademycom/udjwsoauucdsetqo52vi/RossBolenAP-1-edit.png","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1757593603/franklinroadacademycom/udjwsoauucdsetqo52vi/RossBolenAP-1-edit.png","width":2200}])
Director of Theater Ross Bolen has received an outstanding teacher award from the Tennessee Governor’s School for the Arts.
![FRA Announces Upper School and Middle School Musicals]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1755703350/franklinroadacademycom/vy5b9hxqnvh9elojfpyg/MusicalAnnouncementsAP-6.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1755703350/franklinroadacademycom/vy5b9hxqnvh9elojfpyg/MusicalAnnouncementsAP-6.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1755703350/franklinroadacademycom/vy5b9hxqnvh9elojfpyg/MusicalAnnouncementsAP-6.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1755703350/franklinroadacademycom/vy5b9hxqnvh9elojfpyg/MusicalAnnouncementsAP-6.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1755703350/franklinroadacademycom/vy5b9hxqnvh9elojfpyg/MusicalAnnouncementsAP-6.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1755703350/franklinroadacademycom/vy5b9hxqnvh9elojfpyg/MusicalAnnouncementsAP-6.jpg","width":2200}])
Franklin Road Academy announced that the upper school will perform “Grease: School Version” as its fall musical and the middle school will present the musical “Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka Jr.” in the spring.
![Alumni Highlight: Connor Richardson ’20 Cast as Johnny in The Notebook National Tour]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1753721306/franklinroadacademycom/tha0o88xwaxetmx8qc6a/Screenshot2025-07-28at113113AM.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1753721306/franklinroadacademycom/tha0o88xwaxetmx8qc6a/Screenshot2025-07-28at113113AM.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1753721306/franklinroadacademycom/tha0o88xwaxetmx8qc6a/Screenshot2025-07-28at113113AM.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1753721306/franklinroadacademycom/tha0o88xwaxetmx8qc6a/Screenshot2025-07-28at113113AM.png","width":886}])
Franklin Road Academy is proud to celebrate the exciting news that alumnus Connor Richardson has been cast as Johnny in the national tour of The Notebook. From choir concerts and school musicals to professional stages across the country, Connor’s journey in the performing arts is a shining example of passion, perseverance, and purpose in action.
![Ella Grace Beasley '25 Recognized as a 2025 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards National Winner!]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1743099659/franklinroadacademycom/y4hnmwwdi2gq6xuilz1v/EllaGraceStory.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1743099659/franklinroadacademycom/y4hnmwwdi2gq6xuilz1v/EllaGraceStory.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1743099659/franklinroadacademycom/y4hnmwwdi2gq6xuilz1v/EllaGraceStory.png","width":800}])
Franklin Road Academy is proud to announce that Ella Grace Beasley has been recognized as a 2025 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards National Winner!
![Ava Dinkel '27 Accepted into Tennessee Governor's School for the Arts Summer Program]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1743098736/franklinroadacademycom/thb6qazgyermbggouipn/AvaDinkelStory.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1743098736/franklinroadacademycom/thb6qazgyermbggouipn/AvaDinkelStory.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1743098736/franklinroadacademycom/thb6qazgyermbggouipn/AvaDinkelStory.png","width":800}])
Congratulations to Franklin Road Academy student Ava Dinkel on her acceptance into the Tennessee Governor's School for the Arts (GSFTA) for the upcoming summer session in Theatre, with a concentration in Design/Technical.
![Fostering The Future of Music]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1743086684/franklinroadacademycom/jsdutpyj3oh5pao7xq13/RecordingStudioStory.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1743086684/franklinroadacademycom/jsdutpyj3oh5pao7xq13/RecordingStudioStory.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1743086684/franklinroadacademycom/jsdutpyj3oh5pao7xq13/RecordingStudioStory.png","width":800}])
At Franklin Road Academy, our commitment to nurturing creative minds has always been at the heart of everything we do. This year, that commitment has taken on a whole new dimension with the opening of our state-of-the-art recording studio.
![Upper School Musical Dazzles Audience]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1733417541/franklinroadacademycom/dfiao4xtemkaai65ogu1/AddamsFamilyStory.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1733417541/franklinroadacademycom/dfiao4xtemkaai65ogu1/AddamsFamilyStory.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1733417541/franklinroadacademycom/dfiao4xtemkaai65ogu1/AddamsFamilyStory.png","width":800}])
A few weeks ago, our upper school students transported audiences into the delightfully macabre world of The Addams Family.
![FRA Students Recognized at FRAnkie Awards Ceremony]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1714667250/franklinroadacademycom/dmvoxmrgfmzargizqfds/FRAnkiesAwardsStory.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1714667250/franklinroadacademycom/dmvoxmrgfmzargizqfds/FRAnkiesAwardsStory.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1714667250/franklinroadacademycom/dmvoxmrgfmzargizqfds/FRAnkiesAwardsStory.png","width":800}])
On May 2, 2024, Franklin Road Academy’s Department of Fine Arts hosted the annual FRAnkie Awards ceremony for upper school students in the Scarlett Family Chapel.