Located in Toronto, Etobicoke School of the Arts (ESA) offers an exceptional environment for aspiring young artists to grow academically and creatively from Grade 9 through 12. As a distinguished member of the Toronto District School Board, ESA serves talented students across southern Ontario who are committed to excelling in their artistic disciplines while maintaining strong academic performance.
🎭 Specialized Arts Education
ESA provides an exclusive and innovative arts-focused curriculum that requires audition-based admissions, ensuring a dedicated community of passionate students. The school’s program integrates comprehensive arts training with rigorous academics to prepare graduates for success in post-secondary education within the arts or any other field. The curriculum is delivered on a unique two-day cycle with 4 year-long courses each day, giving students an in-depth, balanced, and immersive learning experience without semester breaks.
🎶 Music Program Excellence
Music students benefit from a holistic pedagogical approach that includes ensemble and solo performance, theoretical understanding, technical skill development, and music history. The department is divided into Strings and Bands streams, where every student participates in large co-curricular ensembles designed to develop essential musicianship skills that extend beyond the classroom.
💃 Dance Department
The dynamic dance program offers training in ballet, modern, and jazz techniques, emphasizing performance, choreography, anatomy, conditioning, and dance history. Students engage with experienced instructors and guest artists and have multiple performance opportunities annually, including the Choreographic Workshop and the year-end Dance Night. Extracurricular groups such as 'DancESAtion' (modern dance company) and 'Refresh' (hip hop crew) further enrich the department’s offerings, showcasing student talent in diverse professional settings.
📚 Library and Learning Resources
ESA’s library serves as a hub for research, exploration, and academic support. It houses over 18,000 books, 30+ desktop computers, and 20+ Chromebooks accessible for student use. Modern facilities include a seminar room, conference room with presentation technology, and the quiet Walden Room designed to support wellness and focus. The library offers online subscription databases, affordable printing and photocopying, and a borrow bin for educational supplies, ensuring students have the resources to excel in their studies.
🏫 Academic Structure
Students undertake eight year-long courses in Grades 9 and 10, refining both their artistic and academic abilities. Grade 11 students typically enroll in seven or eight courses, while Grade 12 students focus on six courses, allowing more time for specialized artistic development and post-secondary preparation. This consistent year-long format encourages deeper learning and mastery.
🌟 Notable Alumni
ESA proudly counts among its graduates a remarkable group of artists who have made significant contributions to music and the arts, including Juno Award nominees and internationally recognized performers such as Allie X, Emily Haines of Metric, Kevin Drew of Broken Social Scene, Fefe Dobson, and Barbara Hannigan. These success stories exemplify the school’s commitment to nurturing talent that thrives on the global stage.
🔗 Connecting with ESA
Engage with the school community online through their active social media channels: Twitter @esaevents and Facebook @EtobicokeSchooloftheArts.
🦅 School Spirit
The eagle mascot symbolizes strength, vision, and seizing opportunities – qualities reflected in ESA’s commitment to empowering each student to soar in both artistic and academic endeavors.
Conclusion
Etobicoke School of the Arts stands as a beacon for creative youth seeking an environment that balances professional-grade arts training with academic excellence. Its specialized programs, outstanding faculty, rich extracurricular opportunities, and supportive community prepare students not only to succeed in their chosen artistic fields but also to thrive in any career path they pursue.
