Category Archives: The Arts

06.06.25
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Leaving on a High Note: Mr. Warren’s Coda

As The New Century School school year draws to its inevitable end each year, one thing has become more and more clear with each passing one: it is much less an end or closing than actually a beginning or opening. Students don’t stop where they are—they move up to the next phase with all of the new challenges, delights, triumphs, and learning it will entail.

This ascension is not limited to students, however—in fact, all who pass through its halls take with them what gifts they enjoyed here to be applied in new ways to new things. (You probably know where this is going.) And that’s just what is happening with the TNCS community’s beloved Martellies Warren, who leaves TNCS on a soaring, high note.

Opening Bars

“I went to The Saint Paul’s Schools for Career Day earlier this year, and I shared my journey—growing up in the projects, not having a lot of money,” Mr. Warren said. “But my parents instilled in me early on that I was going to college no matter what. That was a driving force for me.”

The visit was transformative—not just for the students who sent him a care package full of handwritten letters afterward about how his words affected them, but for Mr. Warren himself. “They were so inspired. That day changed something in me, too.”

Career Crossroads

“I always tell students they’re going to come to a lot of crossroads. My hope is that they always follow their gut,” Mr. Warren said. One such crossroads came in his own life when he chose a vocal scholarship to Morgan State University over a partial scholarship to Berkley. “Had I listened to my band teacher and not followed my gut, I don’t know where my life would be. But I chose to go with what I knew.”

For Mr. Warren, music has never been just a subject—it’s been a calling. “I learned music at a very early age, and it paved the way for me. It gave me opportunities,” he said. One such opportunity is singing with Anthony Brown and Group Therapy, a Grammy Award-winning gospel group.

And, although maybe not quite as glamorous, his time at TNCS is another. From the moment he stepped into TNCS in 2012, he began shaping a vibrant music program where none existed before. “I built the department here—when I got here there was no music department. I’ve kind of done it all, and it’s been an amazing ride.” He fondly recalls concerts that brought the community together—including one that moved him deeply: “My mom, who’s passed on, loved this school. She would ride in on her scooter to see my students perform. They always made sure she had a good view. This place holds special memories.”

Over the years, he has directed concerts, coached vocal technique and various instruments, taught choral harmony, and brought countless students into the world of music. He also spent many years as a Lead Montessori Teacher in the primary classroom as well as directing summer camp and other administrative positions. But, as he puts it: “Music is my passion. If I’m not doing music all day, the part of the day where it’s not music feels like work. For a creative, that’s painful.”

Called Back to Music

With what started as nothing more than a talk at a different school, Mr. Warren began to realize it was time to realign with this passion. He had returned to TNCS after a couple of years away in 2022 as Director of Music and Extended Activities. This year, he re-donned the role of teacher.  “I felt like I was spinning my wheels being back in the classroom. I was losing my way a little. It felt disorienting.” Although he certainly gets all the credit for the two amazing concerts this year, he just wasn’t able to do music full time. “I need to be challenged and motivated. When I no longer feel that, I know it’s time for a shift,” he said.

Interestingly, as these truths shone brighter and brighter to him, his stars started to align—big time. When Saint Paul’s reached out to ask if he knew anyone who might be interested in a position as full-time music instructor, he recounts, “I told them, ‘I might be interested,’ and they thought I was joking. But I said, ‘It’s time—I need to get out and spread my wings.’”

And the harmonies don’t end there. “The head of school there is from Montgomery, Alabama, where I’m from. His mom and my mom even went to the same college. Then he asked what church I attended and said, ‘Stop it. I came out of your church.’ That’s alignment—it can’t get any clearer than that.”

Next Movement

Not surprisingly—despite hundreds of other applicants—Mr. Warren was immediately invited to campus for interviews, tours, and more. In fact, he was even asked to lead a seventh-grade music class with no warning. Also not surprisingly, he rose to the occasion: “I taught them ‘Amazing Grace,’ and within 15–20 minutes, they were singing in three-part harmony. The five arts chairs were just sitting there amazed.”

And just like that, he’ll now be teaching the boys’ middle school in a choral room located inside the campus chapel. “Good acoustics! I’ve got a huge room, an office downstairs—I’m excited. It’s a beautiful campus, like a small college.”

Mr. Warren’s Legacy

Of course, such wonderful news for him is bittersweet for us—we couldn’t be happier for him nor more bereft for ourselves, right? But, being as loved and appreciated as he is, the happiness for him takes right back over, and that’s across the board. He truly leaves on a high note.

There are no hard feelings. That’s important to me. I’ve stayed too long before—and things turned sour. I didn’t want that to happen here. I’ve run out of runway. I don’t want to say I’ve outgrown the place, but in the sense of my career, I have. There’s no upward trajectory from here, so I have to go where I can continue to grow and be challenged.

