1. How has the MPAP faculty contribute to your growth as a musician?,

The MPAP faculty have been instrumental in my growth as a musician, providing guidance and fostering an environment that challenges and expands my artistic capabilities. Their support has been crucial in navigating my path as both an artist and a person.

2. Are there any specific projects or performances you participated in that you are particularly proud of?

I am particularly proud of several projects and performances I've been involved with. These experiences not only showcased my skills but also reinforced my passion for theater and education. I've participated in conferences like the AATE, contributing to dialogues on movement-based pedagogy, and have found the listserv for educational theatre invaluable for discovering opportunities and workshops.As an artist, it's common to feel lost or battle imposter syndrome. Embracing these feelings and valuing the process over the product has helped me find satisfaction and authenticity in my work.

3. What advice would you give to other students?

Embrace Your Artistic Identity: Tackle projects head-on—write that play, experiment, and allow yourself to be bold and a bit silly. Often, the process teaches you more than the outcome.

Value the Process: Acknowledge the inner journey, frustrations, and confusions. Understand that these are all part of your growth.

Build Community: Remember, you’re not alone in this journey. The sense of community in the arts can be a powerful force for support and inspiration.

Detour Systematic Limitations: Avoid getting too caught up in procedural aspects like sponsorships or website management that don't directly contribute to your art. Focus on creating and realizing your vision.

Mentorship and Support: Nancy Smithner has been particularly influential through her movement strategy, quickly identifying and nurturing students' core personalities. Jonathan has been more than generous to offer whatever help he can and gives me advice on all aspects including my movement workshop proposal, my scholarship application, and so on. My original workshop (the one Jonathan helped review) is selected to be presented on AATE(American Alliance for Theater and Education)’s National conference this year in July in Chicago!