January 29, 2026

Welcome to the IH Arts Conservatory Weekly Newsletter!

Welcome back to The Director’s Chair ! This week, I’m thrilled to be joined by a very special guest—our Athletic Director, Brian Phelps—for a conversation that celebrates one of our favorite things at Indian Hill: coming together as a community to support our students!

We’re talking all about Casino Night, an evening that promises big fun, great company, and an even greater purpose. Made possible by our incredible IH Boosters, this beloved event is more than just a night out—it’s a chance to connect, laugh, and invest directly in our arts and athletic programs, with proceeds that go straight back to creating meaningful opportunities for our students. We are so grateful to the Boosters for their continued support and for making nights like this possible for our community.

So grab your tickets, round up some friends, and get ready for a night of excitement, community spirit, and support for the programs we love. Casino Night is almost here—and you won’t want to miss it!



Tickets are on sale now—get yours today and join us for a night of fun, connection, and support for our students. We can’t wait to see you there!

Click here to purchase your tickets!

Click here to view this week's video!

IHHS

• Thursday, January 29-Saturday, January 31: OMEA All-State Columbus, OH
• Friday, February 6–Sunday, February 22: Scholastics winning artwork on display at the Art Academy of Cincinnati
• Wednesday, February 11: 1st Row
• Saturday, February 14: Winter Musical, The Pajama Game, Cue-to-Cue
• Sunday, February 15-Wednesday, February 18: Winter Musical, The Pajama Game, Tech Week
• Thursday, February 19: 7:00 pm Winter Musical, The Pajama Game, Performance
• Friday, February 20: 7:00 pm Winter Musical, The Pajama Game, Performance
• Saturday, February 21: 2:00 pm Winter Musical, The Pajama Game, Performance
• Saturday, February 21: 7:00 pm Winter Musical, The Pajama Game, Performance

IHMS

• Friday, February 6–Sunday, February 22: Scholastics winning artwork on display at the Art Academy of Cincinnati
• Friday, February 27: IHMS Art Show Blue Ash Rec Center

IHPS

• Monday, February 9: 2nd Grade Music Presentation
• Tuesday, February 10: 2nd Grade Music Presentation
• Wednesday, February 11: 2nd Grade Music Presentation
• Wednesday, February 11: 1st Row

IHSD

Saturday, February 7: 7:00 pm Casino Night

Congratulations to our Indian Hill Arts Conservatory middle and high school students who were recently recognized in the prestigious Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, earning an outstanding 36 total awards across visual art and writing.

Each year, students in grades 7–12 have the opportunity to showcase their creative work through the Scholastic competition, which honors young artists and writers at both the regional and national levels. This year’s honors include 10 Gold Keys, 9 Silver Keys, 15 Honorable Mentions, and 2 Writing Awards.

A special congratulations goes to Vivian Jenkins, who earned a Portfolio Award for a collection of eight pieces, a significant achievement within the competition.

Visual Arts Awards (34 Total)

Gold Key Awards (10):

Mariam Keis, Anna O’Driscoll, Ammara Rahman, Jenisha Rana (2), Iris Xu, Clairette Yang, Olivia Zhao (2), Raisel Green

Silver Key Awards (9):

Rivkah Green, Jinming Gu (2), Alice Gumlaw, Ammara Rahman, Emily Shea, Iris Xu (2), Olivia Zhao

Honorable Mentions (15):

Jasmina Ashurova, Rivkah Green (3), Jinming Gu (2), Kendall Higgins (3), Geneva Sowma, Alistair Woo (3), Olivia Zhao

Portfolio Award:

Vivian Jenkins — Portfolio Honorable Mention (8 pieces)

Writing Awards (2 Total)

Sylvie Gumlaw received one Gold Key and one Silver Key for her writing submissions.

All winning artwork from the Southern Ohio, Northern Kentucky, and Southeastern Indiana region will be on display at the Art Academy of Cincinnati from February 6–22, celebrating the incredible talent of student artists across the region.

We are incredibly proud of our Indian Hill Arts Conservatory students and the creativity, dedication, and passion they bring to their work.

Click here to see the award winning art pieces!

Congratulations to IHHS Orchestra and Vocal musicians who performed at OMEA Solo and Ensemble this past weekend!

Orchestra Students:

Owin Abeysinghe, Jasmina Ashurova, Ella Bay, Luke Bergstrom, Sophie Buse, Rohan Chadwell, Reed De Blank, Merle Ebner, Ella Grant, Gabby Henz, Rian Jang, Isha Jha, Prithvi Kesari, Isaac Kim, Carly Lindsell, Sabrina Mangialardo, Darcy McMahon, Vee Mehzad, Marin Messerschmitt, Michael Miller, Ichiro Narita, Devyanshie Rautela, Juliana Rodriguez Perez, Aaron Scott, Shaili Shah, Kaylee VanDemark, Cameron Wu, and Victor Zhang   

Vocal Students:

Xavier Sharif - Class A Baritone, Claire Reeuwijk - Class A Soprano, Elyse Longbottom - Class A Soprano, and Elsa Neidich - Class A Soprano

Across all of the performances, students earned 12 Superior ratings and 6 Excellent ratings. Bravo to all of our performing musicians!

The Red Letter Delivery

It is not too late to subscribe for our brand-new arts experience designed to celebrate and elevate the creativity of our student artists: The Red Letter Delivery!



The Red Letter Delivery is a monthly art subscription that brings the beauty of Indian Hill student artwork directly to your mailbox—delivered in our signature red envelope—for just $8 per month.

Each month, subscribers will receive a professionally printed 5x7 piece of original student art, paired with a personal note from the student artist sharing the inspiration behind their work. It’s a meaningful blend of creativity and storytelling—offering a tangible connection to the imagination, voice, and heart of our students.

All proceeds from The Red Letter Delivery will be reinvested into the Indian Hill Arts Conservatory, directly supporting arts programming and creative opportunities for students across our district. This project is generously sponsored by the Indian Hill Foundation.

Our debut edition, which recently reached the mailboxes of subscribers, celebrates Home for the Holidays and features a stunning portrayal of the Cincinnati skyline by IHHS student artist Norah Condorodis. Her artwork captures warmth, nostalgia, and family history—an especially poignant tribute inspired by her grandfather and great uncle, whose stories are woven into the spirit of the city.

As I shared in the announcement,“This is more than an art subscription—it’s a tangible connection to our students’ imagination and heart. Each red envelope is a moment of surprise and delight, and the artwork inside makes a truly special gift for someone who loves both mail and art.”

Subscriptions are open now, with the first delivery arriving in January 2026. Subscriptions may also be purchased as gifts and mailed anywhere—making The Red Letter Delivery a thoughtful and meaningful present for the art lovers in your life.

I hope you’ll join us in celebrating this beautiful new way to support and experience the arts at Indian Hill—one red envelope at a time.

Indian Hill Elementary School

Indian Hill Middle School

Indian Hill High School

Indian Hill Boosters Casino Night is just around the corner! Join us on Saturday, February 7, at the 20th Century Theatre in Oakley for a fun-filled evening celebrating the Indian Hill Arts and Athletics programs. Enjoy food, drinks, casino-style games, raffle prizes, and great company — all while supporting a vital fundraiser for IH Boosters! Funds raised directly benefit our arts, athletics, and extracurricular programs across the district.

Gather a group of friends and join the fun!

Tickets available now: Click HERE to purchase your tickets today!

RESCHEDULED DATE!

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