The Color of Creativity: Bronx Science’s Rich Arts Curriculum

As a place where innovation meets imagination, Bronx Science has a rich arts curriculum that challenges students beyond the boundaries of science alone.

Kaitlyn Toy, Staff Reporter • July 2, 2025

The cast of the Fall Play strikes a curious and mysterious pose, capturing the playful spirit of their performance and drawing the audience into their story.

Gallery • 12 Photos

Bridget Galwey

The cast of the Fall Play strikes a curious and mysterious pose, capturing the playful spirit of their performance and drawing the audience into their story.

The Bronx High School of Science is well-known for shaping some of the nation’s brightest minds. Our students shine in academics, innovation, athletics, and on competitive stages—demonstrating that excellence here knows no bounds. However, there is a side to our school that is sometimes underappreciated. Amid a passion for formulas, critical thinking, and drive for success, there exists a vibrant and beautiful arts curriculum that deserves just as much spotlight.

To many, Bronx Science is more than a school—it’s a home–a home where students can freely express themselves and let their individuality and creativity thrive. In sketchbooks and scripts, on stages and in melodies, our students undoubtedly reveal the endless colors of creativity that paint a picture of who we truly are.

Visual Arts

Vanessa Mines ’26 is an artist who has honed her craft during the COVID-19 pandemic. “I was a kid trapped at home and YouTube videos were mostly about art tips, so that led me into drawing people.” As a student in Studio in Painting, she is able to express herself through beautiful works of art and take a break from the pressures of school. “Having fun every once in a while can’t hurt,” Mines remarked. A key aspect to creativity and arts is the manner of self-expression. However, Mines’s primary inspiration is to express others’ emotions rather than her own. “I am a huge empath… if I see someone or something I like, I’ll start to draw. I guess you could say I draw people smiling a lot more often, and my mood definitely influences my art.”

Visual arts—just these two words encompass and define a vibrant world within the vast realm of art. From traditional arts like sculpting, painting, and drawing to modern digital arts, visual arts is most certainly an evolving form of creative expression. Mines experienced such a shift herself. “I was a huge traditional art fan at first. Using pencils was so easy, and I used to bash digital art because I didn’t know how to use it…now, digital art is my main way I make art.” As art forms are consistently evolving, so is Mines as an artist. “I have gotten one step closer to finding my art style…comparing old art and new art is so funny because you can see how much you’ve improved. So everytime I compare my old art with my new art, I’m making milestones for myself—just wait—I’m cooking up something right now!”

Beyond her five-period-a-week class and her artwork from home, Mines hopes to elevate her art to the next level by enrolling in the AP 2D Art and Design class for her senior year. “If a class like that can make my art rise to a new level, then I’m so for it,” she said, inspired by the breathtaking portfolios she has seen online. Mines holds high expectations for the course, excited by how much she can improve her skills in anatomy and poses, as well as evoking emotions within beautiful scenery that are “soft and otherworldly.”

“If you are interested in art, then just find the things you like to draw! If you draw with restrictions, then it really isn’t fun…you won’t always be automatically the best at art—so be patient (I’ve been doing this for 3-4 years…) And don’t compare yourself to others…you need to find your own style and stick with it! Have fun!” – Vanessa Mines ’26

Performing Arts: Music

Abigail Lee ’26 is a member of Concert Band, which is one of the many instrumental course offerings at Bronx Science. While only one year of arts credit is required to graduate, Lee is dedicated to a four-year commitment. “It only felt natural for me to try out for the band classes which were offered here at Bronx Science. The thought of expanding my skills in an even more prestigious environment made me excited in ways I cannot describe.” In Concert Band, a musician of each section can serve as Principal for one year, after which they may transition to become a Coach—a newly implemented mentorship role. In each section, the designated Principal and Coach pair is responsible for guiding and leading their section as they practice and prepare for concerts. As the previous Principal Flute and current Flute Coach, Lee reflected on how these roles have impacted her artistic journey. “They allow me to further expand my abilities to become a better musician, a better peer, and a better leader…an individual that can balance both self-discipline and self-compassion, humility and authority, and most importantly in becoming a consistent role model that can always lend a hand in aiding my peers.” Being a mentor has also accelerated her individual growth, helping her discover her strengths and weaknesses. Beyond her expectations upon joining the course, she is also the appointed Instagram manager, where she has developed skills in graphic and creative design.

