Iowa Conservatory

We're proud to see Iowa Conservatory's innovative approach to arts education recognized on a national stage. This October, our Founder, Leslie Nolte, and Co-Founder, Dr. Beth Brown, will present at the Arts Schools Network Conference in San Diego, sharing how ICON empowers students to create, lead, and showcase original work through student-driven arts capstone experiences.

What happens when students are given the opportunity to create, lead, and present work that truly reflects their artistic vision?

Join Dr. Beth Brown and Leslie Nolte of Iowa Conservatory at the Arts Schools Network Conference in San Diego, California, October 20–22, for "Beyond the Classroom: Designing Student-Driven Arts Capstones for Real-World Artistic Practice."

This inspiring session explores how arts educators can create meaningful capstone experiences that bridge the gap between classroom learning and professional artistic practice. Drawing from Iowa Conservatory's innovative capstone model, presenters will share a replicable framework that empowers students to develop original artistic work, cultivate their creative voice, collaborate across disciplines, and present their work to public audiences.

Participants will discover strategies for guiding students through artistic identity exploration, proposal development, research, production, revision, and presentation all while maintaining student ownership of the creative process. The session also highlights a unique and practical component of the program: integrating financial literacy for artists through budgeting, planning, and career-readiness skills that support long-term success in the creative industries.

Whether you're an educator, administrator, or curriculum leader, you'll leave with tools and ideas to help students transform artistic passion into purposeful, real-world creative work.

Learn more and register: https://www.asnconference.org/

Some of the feedback we value most comes from parents. They see the growth that happens beyond the classroom; the confidence, independence, purpose, and sense of direction their students develop along the way. Their perspective offers a powerful reminder of why our mission matters.

Thank you ChildServe, we're honored to receive the Best Overall Design Award, but the real stars are the students behind the work. Their creativity, dedication, and countless hours of effort turned an idea into something award-winning. Watching talented young artists collaborate, create, and push each other to be better is what ICON is all about.

There’s still time to join in an arts-focused summer experience at ICON! Whether your interests lie in stage performance, art, or music, we have opportunities to explore your creativity under the direction of our amazing faculty and guest instructors!

JUNE 14-27: During MUSICAL THEATRE SHOWCASE, you can train with award-winning performer and internationally recognized voice educator Mia Gimenez! This is a perfect opportunity for students to gain skill and confidence on stage! This intensive will set you up for success with performance opportunities like theatre and show choir.

JUNE 29-July 3: With OIL PAINTING, take your painting repertoire to the next level. This session introduces techniques that are unique to oil along with color theory with a limited palette. Students should expect to leave this class with confidence to explore oils further. Led by ICON visual arts director Kyle Sydney Powell, you won’t want to miss this unique summer offering.

JUNE 29-JULY 3: Join us for a deep dive into the world of digital music production during THE EP PROJECT summer intensive! Students will learn all things music production, working to create their own sound while learning about such features as audio mixing, track effects, how to structure a song, and an overview of digital synths to allow for creating your own unique sound. Each student will produce a song to be included in our intensive-wide exclusive EP, fully executed in our ICON space using our available software, hardware, and instrumentation.

JULY 19-25: MUSICAL THEATRE EXPLORATIONS is a fun, supportive introduction to the world of musical theatre. This intensive is perfect for students who are curious about performing but have little to no prior experience on stage.This camp creates a welcoming environment where performers can explore singing, acting, and movement while building confidence and creativity. With guidance from professional artists and ICON faculty, students are encouraged to try new things, take healthy risks, and discover what they love about musical theatre.

Register today at iowaconservatory.org

At ICON, learning doesn’t stop when class ends. Students collaborate, study together, and support one another in a close-knit environment where creativity and connection thrive. It’s a community built on shared passion, encouragement, and growth.

Learn more about enrollment for fall at iowaconservatory.org

At ICON, artists don’t grow alone. Our graduates have spent years creating alongside dancers, musicians, actors, and visual artists, learning from different perspectives, building lasting friendships, and collaborating across disciplines. It’s a community unlike any other, where creativity brings people together and every student helps inspire the next.

Congratulations, Class of 2026. The connections you’ve built here are just the beginning.

Creative expression isn’t just encouraged at ICON, it’s part of who we are. Every student is empowered to be their authentic self, knowing they are seen, heard, and valued by our community. As we celebrate our graduating seniors, we’re inspired by the unique voices, perspectives, and talents they’ve shared with us. We see you, Class of 2026, and we can’t wait to see where your creativity, passion, and artistry take you next.

Big dreams take flight at ICON. We’re proud to celebrate our graduating seniors as they head to prestigious arts colleges, conservatories, and training programs across the country. Their talent, dedication, and hard work have opened doors to incredible opportunities – and this is just the beginning. Congratulations, Class of 2026. Your next stage awaits.

At ICON, students don’t have to choose between arts and academics. We focus on both through hands-on, project-based learning. Our teachers guide students as they collaborate, think creatively, and engage deeply across subjects and disciplines.

Learn more at iowaconservatory.org/pbl/

Congratulations to Visual Arts student Eliya Simon on graduation!

The support, encouragement, and community Eliya found during his two years at ICON made a lasting impact — not only on him, but on his entire family. As his parent shared, these are “years marked in his heart as years to REMEMBER.”

From the friendships and mentorships to the creative growth he experienced every day, Eliya became an important part of the ICON community. We are grateful to have been part of his journey and know he will be deeply missed by classmates, teachers, and staff. Best of luck at Iowa State University, Eliya!