Collegiate Art

MVPA College Night proved to be a valuable resource for CB students looking for a four-year arts school.

“Art is for people who want to lead self-directed lives” – Suzanne Lacey.

For some students, art is more than a requirement in high school — it’s a passion. Thanks to Christian Brothers’ Media, Visual and Performing Arts department, students can be more prepared when taking these talents to college.

On October 26, the MVPA College Informational Evening was hosted by Mr. Ron Slabbinck, the director of the Media, Visual and Performing Arts department. Here Mr. Slabbinck, Wylyd Lian, Mrs. Melissa McClellan, and Pete Nowlen all spoke about selecting colleges, preparing portfolios, and the process of auditioning.

One of the main points about selecting a college was if it had “the right fit”. Questions like, “Do you like the overall size of the institution?”, and “Is there adequate studio space and/or practice rooms?” were asked by prospective students when reflecting on colleges. School reputation, value placed on academics, and experienced instructors are also important aspects to research when looking at colleges for the arts.

Auditions are also important when looking to apply to a college for the arts. CB’s college counselors gave excellent advice for all forms of art, be it visual or performance. Photographers and video students were advised to create original content when applying as recreating scenes is not looked on as highly as original plots and stories.

Students applying for choir or jazz were advised to be ready to sight read. It’s definitely a necessity during auditions, and jazz musicians should be ready to do some improvisation, as it is a huge part of performance jazz.

Overall, the night was a success as CB students prepare to take their artistic abilities to the next academic level.