At 46, Mr. Warren knows he’s far from done. His goals for this next “movement” are ambitious and beautiful. They include:

  • Further developing my expertise as a choral director, specializing in the cultivation, and development of young voices
  • Pursuing a masters and doctorate degree in music performance/education
  • Spending more time cultivating and perfecting my own craft
  • Performing and touring professionally, and finding more opportunities to live life more fully!

And so, Mr. Warren leaves TNCS as its music director with his head high and heart full. “This place has enriched me just as much as I’ve enriched the students. This is home—it always has been. That’s why I came back.”

He’s especially proud of moments where his students demonstrated professionalism and courage, such as when they performed “America the Beautiful” at the Baltimore Blast game. Another choir had mistakenly been booked to sing the same song. “Most kids would have had a meltdown. But our students stood their ground, sang with heart, and got a standing ovation. That’s a testament to what we do every day.” And let’s not forget that amazing performance from Wicked at the spring concert! “Those kids blew me away. They don’t even realize the magnitude of what they accomplished,” he said (speaking for anyone who was there and saw it).

Encore!

Even as he moves on, Mr. Warren plans to keep the music alive between the two schools. “Don’t be surprised if I pop up next year with my choir to do a concert here. Or have kids from TNCS visit me at Saint Paul’s. I want that connection and collaboration to continue.”

Meanwhile, we get 1 more week with Mr. Warren this summer for Music Theatre Camp, in which campers will put on Friends or Foes: A Wickedly Exciting Journey of Self-discovery!

As he prepares for his next act, Mr. Warren reflects with gratitude. “This school will always be on my mind and in that place in my heart.”

In addition to several blogs about Mr. Warren and his work linked above, here’s more music! More fun! (And lots more wonderful memorable photographs!)

01.10.25
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Art and Education: Brenda Lane Blends Her Dual Passions at TNCS!

At The New Century School, students in the primary program are fortunate to work with an educator who brings a unique creative perspective to the classroom. Brenda Lane, a visual development artist, seamlessly balances her role as a teaching assistant with an emerging career in animation. If that surname is ringing a bell, it should—Miss Brenda is the daughter of none other than TNCS Preschool Coordinator Terriann Lane!

Miss Brenda Gets Animated!

Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, Miss Brenda (and family) moved to Columbia, MD when she was in high school. But it wasn’t until college that her passion for the arts began to bloom. She majored in fine arts at Virginia Commonwealth University, where she discovered her true calling in her final year. “I knew I didn’t want to be a gallery artist. Then, in my last year, I suddenly realized I want to work on movies and TV shows. That was my ‘it-all-came-together’ moment,” she reflects.

Unfortunately, the pandemic curtailed networking opportunities, so she sought other fulfilling post-graduation employment in the interim:

I really wanted something while I was waiting for that big job opportunity that would be helpful to the community. I didn’t want to work in customer service anymore, which I did all through college. I definitely wanted to do something that was more impactful, so I started at my mom’s last school as an aftercare teacher, and they soon pulled me in to be a floating assistant.

The interim turned out to be more than a temporary stopgap, as we’ll see. But, back to the early 2020s, Miss Brenda saw an opportunity and seized it. She traveled to Los Angeles to attend an animation industry conference, sensing that the animation industry on the East Coast was not very robust. This decision proved pivotal, leading to her current role as Creative Production Director at Black-n-Animated, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping Black artists and animators enter and thrive in the industry. “Everything kind of fit into place,” she says of the serendipitous connection.

Two years on, her artistic career continues to flourish. She’s currently working on “Assassinista,” a 3D animated short film through a Pixar co-op slated for release on Disney+ in 2027. “It’s comparable to the ‘Spider-Verse’ kind of animation style,” she explains. “It’s only 7 minutes, but we’re going to get it there.” In this project, she serves as both assistant producer and color key artist (as part of her visual development expertise), marking her first official credit in the animation industry.

“I’m really into concept art, such as what Pixar and other studios do, which shows the process of how you get to a design,” explains Miss Brenda. “Concept art and visual development are really one and the same. So, basically, if someone needs a shelf or a window in a scene, for example, I can design that.”

Bringing Art to the Classroom

Miss Brenda’s exciting work in The Arts has not dampened her enthusiasm for educating. At TNCS, she is Ms. Pozo’s assistant in one of the primary Montessori classrooms for children ages 3 to 6. In addition to her main responsibilities of “supporting teachers, supporting students, and maintaining an optimal classroom environment where students can grow their learning,” she collaborates with Montessori teachers to create educational materials, putting her digital art skills to practical use. “If you need something with Photoshop or Illustrator, I’m able to make it,” she says. “I helped make illustrated step-by-step instructional materials to help children learn how to read, for example.”