Q: Please describe your overall experience with Concert Band and/or experiences with any form of arts you participate in.

A: “There were definitely highs-and-lows when it came to my time in Concert Band, and I feel many members can relate to this rollercoaster of an experience throughout their time within this specific classroom. The need to constantly improve—to constantly be better than my previous version’s performance—and the accumulation of mistakes, of errors that never seemed to get fixed even through hours of practice seemed perpetual; the stress which comes with music is definitely no joke. But the accomplishments that I feel with every performance, every successful note, every piece we as a band play in the classroom—they feel all-the-more fulfilling in that regard.”

Q: Please share your most valued memory related to Concert Band.

A: “My most valued memory in Concert Band, or one of my many, is the first ever Winter Concert I experienced as a band member. I still remember how nervous I felt when preparing for the stage, and staying so late during after-school hours felt so surreal in my ninth-grade mind. I was never good with being on stage—my palms never failed to clam up as the spotlight shined onto the stage, and I tried holding a nervous smile as I looked towards the audience. Once everyone was situated in their respective seats, the crowd immediately fell silent, the still air creating an excited tension in the atmosphere. Mr. Mantilla then raised his baton and everyone readied their instruments, and the very first rise and fall of his hand started our united breath—and we began to play. To me, this very moment, when the band performed to the audience what was essentially a months-worth accumulation of our hard work, felt fulfilling like no other.”

Playing an instrument is a beautiful form of expression, and Lee added that it is all about interpretation. “I’ve learned that there is always a purpose behind every aspect of a piece,” she said, “A melody akin to a lullaby, for example, should be played with gentle articulations and quieter dynamics, playing it a lot more lyrically compared to something that creates dramatic tension, which requires a much heavier, exact definition of playing.” If you are interested in Concert Band, you should, as Lee said, “simply go for it.” As one of the many unique artistic experiences at Bronx Science, “classes like these are about constant improvement, practice, and commitment—and if you’re ready to do just that, we all welcome you with open arms,” Lee said.

Performing Arts: On the Stage

Beyond instrumental arts and music, Bronx Science also offers a rich performance culture with extracurricular activities such as S!NG, Choreo Club, and Lunar. Students from diverse backgrounds and experiences come together on stage to showcase their talents and personalities.

Sofia Fernandez ’26 is a performer in both S!NG and Choreo. She was motivated by a desire to be “part of something creative and empowering,” and joining these communities has allowed her to do just that. In these communities, she has found people who share her interests, made her feel welcomed and supported, and offered a valuable learning experience. “I have been able to build confidence, form meaningful connections, and grow as a person,” she said.

Katherine Chan ’26 and Rebekah Chen ’26 are members of Lunar. “I first became interested in performance after viewing the 2023 Lunar Annual Showcase. I was in the audience and just seeing how much fun the performers were having while dancing motivated me to join Lunar,” Chan shared. For many in Lunar, joining was one of the best decisions they made, and the day of their annual performance is often their most unforgettable memory. “Each year, I was able to give it my all during my performance and I wish to repeat the day a lot of times,” said Chan.

A common drawback of performance arts, for many is stage fright – also known as performance anxiety. It’s that unsettling feeling of butterflies in your stomach, your heart pounding as if trying to escape out of your chest, drops of sweat trickling down your forehead, and the overwhelming urge to run—though your feet are seemingly glued to the floor. This leads many prospective performers to either never perform at all or to struggle with doubts before they take the stage. Chan and Chen can relate to this, but they do not let it get in the way of doing what they love. “…everyone is nervous so just do your best. The end result, like finishing the whole song and performing successfully, makes me feel every stress is worth it…at the end of the day it’s just 5 minutes of your life on stage,” said Chen. Chan adds, “Just seeing their shocked and happy expressions motivates me to give it my all. At first I had doubts about performing too, but then I decided to give it a try. Now I’m a dedicated member of Lunar.”

Art and Expression at Bronx Science

The Bronx Science community and staff work hard to ensure that creativity and artistic expression are valued just as highly as your traditional STEM subjects. To see how deeply this commitment runs, I had the pleasure of interviewing Mr. Bing Qiu, our Assistant Principal of World Languages, Music, and Art.

