College Night connects arts students to opportunities
Author: Tammy Lane • First Posted: Tuesday, September 13, 2011
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Passionate about their pursuits, students in the School for the Creative and Performing Arts often seek out opportunities to stretch themselves and clarify their goals. That’s why many anticipate the Central Kentucky Performing and Visual Arts College Night.
This annual event brings together hundreds of students from this region and representatives from colleges around the country in a compressed variation of Greek “rush week”: The teens check out the plethora of arts programs, and the post-secondary institutions hone in on the Bluegrass’ abundant talent. Both are looking for a good match.
“It’s nice to get a sense people are interested in you,” said Jamie Harvener of Lafayette High, a senior in contemporary dance at SCAPA.
Jamie, who attended last year’s event, plans to audition again during the Oct. 27 College Night, hosted by co-sponsor and founder Lexington Catholic High School.
Visiting college faculty members provide constructive critiques not only in dance but also in vocal music, instrumental music, drama and musical theater.
“Anytime you have a chance to do what you want to do in front of an audience, that’s a good thing. It’ll make you that much more comfortable, that much more confident the next time,” said Carolyn Waterbury-Tieman, the arts facilitator for SCAPA.
In addition, the College Night format is much more efficient than individual students traveling around to numerous campuses. “They’re able to go into one room and be seen by seven, eight, 10 different colleges all at once,” she said.
Carla Pleasant, SCAPA’s gifted-and-talented facilitator, schedules the auditions.
“There is an amazing wealth of talent, and I’m thrilled we have the opportunity to let the rest of the world know,” she said. “The colleges get to see what wonderful talent we have, and our kids get to meet with colleges they may not have thought of pursuing.”
Visual arts students can also receive feedback after sharing their portfolios one on one.
“They look at not only your finished artwork but also your sketches to see your thought process,” said junior Miranda Holm-Hudson, who aspires to illustrate books.
Classmate Jonathan Crocetti is also eager to learn more about the handful of schools he’s interested in, particularly the Savannah College of Art and Design.
“I’d like to get my portfolio checked and have people let me know my strong points and weaknesses so I can fix it,” said Jonathan, who mainly explores two-dimensional art and computer animation.
Aside from the arts disciplines, the college and university representatives talk with students and their families about admission requirements, financial assistance, scholarships and housing options. They also follow up with mailings about performances on campus, virtual tours and other helpful information for incoming freshmen.
Jamie suggested that teens not wait too long to evaluate colleges. “It’s good to make your list as a junior and take your visits as a senior,” he said.
Waterbury-Tieman, whose older son is a Lafayette graduate, also cautioned fellow parents that applying for arts schools can be a much more involved process, noting, “If you’re not aware of that early on, you’re going to be overwhelmed.”
If you go
Central Kentucky Performing and Visual Arts College Night
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What: College fair for high school juniors and seniors interested in majoring in the arts and for those who will take post-secondary arts courses simply for enrichment
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When: 7 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 27
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Auditions and portfolio reviews: Starting at 5 p.m. by appointment only, scheduled through SCAPA’s Carla Pleasant, (859) 381-3338
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Where: Lexington Catholic High School, 2250 Clays Mill Road
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Co-sponsors: SCAPA Lafayette and Lexington Catholic
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Website: http://www.ckypva.org/
Did you know?
SCAPA Lafayette is Fayette County Public Schools’ highest-level service option for students in grades 9-12 who have been identified as gifted and talented in visual/performing arts and creativity. Lafayette High students in the SCAPA program take two classes in their arts discipline each year.
National Arts in Education Week (Sept. 11-17)
“You’re surrounded by art all the time. You can’t not be affected by art,” says Carolyn Waterbury-Tieman, arts facilitator at the School for the Creative and Performing Arts.
Cars are designed by someone creative, magazines written by literary artists, music interpreted by individuals …
“Art is the way we communicate. It’s how we tell who we are. No other animal tries to communicate to the next generation who they are, where they’ve been, what they’ve done and perhaps how to do it better,” she said, citing cave art and pottery as early examples. “It told something about what they valued and what they felt about their world.”
Movement, words, pictures and sounds all convey how people see their world. “It’s when you share it with another that it becomes art.”
“There’s an artist in each of us, and it’s up to us to develop it,” she added. “The kids who go to schools like SCAPA find the arts are a way of life for them. It’s the way they experience the world.”