Her complementary roles have even deepened her appreciation for children’s content. “being in the classroom has exposed me to so many things that I now enjoy,” she reflects. “I really do love doing it, and it also pushes me more toward children’s content and animation . . . and maybe I’ll consider pursuing children’s books.”

Looking to the Future

Despite the animation industry’s current uncertainties following recent strikes, Miss Brenda maintains a balanced perspective. She appreciates the stability her teaching role provides while pursuing her animation career through remote work. Her days are long—she spends all day in the classroom then goes home to join remote meetings in L.A. and work on her art—“but this is where I enjoy being,” she says of her position at TNCS.

Miss Brenda’s passion for both education and art is evident in her interactions with students. “I’m passionate about what I do, and it brings me joy to be around the students. I hope that I can bring them some joy as well,” she shares. She particularly enjoys encouraging young artists, loving it when her budding student artists ask her for drawing and painting advice.

Making an Impact

Beyond her roles at TNCS and in animation, Miss Brenda continues her work with Black-n-Animated, which recently achieved nonprofit status. “We just had our first career summit in L.A. with really big industry names coming to talk to all of our people trying to break in,” she said. “I’m really excited about the new year!”

Whether she’s supporting young learners in the classroom or pushing creative boundaries in animation, Miss Brenda exemplifies how diverse passions can enrich both personal fulfillment and professional impact. Her presence in the primary Montessori program reflects TNCS’s commitment to nurturing creativity and bringing real-world artistic expertise into the classroom, enriching students’ early educational experiences.

12.13.24
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TNCS Winter Concert 2024 “Sleighs”!

As part of its commitment to The Arts, The New Century School takes student performances to the next level! On Thursday, December 12, TNCS elementary and middle school students performed choral selections in three languages, all under the brilliant tutelage of TNCS Musical Director Martellies Warren with assistance from language teachers Joan Cui and Rafael Gonzalez.

This year’s winter concert warmed hearts even as temperatures dropped outdoors. Some special touches this year include a QR code printed on the concert program that provides translated song lyrics as well as TNCS’s first-ever Holiday Pop-Up Shop! Oh, and a very special rap session at the end—another TNCS first! Maybe there was extra magic in the timing of this performance (12/12/24)?

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Without further ado, here is everyone’s favorite blog post of the year!

TNCS K–2 Students Sing in Mandarin and Spanish!

TNCS 3–8 Students Sing in Mandarin and Spanish!

TNCS K–8 Students Sing Their Hearts Out!

To put the finishing touches on this wonderful concert and, in some ways, this wonderful year, enjoy these select photos from the show.

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Wait—we’re not done yet! Some very special thank-yous go to the Benjamin Brown Band for their beautiful accompaniments and to TNCS Head of School Ann Marie Simonetti who somehow makes all the amazingness happen (and even manages to make it look easy)!

12.08.23
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TNCS Winter Concert 2023: Happy Holidays!

The annual Winter Concert at The New Century School is one of the TNCS community’s best-loved events. TNCS Music Director Martellies Warren outdoes himself every single time, putting together show after spectacular show. This year is no different, in that regard. Thanks to his sparkly, wintry theme, the performance on Thursday, December 7th was as beautiful as it was harmonious—in all three languages spoken at TNCS.

As in several years past, Mr. Warren brought in some well-known friends to help out with some lovely backing music: the Benjamin Brown trio!

Mr. Warren says, “I wanted to keep the decor clean and inspiring and the songs fun and emotional.  My love for family, the beauty of the Winter, and the pure euphoria of the holiday season inspired this year’s theme!”

TNCS Choral Performers

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Alas, although pictures are worth 1,000 words, they fall short on hearing much. But we’ve got you covered with three choral performances!

My Wish, by Jordin Sparks

Ava Maria, by Beyoncé

This Winter, adapted by Chris Brown

Happy Holidays, TNCS community! ¡Felices vacaciones! 节日快乐 (Jiérì kuàilè)!

One last thing before you go?

09.23.22
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Music Is in the Air: TNCS Welcomes Back Martellies Warren!

As mentioned in a previous post, the 2022–2023 school year at The New Century School promises to be its best so far (and, if the trend continues, next year will top even this year!). Amidst all of the excitement of celebrating its 10th anniversary and welcoming a new Head of School, TNCS got some more good news: Martellies Warren rejoined the fold!

He’s Baaack!

As for how Mr. Warren returned to TNCS, we have TNCS Head of School Erika Johnson to thank. . . and maybe some cosmic good luck. “This is a period in my life where things are aligning,” said Mr. Warren. “I’m learning that what looks at first to be an obstacle can sometimes be necessary to have you in place for your next step.”

