Perpich News

Arts High School Alumni News

  • Lee Christianson (Dance 2023) Returns to Campus for Guest Class

    September 30, 2026
    Lee Christianson (Dance 2023) returned to Perpich this week to work with current Dance students alongside Heather Klopchin, Director of St. Olaf College Dance Department, where Christianson is continuing his dance education.

    Heather Klopchin, Director of St. Olaf College…

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  • Lucas Granholm (Theater 2008) Encourages Students to Build Their Own Path in Theater

    September 28, 2026

    What does it take to build a life in theater? For Lucas Granholm (Theater 2008), the answer is a combination of curiosity, persistence, flexibility, and a willingness to put yourself out there.

    Granholm, now an assistant professor of Theatre and Dance at Winona…

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  • A Note from our Executive Director, Allegra Smisek – September 28, 2026

    September 28, 2026

    Greetings from Perpich Center for Arts Education!
    September is a month of beginnings at Perpich. Students are finding their people, trying new things, and discovering what becomes possible when their ideas are taken seriously. Last week, at the opening of Rumination, our Studio…

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  • Perpich Arts High School Studio Arts Department Presents: “Rumination” Exhibition

    September 25, 2026

    Perpich Studio Arts students opened their first exhibition of the 2026-2027 school year with “Rumination,” an exhibition featuring summer work by Visual Arts and Media Arts students alongside site-specific Dance performances. The exhibition opened September 24 and brought students, families, friends, staff,…

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  • Board Member Shannon Finnegan Says Farewell

    September 17, 2026

    Perpich Board Member Shannon Finnegan is concluding her service on the Perpich Board of Directors after serving since February 2025. Appointed by Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, Finnegan brought more than 15 years of experience in education, student-centered learning,…

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  • Dedication Day 2026

    September 14, 2026

    At Perpich, the school year begins with a choice. Students choose Perpich. Families choose Perpich. Teachers and staff choose Perpich. And once a new school year begins, everyone has another choice to make: to be present, take risks, make art, build relationships, and…

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  • A Note from our Executive Director, Allegra Smisek – August 31, 2026

    August 31, 2026

    Greetings from Perpich Center for Arts Education!
    Perpich is both a place people come to and a resource we bring to communities across Minnesota.

    Allegra Smisek, Executive Director

    This August offered a wonderful reminder of both sides of that mission. Perpich…

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  • Jeff Baenen Creates Housing Scholarship for Perpich Student

    August 12, 2026

    For Jeff Baenen, a lifelong love of the arts has taken many forms: journalism, theater, music, comedy, and even playing the voice of God.

    Now, that passion is helping make a Perpich education more accessible to a student living on campus.

    Baenen, a retired…

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  • A Note from our Executive Director, Allegra Smisek – July 24, 2026

    July 24, 2026

    Greetings from Perpich Center for Arts Education!
    Summertime at Perpich is energizing. Our campus is alive with creativity as young artists discover new passions through summer camps, educators from across Minnesota gather to learn and grow together, and our staff uses this season…

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