All-City Performing Arts

Students rehearse every Saturday during the fall semester, receiving diverse and engaging instruction from highly-qualified CPS arts educators and local teaching artists in the Chicago Community. They go on to perform in a Winter Showcase in December, which is held on-site at Jones College Prep. Students then work the entire second semester to get ready for a Spring Showcase in May, which is held at a unique location in downtown Chicago that further exemplifies our students and their hard work.

The ACPA 2023 Fall Semester will begin on September 23rd, 2023! Apply here to join.

Watch the 2022 All-City Performing Arts Spring Showcase!

For a second year running, our All-City Performing Arts directors moved their ensemble rehearsals to a virtual format so that dedicated CPS students across the district could continue to dance, sing, play, and perform together. Months of their inventive and tireless work have culminated in the 2021-22 All City Performing Arts Virtual Spring Showcase, which premiered on June 11th, 2022 on YouTube.

This showcase spotlights the talents of over 150 elementary and high school students from 114 CPS schools across the district who have participated virtually in Modern Band, Symphonic Band, Jazz Band, Percussion, Orchestra, Choir, Music & Media Production, Theatre, and Dance ensembles throughout the entirety of the 2021-22 school year. This event carries on a vibrant CPS tradition that has thrived for 59 years!

We are so proud of our All-City students for their resilience, hard work, creativity, and imagination. We also extend our deepest thanks to the All-City directors for creating space and time for students to express themselves and connect with each other, and to all the parents and family members for supporting and nurturing the passions and creativity of their children.

Showcases and Exhibitions