The sequence of events goes like this: Mr. Warren was about to start working at a Montgomery County Montessori school and had come to TNCS during the first week of the school year to gather some required paperwork for his new job. He encounters Ms. Johnson, whom he had coincidentally met briefly years earlier, and they strike up a conversation on realizing the acquaintanceship. “We had an existing connection that opened the door for us to sit and talk,” he explains. After they caught up a bit, Ms. Johnson realized she was talking to “the” Mr. Warren, the former TNCS Music Director who everyone still speaks so lovingly about, and she didn’t hesitate. They discussed Mr. Warren’s professional goals, and, it just so happens that one of his big goals—a leadership position—was put on hold temporarily due to an unexpected life event. This pause was going to mean that Mr. Warren was going back into the classroom full time, instead of joining the high school’s administration team. He was completely fine with this, but when Ms. Johnson offered him a spot back at TNCS as Director of Music and Extended Activities, he saw that maybe this is how it was supposed to be: one door closed in order to open a better one.

Mr. Warren describes his decision-making process as typically very deliberate and unhurried, and he asked Ms. Johnson for some time to consider her offer. He ended up not needing much and got back to her the same day. “I let her know I’m very interested, but my main concern is doing this right and not letting down the other school,” he explained. With his return to TNCS destined to be, however, the Head of the other school was nothing but supportive, telling Mr. Warren he couldn’t pass up this wonderful opportunity.

Where He’s Been

Mr. Warren used his 3-year hiatus from TNCS to develop professionally and to tie together all of the various threads he had been exploring. He is a certified Montessori teacher and taught as Montessori Lead Teacher for several years at TNCS—some of his former primary students are current TNCS middle schoolers, in fact! Teaching in a traditional classroom was a new skill he honed while at Woodlawn Middle School from 2019–2022. “I learned a lot there,” he said, “especially how important understanding the culture is and building relationships with students in order to be effective in that environment. You have to earn students’ trust.”

He says his experience at Woodlawn rounded out his knowledge of the school setting so that, in addition to being an expert in the Montessori method, he also knows state standards and the public school perspective. This well-rounded view has meant that in returning to TNCS, he is able to help out in all sorts of ways, where and as needed.

This versatility is actually nothing new. It may surprise no one to learn that Mr. Warren positively thrived in the all-virtual and then hybrid live/virtual instructional environments the pandemic demanded. “I absolutely loved it,” he said. “It took a lot of preparation, but I would have my fun slides ready, and then it’s just all about personality!” If anyone knows how to engage an audience, it’s Martellies Warren!

Speaking of engaging an audience, Mr. Warren is still vocalizing with Anthony Brown and group therAPy*, and they have earned an additional Grammy nomination since we last checked! Just as exciting, Mr. Warren is the proud recipient of a gold record for 2015’s “Worth”!

A new album is due out next year along the theme of affirmations. Performing in a musical group wasn’t easy during the pandemic, of course, but they held it together. “It made me realize how fragile the music industry is,” he said. “The pandemic took us off the stage, and fortunately that’s not what I was solely depending on for my livelihood. It helped me realize how lucky I am to have my other work. It also forced us to figure out how to make this work and do a lot of virtual things. It made us all technology experts,” he joked. So, affirmations is about finding the positive among the seeming negative.

Where He’s Going

At TNCS, Mr. Warren is teaching music classes twice weekly to all students except those in the preprimary division. These classes will start with some music theory, sight reading, solfège skills, and so on and then get right to singing. “I want to make sure that they’re getting the music skills they need. Especially my middle school students—I want to make sure they’re not walking into someone’s choral program ill-equipped. I want to give them everything to make them feel more confident if they want to pursue music,” he said.

Mr. Warren has also instilled in his students the importance of maintaining professionalism on stage, and many of his former students still remember this. When an artist is performing, we owe them respect, which means staying quiet and letting them do their thing without distraction. He says that, since back at TNCS, he has heard an older student tell a younger student, “You’ve already had recess; it’s time to pay attention. Music is serious.”

As if that isn’t adorable enough, it’s a sign of wonderful things to come: the return of the exalted winter and spring concerts. These are still very much in development, but “stay tuned.”

Also on the horizon are Fine Arts–related field trips, which fall under his Extended Activities hat. Those, too, are still TBD, as Mr. Warren navigates how to safely resume such excursions with vestiges of the pandemic lingering. On campus, extended activities means more than extracurriculars. He is seeking alignment between what students do in class and out (One school, One program, One community). This means talking with teachers, understanding their daily curricula, and incorporating those themes and reinforcing those lessons in all of the fun supplemental activities available at TNCS. “We’re trying to structure this in a way that it runs as smoothly as possible by taking the information that they’re getting from the school day and now applying that in a different way,” said Mr. Warren.

Finally, Mr. Warren is back not just for his former and new students, but also for the TNCS community, including faculty and staff. “Even if it’s not in my job description, what can I do  to help? The leadership team is amazing, and I’m so lucky to now be part of it.”

*Why is the AP in group therAPy capitalized? It stands for “Answered Prayers,” and how very fitting is that?