Naperville, IL

(630) 243-5100

Same Programming, New Name! Academy of the Arts is now Illinois Conservatory for the Arts

Next event:

Velvet Social: For The Dreamers

with the Touring Cast of Back to the Future

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IMPACT: Musical Theatre

Session 2: August 5-9

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The Pilot Program for ICA’s K-12 day school is launching Fall 2025.

At Illinois Conservatory for the Arts, our students will engage in a practicum of pre-professional arts training balanced with rigorous academics.

Applications will open Early Spring 2025 for a limited number of spots. Selected applicants will audition for ICA with placement for those accepted in Late Spring 2025.

Join the Interest List

Performing Arts

Dance
Music
Theatre

Visual Arts

Drawing
Painting
Ceramics & Sculpture

Media Arts

Graphic Design
Animation
Photo & Video

Arts Business

Entrepreneurship
Finance
Marketing

Academic areas

Math
language arts
Reading
Science
Social Studies

OUR APPROACH OUR APPROACH OUR APPROACH OUR APPROACH OUR APPROACH OUR APPROACH

Artistic Mentorship

Adjunct instructors from the collegiate and professional artistic industries provide our students with a direct link to the current state of the arts world.

Arts Business

All students take business courses to prepare them to be artistic entrepreneurs.

Dual Credit/ap courses

In partnership with College of DuPage, ICA high school students are able to receive college credit for coursework in the arts and business.

Capstone Projects

Students conduct capstone projects in their major art area of concentration. A culminating project where students will be encouraged to think critically and creatively. Artists develop skills in research, communication, media literacy, self-sufficiency, and professionalism.

Masterclasses

Guest teaching artists are essential to our curriculum. All arts areas feature a rotation of professional teaching artists throughout the year to provide a wide, scope of skills and perspectives.

Hands-on learning

Students have access to professional experiences to prepare them for the real artistic world.

modern technology

As a pre-professional arts program, students have access to modern technology that prepares them for arts experiences in the real world.

specialized coursework

As students grow in the program, they take specialized courses to prepare them in their areas of interest beyond general arts classes. For example, a music student will take courses in conducting, arranging, and private lessons on their instruments as part of their school day.

Student Internships

With professional partnerships at the core of our philosophy, students are given the opportunity to partner with professional artists and arts organizations to further their education through internships.

Ica... future in the arts path to a career world of possibilities dream becoming reality

ica...

Dream becoming reality
future in the arts
path to a career
world of possibilities

k–12 day school
launching Fall 2025

pre-enrollment Auditions begin january 2025

official enrollment opens march 2025

Join Interest list

Nondiscriminatory Policy

Illinois Conservatory for Arts employs staff and admits students of any race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, gender, religion, and sexual orientation to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It doesn’t discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, and ethnic origin, gender, religion, and sexual orientation in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, and other school-administered programs.

High-level arts meets
high-achieving academics.

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naperville, illinois • copyright 2024 illinois conservatory for the arts. all rights reserved.

JOIN THE INTEREST LIST

The Pilot Program for ICA’s K-12 day school is launching Fall 2025.

Fill out the form below to get on the official interest list and access the survey form. Applications will open in Early Spring 2025.

session 1 • june 10–14, 2024

session 2 • August 5–9, 2024

Check availability

IMPACT is popular and fills up fast! You'll be forwarded to the registration form to grab your spot.

James T. Lane / Dance

West End: The Scottsboro Boys, A Chorus Line – Revival (Palladium Theatre). Broadway: Chicago (Billy Flynn and Amos Hart) Kiss Me, Kate (Paul), King Kong the Musical ,The Scottsboro Boys (Ozie Powell/Ruby Bates), Chicago and A Chorus Line (Richie Walters). Tours: Jersey Boys, Cinderella, Fame the Musical. Regional Theatre: Guys and Dolls ( Nicely Nicely) Virginia Stage Company, Mary Poppins (Bert) Aint’t Misbehavin ,Drury Lane Theatre, The Wiz (Tin Man), Broadway at Music Circus,The Old Globe, The Little Mermaid (Sebastian) The Muny, A.C.T and Dallas Theatre Center. Encores/Off Center:Promenade,Grand Hotel, Don’t Bother Me, I Can’t Cope Concerts: Carnegie Hall with The New York Pops, Ottawa Symphony and many more. James is the creator of and the 2023 Audelco Award winner for Best Solo Performance for “Triple Threat” that played Off Broadway to great acclaim at Theatre Row in New York City. Mr. Lane teaches music theatre dance when and wherever anyone will let him! Instagram: @jamestlane www.jamestlane.com

Syndee Winters / Voice

Syndee Winters (@syndeewinters) is an American singer, recording artist, and actress. Best known for her role as “Nala.” Syndee’s other credits include lead roles in Motown the Musical, Pippin, Jesus Christ Superstar on NBC, and Hamilton. In 2020, Syndee founded R.O.A.R., a professional development program helping artists hoan their skills, transform their stage presence and navigate the industry. Inspired by the art of storytelling, Syndee’s tours the world with two magical productions. Disney Princess: The Concert and Lessons From A Lady: A Dedication to Lena Horne. Syndee is also an award- winning recording artist and her latest project with GRAMMY® winning producer Ben Williams entitled, “Butterfly Black” is available everywhere now.

Caitlin Kinnunen / Acting

Caitlin Kinnunen Is a Tony nominated actress for her work in THE PROM on Broadway, having originated the role of Emma Nolan. Most recently you can hear her as Juniper on the podcast The Callisto Protocol: Helix Station starring Gwendolyn Christie. Caitlin was nominated for an Audie Award for narrating the audiobook MaryJane, and was handpicked by Judy Blume to narrate her book Forever. Film/TV credits include The Intern, Sweet Little Lies, It’s Kind of a Funny Story, We Need to Talk About Kevin, “Our Ladies” (pilot for The CW), “Suck Hole” (pilot for FX), “Younger”, “American Vandal”, “The Knick”, and “Law & Order: SVU”.

Peter Van Dam / Casting

Peter is the recipient of four Artios Awards for excellence in casting. He joined Tara Rubin Casting in 2018 as a Casting Director, and previously was an associate at Jim Carnahan Casting / Roundabout Theatre Company.

Broadway: The Heart of Rock & Roll, Six, The Phantom of the Opera, Tootsie, Head Over Heels, Angels in America, Farinelli and the King, The Cherry Orchard. National Tours: Six, The Band’s Visit. Off-Broadway/New York: Dead Outlaw (Audible Theater – World Premiere), Pal Joey (New York City Center), Whisper House (The Civilians), Sing Street (New York Theatre Workshop), Something Clean (Roundabout), The Beast in the Jungle (Vineyard). Regional: Summer Stock (Goodspeed – World Premiere), Sing Street, (The Huntington), 42nd Street (Goodspeed), Kismet (Granada Theatre/Santa Barbara Symphony), Chasing Rainbows (Paper Mill Playhouse), Chess (The Kennedy Center), Wonderful Town (LA Opera). Canada: Beaches, Six, The Louder We Get. West End: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Nice Fish. Benefits: I’m Still Here (New York Public Library for the Performing Arts), Julie Halston’s Broadway Belts for PFF, Thoroughly Modern Millie (The Actors Fund).

JOIN THE FALL 2024 INTEREST LIST

Evening & Weekend Classes
Individual Courses & Conservatory Tracks

Fill out the form below to get on the interest list for The Studio: Fall 2024. We will update you with schedules and registration information mid-summer.