The University’s arts scene is a thriving one with student-run theater productions and a cappella concerts, coupled with film screenings, gallery shows, comedy nights and literary journals. This is, in no small part, a result of the passionate student artists on and around Grounds who bring it to life — not just as performers or creators, but as writers, editors and commentators.
As graduation quickly approaches, the Arts & Entertainment desk is taking a moment to feature three of its graduating fourth-year staffers who have consistently contributed to the desk’s voice and vision throughout their time at The Cavalier Daily. Each of these writers came into A&E with a deep personal connection to the arts, and through their reporting, have helped cement the artistic historical record of the University. In this roundtable, they reflect on what drew them to arts writing, how they have grown through their involvement and what they are taking with them as they turn the page on this chapter of their lives.
How has your approach to A&E evolved over time?
EP: Though I have always loved local and University event coverage, I was initially nervous to venture past my comfort zone of music. Through my time on the desk, I have pushed myself to explore different artforms, including visual art shows, off-Grounds theatre productions, fashion shows and book talks. I have loved seeing how creators’ passions shine through whatever medium they choose to express their art and have felt so fulfilled being exposed to this variety. There are such vibrant theatre and visual art scenes in Charlottesville that I never would have found if I did not go out of my way to meet these people and discuss their work with them.
ML: As a new writer, I was honestly terrified of writing local pieces. I kind of forgot that journalism involved conducting interviews and I was intimidated by that for some reason, so I initially gravitated towards national pieces. Then, a turning point arose when I wrote a feature on the Music Resource Center — a Charlottesville-based youth music organization. Beyond interviewing the center’s leaders, I also got to tour the facility, and I was so excited to learn about a local organization that encourages young students to engage with the arts. From that moment on, I began to love writing local features because I recognized just how important it is to highlight these incredible artists and organizations in our community.
SH: Similar to Madigan, I was terrified of interviewing people and going to arts events alone my first year, so local pieces scared me. Now, I prefer writing local articles. My first local piece was a feature on the Overcranked filmmaking program. Managing multiple extensive interviews showed me I was capable of researching and writing this sort of local coverage, plus one of the students I interviewed mentioned a professor whose classes I later took and loved — Kevin Everson’s cinematography courses. My WXTJ article was fun too. Everyone I interviewed was super into the organization, and it was one of the top stories on the website for a second. I’m definitely most proud of my local articles.
What has been your greatest arts involvement throughout your time at the University?
EP: Unsurprisingly to anyone who knows me, my answer is unequivocally my a cappella group, the New Dominions. I have been a member of the group since my first week of college, and it has entirely altered the course of my college career. As a retired choir kid, I entered the University eager to find a group that made me feel that sense of connectedness through music. There is a sense of cohesion that comes with singing arrangements that consist of no instruments other than our voices to carry the sound. I have developed a beautiful closeness to these people unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. It is safe to say I would be nowhere without them.
ML: To completely echo Emily, my answer is also my a cappella group, the Virginia Belles. Being in the Belles has truly been one of the single most impactful experiences of my college career. I have met the best, most impressive people through this group and have found friendships that have profoundly changed me as a person. Beyond the group’s impact on my social and personal life, the Belles have also significantly impacted the way I feel about art and music. They have instilled a confidence in me that I never expected I would have and truly reinvigorated my love for music, teaching me to find beauty in the nooks and crannies of every song I get the privilege to work on.
SH: I would say student journalism has represented my greatest involvement in the arts. I’ve covered arts for The Cavalier Daily for four years, became a features writer for V Magazine in the fall of my third year and joined the Virginia Literary Review editorial board as a prose editor this past fall. There are tons of people doing cool and creative projects at the University, and showcasing them in my time here has been a total privilege, plus a great opportunity to hone my writing skills. Outside of student journalism, I am part of the Area Program in Literary Prose within the English department, so the creative writing scene has been a big part of my experience at the University too.
What art has impacted you the most in the past four years?
EP: Though most of my artistic involvement at the University has been through music, the piece of art that has stuck with me the most is larger than that, literally. Known to anyone who graces the Corner, there is a tall, colorful mural on the side of the Graduate Hotel featuring words from Rita Dove’s “Testimonial” — “The world called, and I answered.” Having walked past the piece countless times in my past four years, I find it a summation of my college experience and a greater sense of purpose beyond my time here. The world called me to discover who I am during my time at the University and it will continue to call me to greater purposes after I leave Grounds.
ML: I am a music girl through and through, so I would say a song called “Allergy Season” by an indie artist named Rachael Jenkins that touches on self-discovery and navigating life. I’ve been listening to the song for a few years and it has quickly evolved into one of my favorite songs of all time. I particularly love that the lyrics are a bit melancholy but the guitar line is soothing and carries a bit of a hopeful air. Recently, I chose to sing “Allergy Season” as my senior solo with the Virginia Belles. Arranging and performing one of the most influential songs of my time in college with a group of my favorite people was such a privilege, and that experience made the song even more special.
SH: The first thing that comes to mind is Annie Ernaux’s “Happening, which I read for Susan Fraiman’s ENGL 4560 course, “Contemporary Women’s Texts.” Her style is so clear and restrained that it seems sort of clinical, yet the memoir is super emotionally intense. I was fascinated by her exploration of an imperative to share her story, especially as a creative writing student. While Ernaux stands out to me, I’ve been exposed to tons of fascinating novels, poems, short stories, articles and experimental films in my time at the University. John Berger’s “Ways of Seeing” blew my mind in ARTS 2000, “Intro to Studio Art.” My roommate and I used to rent DVDs from Clem our first year, and we rented “My Own Private Idaho” at least twice.
How do you plan to engage with the arts after graduation?
EP: I have no doubt I will find ways to keep singing recreationally after college, but I also want to commit to attending more local art productions or showcases — regardless of medium. Though I have found much fulfillment attending events I never would have otherwise known about as a student journalist, I am excited to enjoy these events without the pressure of picking up my pen to cover them. I hope to carry this practice into my post-grad life, regardless of where I end up.
ML: I am attending law school in Los Angeles after graduation, and though I still am not completely set on what kind of law I’d like to practice, I can certainly see myself pursuing a career in entertainment law — especially in a city with such a robust arts community. I could never fully give up my involvement in the arts, especially because it’s been such a big part of my life for so long, and I am so grateful that the University has given me the opportunity to remain involved in it throughout my time in college.
SH: I’m not exactly sure of my post-grad plans yet, but I believe writing will be part of my future. I’ll continue writing creatively on my own time and I hope my academic or career next steps will involve writing in some capacity. Writing about arts professionally is my dream, but I’m definitely still in the process of finding out what I want and how to get there. I’d love to stay plugged into the local arts scene wherever I find myself next.
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