In 2001, late singer and painter
Tony Bennett and his wife, Susan Benedetto, helped open a public high school in New York for students who wanted to pursue the arts alongside their academic studies.
asserted
who → help → studies
It began in temporary quarters with space for 250 students.
asserted
It → begin → students
Twenty-five years later, the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts in Astoria, Queens, has specialist studios, theatres, a film lab and a concert hall where students can perform and screen their work.
asserted
students → have → work
The school was named after
Frank Sinatra, Bennett’s friend and fellow singer. According to the
school’s official website, the idea began in 1999, when Bennett and Benedetto, a former public school teacher, set out to create a public high school that combined serious arts training with a strong academic curriculum.
They worked with the New York City Department of Education and local leaders to bring the plan to life.
uncertain
They → name → life
The school opened in temporary premises in 2001 before moving to its permanent building at the Kaufman Astoria Studios complex in 2009.
asserted
school → open → 2009
From temporary classrooms to a purpose-built arts school
The move to the permanent building gave students access to dedicated spaces for different art forms.
asserted
move → build → forms
The school’s facilities include two dance studios, two black-box theatres, two fine-art studios, a stagecraft workshop, an art gallery, choral and orchestral studios, private practice rooms and a film lab.
asserted
facilities → include → studios
It also has an outdoor rooftop performance space.
asserted
It → have → space
The building was designed to give high school students the opportunity to learn and perform in facilities suited to professional arts production.
asserted
building → design → production
Its concert hall hosts school musicals, instrumental and vocal performances, dance shows and screenings of films made by students.
asserted
hall → host → students
The venue is named the Tony Bennett Concert Hall.
asserted
venue → name → ?
As per the school’s website, it as an 800-seat venue.
asserted
it → a → venue
The permanent school building was designed by architect Susan T. Rodriguez of Ennead Architects.
asserted
building → design → Architects
It opened in 2009 after a capital campaign helped fund its construction.
asserted
campaign → open → construction
Students study six arts disciplines
asserted
Students → study → disciplines
Photo courtesy: franksinatraschoolofthearts.org
The Frank Sinatra School of the Arts is a public high school where students audition for admission and choose a specialisation.
asserted
students → audition → specialisation
According to Exploring the Arts, they can major in dance, drama, film, fine art, vocal music or instrumental music.
uncertain
they → accord → dance
Arts training is combined with academic subjects.
asserted
training → combine → subjects
The school’s mission statement says students follow a four-year curriculum designed to prepare them for competitive colleges and conservatories.
asserted
students → say → colleges
Why Tony Bennett and Susan Benedetto started the school
asserted
Bennett → start → school
The project was part of Bennett and Benedetto’s wider effort to expand access to arts education in public schools.
asserted
project → expand → schools
They also established Exploring the Arts, which supports arts programmes and provides opportunities such as internships and scholarships.
asserted
which → establish → internships
As reported by local news outlet QNS, Benedetto spoke about what the school meant to the couple after Bennett’s death.
asserted
school → report → death
“Tony was so proud of the Frank Sinatra School, proud of the hardworking teachers and school leaders and so very proud of the school’s talented students,” she said.
asserted
she → say → students
“Because of Tony, these young people have committed themselves to craft and a lifelong pursuit of learning.”
asserted
people → commit → learning
Benedetto had worked as a public school teacher before co-founding the school.
asserted
Benedetto → work → school
Her experience in education, combined with Bennett’s career in music and painting, shaped their plan to create a school where students could develop artistic skills without giving up a broad academic education.
uncertain
students → combine → education
When asked why the school was named after Sinatra rather than himself, Bennett pointed to his close friendship with the singer.
asserted
Bennett → ask → singer
The name was intended as a tribute to the man he considered his best friend and colleague.
asserted
he → intend → man
A school that continues to carry their vision
The school continues to receive support from Exploring the Arts, which was founded to help sustain its arts programmes and expand opportunities for students.
asserted
which → continue → students
The organisation has since extended its work to public high schools in New York City and Los Angeles.
asserted
organisation → extend → City
What started as a public high school in temporary quarters now combines academic study with dedicated spaces for dance, theatre, film, visual art and music.
asserted
started → start → dance
Its history reflects Bennett and Benedetto’s stated aim: to make arts education part of public schooling rather than something students must find outside it.
asserted
students → reflect → it
The Aporia