Q: In your opinion, what is the importance of students having the opportunity for creative expression?
A: Creative expression is fundamental to students’ social-emotional development and overall wellbeing. It provides students with essential outlets to process emotions, build self-confidence, and develop resilience in healthy ways. At Bronx Science, these creative opportunities create meaningful shared experiences that foster a strong sense of belonging and connection within our school community. In addition, creative expression serves as a bridge between STEM and the humanities, encouraging our students to become well-rounded individuals who can think both analytically and empathetically. This integration helps students see the interconnection of disciplines and prepares them to be more innovative problem-solvers.

Q: As the Assistant Principal of World Languages, Music, and Art, what goals do you have for the integration of arts in a science-oriented school? Do you believe that this integration is important, and why or why not?

A: I believe arts integration is crucial in our school’s environment. Our primary goal is to provide students with authentic, hands-on experiences across World Languages, Music, and Art where they can create meaningful work and express themselves through multiple languages and artistic mediums. This integration enriches students’ academic experience while nurturing essential skills like creativity, collaboration, and cultural awareness. Arts education complements STEM learning by developing different ways of thinking and problem-solving, ultimately helping students gain broader perspectives and life skills that will serve them well beyond their academic careers.

Q: How well do you believe Bronx Science does in making such opportunities available to students?

A: I believe that Bronx Science excels in providing a comprehensive range of high-quality arts programming. We offer diverse courses including visual arts, studio art, painting, photography, computer graphics, digital music lab, drama, AP 2D Art and Design, AP Music Theory, and multiple performing ensembles. These varied opportunities enable students to explore their creativity and express themselves across different artistic disciplines. While we take pride in our current offerings, we believe there’s always room for improvement and growth. We actively welcome student input and are open to new initiatives that can further expand and enhance our arts programming to meet our students’ interests and needs.

Certainly, our students seem to agree: “Bronx Science helped me learn about the different art styles there are,” said Vanessa Mines ’26. And “Bronx Science has helped me grow as a performer by pushing me to work hard and managing my time. This school has given me the freedom to grow creatively and fueled my drive as an artist,” said Sofia Fernandez ’26.

Bronx Science not only allows its students to thrive academically, but also artistically. We are more than the “science” in our name. Our school community is known for its diversity and its inclusivity, yet that same spirit is not always reflected in our demonstration and support of our arts curricula. We need to shine light on our artists—at Bronx Science and beyond—if we hope to make creative art and expression more welcomed and prevalent in our schools. Behind those A-pluses and flawless lab reports, gold medals and powerful speeches, student creativity is sometimes overlooked. Art is not separate from excellence. Like any advanced mathematical proof or scientific breakthrough, art also requires the same originality and thought. When we begin to normalize the significance of an artistic achievement to be just as important as an academic success, we learn to redefine excellence to reflect the full scope of students’ potential.

To many, Bronx Science is more than a school—it’s a home. A home where students can freely express themselves and let their individuality and creativity thrive. In sketchbooks and scripts, on stages and in melodies, our students undoubtedly reveal the endless colors of creativity that paint a picture of who we truly are.

About the Contributors

Kaitlyn Toy, Staff Reporter

Kaitlyn Toy is a Graphic Designer and a Student Life Section Editor for ‘The Observatory’ yearbook, as well as a Staff Reporter for ‘The Science Survey’ newspaper. Kaitlyn finds that the most appealing aspect of journalistic writing is its ability to provide a platform for writers to articulate their thoughts and to communicate a wide range of messages to a large audience. She believes that journalism encourages the sharing of diverse thoughts and experiences, allowing similar ideas to unite and differing perspectives to inspire. Kaitlyn has a strong passion for photography. She perceives journalistic photography as a powerful means to convey and evoke deep emotions, capturing moments in time that people can look back on fondly. Similar to writing, photography serves as a medium of expression for Kaitlyn, allowing her to express herself and how she views the world through her lens. During her pastime, Kaitlyn enjoys reading, listening to K-pop, playing games, and spending time with friends and family. Driven by a keen interest for the biological sciences, she strives to enter the medical field and become a pediatrician. Regardless of the path she takes, she hopes to integrate her passions for journalism and photography with her career.

