Faculty
The academic faculty is a select group of 15 certified teachers, a counselor, a librarian, and a special educator skilled at communicating and sharing the joy of learning. The academic faculty is supervised by the Academic Department Head and the Academic Dean. The academic program at BSA is a college preparatory program that includes honors and advanced placement level courses. An equal emphasis is placed on academics and arts and students are required to meet standards in both to remain in school. The arts faculty is composed of distinguished professional actors, dancers, musicians and visual artists who teach at the school on a part-time basis and maintain careers in the arts, providing a critical link between the BSA students and the professional arts world. There are 6 full-time and 68 part-time arts faculty members supervised by 4 arts department heads, one in each discipline. More than 50% of BSA's leadership and faculty have been with the school for 10-20 years.
Director - Chris Ford
Dr. Ford was named Director of BSA in April 2011. He has been at BSA since 1981, beginning as a saxophone instructor, then instrumental music coordinator and later rising to Music Department Head in 1992.
Dr. Ford completed degrees with Dr. Michael Nacimben (BM- University of Texas/Austin), Dr. John Sampen (MM- Bowling Green State University) and Mr. Reginald Jackson (DMA- University of Maryland/College Park). He completed further studies with Mr. Jean-Marie Londeix at the Conservatoire National de Bordeaux under the auspices of a Fulbright Fellowship. Upon his return to the U.S., he won the East-West Artists Award and presented a solo recital in Carnegie Recital Hall. He has performed as a saxophone soloist with the Baltimore Symphony, the Delaware Festival Orchestra and the American Chamber Orchestra.
Dr. Ford has taught on the faculties of Peabody Conservatory, St. Mary's College. Towson University, Goucher College, the Levine School and Loyola College (Baltimore).
