>>> THE SPRINGFIELD CONSERVATORY OF THE ARTS IS A
MAGNET SCHOOL THAT HAS BEEN OPEN FOR A FEW YEARS, BUT AT THE
BEGINNING OF THIS ACADEMIC YEAR, THEY MOVED INTO A NEWLY
RENOVATED BUILDING ON STATE STREET.
AS CAROLEE McGRATH REPORTS, THE PROGRAM COMBINES THE ARTS AND
ACADEMICS, SETTING STUDENTS UP FOR THE SPOTLIGHT BOTH ON AND
OFF THE STAGE. ♪ I'VE HEARD ♪
>> NINTH GRADER STELLA KALEY IS JUST GETTING WARMED UP
AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE 15-YEAR-OLD HAS
FOUND HER SONG. ♪
♪ I WISH NOTHING BUT THE BEST FOR YOU ♪
>> KAYLA AND OTHER STUDENTS AT THE SPRINGFIELD'S CONSERVATORY
OF THE ARTS ARE STEPPING UP AND STEPPING OUT ON STAGE.
DANCING, SINGING, DRUMMING AND SETTING THE TEMPO FOR THEIR HIGH
SCHOOL CAREERS. >> I NEVER KNEW I COULD DO THE
THINGS THAT I DO NOW. AND, LIKE, IT WAS SO AMAZING
HOW, LIKE, I FOUND THIS SCHOOL AND I WAS SO HAPPY.
FOR ME IT IS NOT A NORMAL SCHOOL.
IT HAS ART AND EVERYTHING YOU COULD WANT.
I'M REALLY GRATEFUL. >> THIS IS THE SIXTH YEAR FOR
THE SPRINGFIELD MAGNET SCHOOL, BUT THE FIRST IN THE NEWLY
RENOVATED BUILDING, THE FORMER MASONIC TEMPLE.
>> IT IS NOT "FAME" AND NOT "GLEE."
>> RYAN KELLY IS THE PRINCIPAL. >> WE ARE IN A GRAND AUDITORIUM.
>> THERE ARE ABOUT 800 SEATS. THE AUDITORIUM IS ORIGINAL, BUT
EVERYTHING IS BRAND NEW TO THE SOUND AND LIGHT SYSTEM TO THE
SEATS. >> THE GRADE SIX THROUGH 12
SCHOOL HAS 335 STUDENTS, BUT THERE IS ROOM FOR 420.
ALL OF THE STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE THE CORE CLASSES IN
ENGLISH, MATH AND SCIENCE WHILE HAVING A CHANCE TO FOCUS ON THE
ARTS. >> THE IDEA FOR THIS SCHOOL IS
TO BE A PLACE FOR PERFORMING ARTS.
THE MAGNET IS WE ARE TRYING TO DRAW PERFORMERS.
WE HAVE VISUAL ARTS, THEATER AND MUSIC AND DANCE.
AND EVERY FRIDAY KIDS ARE PERFORMING.
IF YOU GO TO THE THEATER CLASS, THEY ARE ACTING AND DOING
THINGS. WE HAVE WHAT IS CALLED A BLACK
BOX THEATER. THEIR CLASSROOM IS PAINTED
COMPLETELY BLACK. IT IS NOT ABOUT SETS, IT IS
ABOUT WHAT THE KIDS DO. >> THE GOAL IS NOT ONLY HAVE THE
KIDS PERFORM IN THE SCHOOL, BUT IN THE COMMUNITY.
THEY ARE. THUNDERBIRDS GAMES AND KORMT --
CORPORATE EVENTS AND THEIR DIRECTOR KNOWS A THING OR TWO
ABOUT MAKING IT IN THIS BUSINESS.
>> MARCOS IS THE DIRECTOR OF IT ALL.
>> I HAVE BEEN VERY BLESSED TO WORK WITH GRAMMY WINNERS AND
TONY WINNERS AND BROADWAY STARS. ALL OF THOSE LESSONS I LEARNED
AT THEIR AGE. >> HE COMES FROM A FAMILY OF
MUSICS, A GRADUATE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD, HE HAS
BEEN IN EDUCATION FOR MORE THAN 25 YEARS.
>> WE WERE OUT THERE AT LEAST TWICE A MONTH IN THE COMMUNITY
PLAYING FOR MAJOR AUDIENCES. IT IS VERY, VERY EXCITING.
>> CARRERA SAYS HIS STUDENTS ARE SERIOUS ABOUT THEIR CRAFT AND
SERIOUS ABOUT SCHOOL. THE GRADUATION RATE IN 2018 WAS
94.2%, IN 2019 ALL OF THE SENIORS GRADUATED ON TIME.
DOES IT BRING OUT THE BEST OF THEM ACADEMICALLY?
>> OF COURSE. YOU HAVE TO MAINTAIN A C AVERAGE
OR ELSE YOU CAN'T PERFORM. >> AND IT IS CLEAR THESE
STUDENTS ARE DRIVEN. EIGHTH GRADER ISAIAH MELENDEZ,
DANCES, ACTS, PLAYS THE TRUMPET AND TAUGHT HIMSELF TO PLAY THE
PIANO AND UKELE. >> I PUT MY MIND TO IT AND I WAS
ABLE TO PLAY. >> THE SCHOOL HAS SEVERAL
PARTNERSHIPS, THE COMMUNITY MUSIC SCHOOL, THE INDIAN ORCHARD
ARTISTS, WHETHER VISUAL ARTS OR ON STAGE, SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS
SAY THESE STUDENTS WILL MAKE IT NO MATTER WHAT PATH THEY CHOOSE.
>> ANY AMERICAN IDOLS COMING OUT OF THIS SCHOOL?
>> AND THE VOICE. YOU NAME IT.
THAT IS OUR GOAL TO PRODUCE THE NEXT GREAT ARTIST OF THE FUTURE.