The Fine Arts Center of Greenville County, the first and finest specialized high school of the arts in South Carolina, was established in August 1974; classes are available in theatre, dance, visual arts, film/video, music, and creative writing.  Students are selected on the basis of artistic potential and commitment. The application process includes an audition/interview and consideration of the student's academic record and a teacher recommendation.   Students admitted to the Fine Arts Center living in Greenville County attend free of charge; typically, several students from surrounding counties opt to pay tuition in order to attend the Center.

     The purpose of the Fine Arts Center is to provide advanced comprehensive arts instruction to students who are artistically talented and who wish to take an intensive pre-professional program of study. Students attend the Fine Arts Center five days a week in the morning or afternoon for 100 minutes of instruction, spending the remainder of their time in other academic work at their home high schools. Each year approximately 350 students attend the Fine Arts Center, and, of that number, some 50% go on to receive honors, awards, and scholarships.

About the Fine Arts Center Music Theory Program...

     My principle duties in the Music Department of the Fine Arts Center are to teach Music Theory and Music History.  I am especially proud of our Advanced Placement Music Theory courses, in which we prepare an average of 20 students for the AP Music Theory Examination each year.  These courses are taught using a collection of instructional materials written by myself and my friend and FAC colleague, Dr. Gary Robinson.  Some highlights of our record:

• Since 1990, 90% of FAC students have passed the AP Music Theory Examination with a score of 3 or higher (203 of 225); in the Spring of 2000, an FAC record 43% (9 of 21) scored a 5, the highest possible score.

• Mean score since 1990: 3.62 (vs. the national average of 3.18 for 1993-2000).

• FAC theory students consistently earn very favorable placements in college theory curricula owing to their FAC training. Admissions and scholarship awards are improved owing to the students' superior vocabulary and ear-training skills.

     For more information about the Greenville Fine Arts Center and its programs,