Meet the College of Performing and Visual Arts
Posted: March 07, 2022 | Author: Abbie Cochrane | Read Time: 6 minutes
The beauty of art, dance, music, and theatre is that its message is subjective to the eyes of the beholder. Not to mention that all its facets are always beautiful. At Southern Utah University, the College of Performing and Visual Arts (CPVA) is dedicated to teaching students how to execute their vision and realize their true potential. Here, you can expect a fully qualified and professional faculty with decades of combined artistic experience in every industry. As a student, you will cultivate your talent alongside 2,700 like-minded individuals and have the opportunity to work closely with peers and professors in achieving your artistic goals.
“We are dedicated to serving our students in realizing their creative potential as they prepare for a rewarding career in the arts,” said Shauna Medini, dean of the College of Performing and Visual Arts. “Students study under the mentorship of passionate, dedicated, and professional faculty who provide life-changing, real-world experiences. We are proud of our standard of excellence. I’m confident students will be challenged and ready to pursue their passion for the arts.”
There is no better place to train and learn about your desired artistic industry than at SUU’s. Explore the undergraduate programs with professional (BFA, BM) and liberal arts (BA, BS) degrees in areas of graphic design, visual arts, music, dance, and theatre. Study a graduate degree in the fields of arts administration (MFA, MA), music education (MME), and music technology (MMMT).
“We are proud of our standard of excellence and that SUU is an accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD), National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), and the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST),” Dean Mendini continued. “I’m confident you will be challenged and ready to pursue your passion for the arts.”
CPVA Departments
Filmmaking, Art, & Design
SUU is an accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), the Department of Filmmaking, Art, & Design is a thrilling environment that offers in-depth experiences in painting, drawing, printmaking, filmmaking, graphic design, illustration, ceramics, sculpture, photography, art education, and art history . The department offers two types of degrees, liberal arts and professional degrees in the studio area. The first focuses on the knowledge and broad study of art, while the second focuses on art creation in a studio discipline.
The department offers eight majors and nine minors. Once students are accepted into the department of art & design and have reached 24 credits, a Foundation Review through the department is necessary to get into the BFA degree program of the student’s choosing. A portfolio is submitted and critiqued in order to grant acceptance into one of the programs.
Music
The Department of Music is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM). Offering a wide variety of courses, students of all majors can take numerous performance electives in areas such as opera theatre, concert choir, Opus [chamber choir], orchestra, wind symphony, jazz band, and more. There are three bachelor’s degree programs that include Music, Commercial Music, Performance, and Music Education. A professional music degree can include an instrumental performance emphasis, vocal performance emphasis, or piano performance emphasis. The music education degree gives the choice of secondary instrumental emphasis or secondary choral emphasis. The program also includes a music minor.
Along with all the wonderful degrees offered, the Department of Music has amazing resources and clubs for students. Being a music major can put a lot of strain on your ears and voice, depending on your particular pathway. The music department’s website has insightful forms about hearing protection and vocal health. The music department also hosts several student clubs, including Music Club, Rhapsody in Red, Percussion Club, American Choral Directors Association, and Red Harmony. To find out more about each club, visit the T-Bird Connection website and log in with your SUU student credentials.
Theatre, Dance, & Arts Administration
As the home of the Tony-Award winning Utah Shakespeare Festival (USF), it’s no wonder SUU has such an incredible Theatre, Dance, & Arts Administration department. This particular section of the college is in charge of the theatre and all of its aspects. With bachelor’s degrees in classical acting, musical theatre, theatre, technical theatre, theatre education, dance, and dance education, the department has a place for every student who’s theatrically inclined whether you love the spotlight or not.
The Utah Shakespeare Festival is just one of the many affiliated organizations involved with the program. The school also receives collaborative support from the American College Dance Association, American College Theatre Festival Association, National Dance Educators Organization, Utah Dance Educators Organization, and the National Association of Schools of Dance. The program is heavily involved with world-renowned performers and incredible faculty and staff with decades of experience in the field.
Alumni
The alumni of CPVA are further proof that if you have a dream and passion for capturing an audience with your performance or creativity, anything is possible. Here are just a few incredible stories of SUU graduates who’ve gone on to achieve amazing success.
Payden Adams worked for the Utah Shakespeare Festival for five years in a variety of roles. He’s had the opportunity of acting in China in an international ballet, casting creative and personnel teams for productions, and choreographing a number of different children’s musicals. Read all about Payden and his talent and skills that led him to a career at Walt Disney Company as a casting employee. Payden is now serving as an NBA Entertainment Producer for the Utah Jazz.
Andie Szekely graduated in 2016 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in theatre design and technology. She’s been the lighting designer for countless productions and is a recipient of the Lighting Design Award from the United States Institute for Technical Theatre. Read more about Andie’s amazing opportunities, including working in New York, at Disney World, and The Santa Fe Opera.
As an Art program alumni, Lee Wiley entered the job market knowing that his hard work at SUU would pay off and employers could see the stunning potential. Graduating in 2008, Wiley has gone on to illustrate his comics, start his own Youtube channel, and work as the lead video editor, animator, illustrator, and creative source for the video marketing company, Ydraw.
Faculty
This year, Brian Swanson, Chair of the Theatre, Dance, and Arts Administration Department was recognized for his accomplishments and was awarded the Service to Theatre Education Award from the Utah Theatre Association (UTA). Swanson, along with the Department of Theatre, Dance, and Arts Administration, recently hosted the 2022 Utah Theatre Association Conference on SUU’s campus in January.
“Brian Swanson was awarded the ‘Service to Theatre Education Award’ due to his dedication for the last ten years as a representative of not only SUU but also as the representative of all Utah Higher Education Departments of Theatre for the Utah Theatre Association board,” said Andrew Lloyd Hunsaker, president of the UTA. “He serves with good ideas, strong leadership, and an open mind to change. He is an outstanding example of how healthy and well-communicated bridges should and can be built between high school teachers and those in higher education. He is always positive, kind, and thoughtful. We are so lucky to have him on our team.”
For more information about the College of Performing and Visual Arts at Southern Utah University, visit the college’s academic advising website and schedule an appointment with a student success advisor to learn more about individual programs and the college itself!