Yardena Franklin, Staff Reporter

Yardena Franklin is a Chief Graphic Designer and Editor-in-Chief for ‘The Observatory’ yearbook, as well as a Staff Reporter for ‘The Science Survey’ newspaper. She enjoys journalistic writing as a method to inform people about important subjects, and to share ideas for which she is passionate, all in a constructive, engaging way. She appreciates the art of taking photographs because they force her to think in a different manner, framing the picture in such a way that it tells a story and captures the exact moment in time. It is a precise art that requires much forethought, in order to plan how the photograph will turn out. In doing so, it requires much perspective shifting and flexibility, the challenge of which she enjoys. Yardena loves acting, singing, and directing. She hopes to become an engineer, but she plans to continue to pursue writing in some form, either through journalism or as a novelist, in the future.

Fei Ji, Staff Reporter

Fei Ji is a Chief Graphic Designer and a Copy Chief for ‘The Observatory’ yearbook, and a Staff Reporter for ‘The Science Survey.’ Fei finds journalism to be fascinating because through words, he can combine real world events with what is happening within the Bronx Science community. Fei finds photography to be interesting because of its ability to capture a specific moment in time, through colorful, wordless detail. Outside of school, Fei has many hobbies, but he mainly enjoys reading books and playing basketball in his free time. In the future, Fei would like to work in the fields of electrical engineering and cybersecurity.

Tammy Lam, Staff Reporter

Tammy Lam is a Managing Editor and Advisory Editor for ‘The Science Survey,’ part of the Editor-in-Chief Division. She believes that journalistic writing is important for enabling truths that reach audiences, so that a diversity of voices in society can be heard. She finds that journalistic photography allows one to capture the complexities of the real world while also exploring emotional depths that go beyond words in a given article. Tammy’s favorite hobbies outside of school include listening to indie music, browsing bookstores, and watching horror movies. In the future, she sees herself pursuing careers in English and sociology with the hope of finding a greater understanding of the world at large.

Kathy Le, Staff Reporter

Kathy Le is an Editor-in-Chief and Chief Graphic Designer for ‘The Observatory’ yearbook, where she enjoys experimenting with playful, approachable language on well-decorated spreads. She greatly appreciates the creative freedoms in exploring original ideas, writing, photography, interviews, and design in a group of talented students in order to produce a book that her peers can forever cherish. Meanwhile, as a Staff Reporter for ‘The Science Survey’ newspaper, she prefers extensive research for engaging and thoughtful long-form journalism. She greatly admires journalists who can use literary techniques to evoke vivid imagery and emotion while documenting objectivity. In her free time, Kathy can be found drawing or reading fiction, activities that she wishes to keep as hobbies while pursuing a future in psychology.

Bridget Galwey, Staff Reporter

Bridget Galwey is an Editor-in-Chief and a Chief Graphic Designer for ‘The Observatory’ yearbook. She is also a Staff Reporter for ‘The Science Survey’ newspaper. Bridget has always loved reading and telling stories. She believes that journalism is a great way to inform people of ideas in a creative and compelling way. She has a passion for photography that tells a story. Bridget has a deep appreciation for the impact that photography has on the world of journalism. She loves the challenge of looking for a photo that will make a statement. Bridget loves to read dystopian fiction, taking walks in Central Park, and enjoys going to museums with her friends. Bridget would love to pursue graphic design in the future. She wants to go into the field of marketing and improve her photography skills.

Bea Sireci, Staff Reporter

Bea Sireci is a Spotlight Editor for ‘The Science Survey.’ She enjoys journalistic writing because it captures unseen aspects of familiar topics. Being a journalist allows Bea to meet new people and learn about their incredible lives and accomplishments. She loves photography for its ability to be interpreted in many different ways, so that everyone can develop their own perceptions. Out of school, Bea loves spending time going on adventures outdoors, such as backpacking. She enjoys being with friends and family, and spending time alone, where she loves sewing, knitting, cooking, and playing the tenor saxophone. In ten years, Bea sees herself in one too many places. Perhaps she will be living out west in the mountains, working as a traveling journalist, or even being an astronaut. For now, she is excited to keep exploring the world through the lens of a journalist.