Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts has awarded grants worth up to $5,000 to three LCPS teachers to support performing arts experiences for their students. These teachers are among 14 teachers at public middle and high schools in Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C., that received grants to fund theater and performing arts projects in their classrooms.
The following LCPS teachers received 2025 Wolf Trap grants:
Chelsea Holmes, Sterling Middle School, for “Play On! A Collaborative Adventure to the Crossroads of Classical and Video Game Music”
For this project, the Videri String Quartet, an ensemble specializing in video game music, coached small string ensembles, presented a masterclass about communication in an ensemble, and performed side-by-side with the students for the school community. Chelsea Holmes, string orchestra director at Sterling Middle, also invited other LCPS music directors and students from Park View High School, Belmont Ridge Middle School and Willard Middle School to participate in the event. Through preparation for this event, the students made connections between video games and classical music, explored careers in the arts, and discovered how these two distinct forms intertwine in the arts, entertainment, and career opportunities. Holmes shared that they used part of the grant funds to commission a new arrangement of video game music to be premiered by our students. Videri’s composer/arranger created an arrangement of “Forest Theme” from the Nintendo Switch game “Super Mario Brothers Wonder” at a level approachable for school students, and the students performed the piece in January.
Holmes said that she is grateful that she and the other schools were able to bring this project to fruition thanks to the Wolf Trap grant. “This was an inspirational and motivating project for our students and the other directors, and I hope to continue events like these in the future. Wolf Trap opened the door for us and our students to experience a wider repertoire and a greater variety of musical styles...The students felt proud of everything they accomplished during the event. Some have even begun composing and arranging pieces and learning new video game songs independently,” said Holmes.
Kristen Friend, Mercer Middle School, for Chamber Winds
Chamber Winds is a student-led organization in which students select music, rehearse and perform without a conductor. By rehearsing and performing without a conductor, students become wholly accountable for timing, tempo, and musicality. This involves leadership, teamwork, and demonstration of musical knowledge to make informed decisions, said Kristen Friend, band director at Mercer Middle. Professional musicians coached individual ensembles, allowing students to gain musical understanding, receive targeted instruction and feedback, and open their minds to new perspectives. This year, the group incorporated an element of service by performing an outreach concert at the Dulles South Senior Center. This performance allowed the students to create and witness the impact that live music has within the community.
“We are incredibly grateful for this grant,” said Friend. “It allowed us to reach all students much more effectively, which is giving them a much better experience in the program. Last year, we only had two teachers to help 90 students, which is almost impossible. By having coaches, we are better able to facilitate student learning and success by giving more attention to each group every week. Our coaches are amazing this year, and we can’t wait to hear the final product in our concerts.”
Corrine Fox, Potomac Falls High School, for All My Sons
At the end of last school year, after the school year had ended for the seniors, Corrine Fox, Potomac Falls theater director, assigned the remaining juniors in her combined Theater III/IV class to read the play All My Sons by Arthur Miller and proposed that they perform the play this school year as a senior showcase. To help students connect with the play’s central theme of military service, Fox connected the class with a retired Army general and veterans living in a nearby retirement community. Students also attended master classes with the National Michael Chekhov Association to translate their conversations into character-driven performances. The group performed the play in January, with the audience joining the cast on the stage to create a more intimate theater-in-the-round experience. The veterans who provided guidance on the play also attended.
“The whole experience was so magnificent,” said Fox. “As a director, I had the pleasure of working with a smaller group of students, something that we don't typically do, and it gave each student more time to study their unique characters and understand the environment and circumstances that made their performances so beautiful and genuine. It was next-level acting you don't typically see from high schoolers, and Wolf Trap made it possible.”
All grantees and their students are invited to participate in a celebratory day of learning at Wolf Trap, featuring teaching artist workshops, tours of the Filene Center, and a panel for high school students with art professionals who will discuss career pathways in the arts. Participating high school students will perform at The Barns at Wolf Trap on Monday, April 28.
The Wolf Trap annual grants program celebrates high-quality instruction and performance achievement of public high school and middle school music, dance and theater teachers. Awardees receive a financial grant of up to $5,000 to support special projects that align with Wolf Trap’s performance and educational priorities.