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A Collection of Voices
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Our Whole Is Greater Than the Sum of Our Parts Syracuse University’s College of Visual and Performing Arts (SU:VPA) is a creative, energetic, and collaborative community within a university of endless possibilities. We are committed to the education of cultural leaders who will engage and inspire audiences through performance, visual art, design, scholarship, and commentary. Since it opened in 1873 as the College of Fine Arts, SU:VPA has stood at the forefront of visual and performing arts education; in fact, Syracuse was the first degree-conferring university in the United States to offer a bachelor of fine arts degree. Today, SU:VPA is the second largest academic unit at Syracuse University and the largest professional college on campus.
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SU:VPA offers many advantages over a stand-alone visual or performing arts school. At Syracuse, students enjoy a classic residential campus, Division 1 athletics, and exposure to different academic disciplines, including those within the College of Visual and Performing Arts. Many students add majors and minors to complement their coursework. Under the guidance of our dynamic faculty and with the vast resources of a major research university, SU:VPA students challenge themselves within their disciplines and explore new experiences on campus, in the Syracuse community, and in cities around the world.
CROUSE COLLEGE
SU:VPA is comprised of six areas:
In the School of art, students acquire the skills and conceptual foundation necessary for a successful career. Areas of exploration include art education, ceramics, history of art, illustration, jewelry and metalsmithing, painting, printmaking, and sculpture.
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In the Department of Communication and Rhetorical Studies (CRS), students explore effective communication from a variety of perspectives and can tailor their curriculum to prepare for a variety of careers and professions.
In the School of Design, students learn forward-thinking, sustainable design practices and collaborate across disciplines on creative solutions to complex, real-world concerns. Programs of study include communications design, environmental and interior design, fashion design, and industrial and interaction design.
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The Department of Drama’s conservatory-style training is complemented by a close partnership with Syracuse Stage, a professional theater company. Students rigorously prepare for professional careers in acting, musical theater, stage management, theater design and technology, theater management, and other areas.
The Rose, Jules R., and Stanford S. Setnor School of Music offers students what they need to be successful today: performance, composing and arranging, teaching, and music business. Professionallevel training allows talented musicians and future music industry leaders to excel both collectively and as individuals.
The Department of Transmedia educates media arts professionals in the areas of art photography, art video, computer art and animation, and film. Students develop expertise in their field(s) but also have opportunities to diversify their skill set so that they stand out to future employers.
Want to learn more about the SU:VPA experience? Let our students and alumni tell you in their own words.
OUR CAMPUS Syracuse University’s Main Campus is located in the city of Syracuse in central New York State. The best way to experience its classic beauty and thriving atmosphere is to come for a visit!
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“My first impression of SU was that it was a prideful campus with a prestigious reputation and a dynamic, diverse group of students.”
As an international student from a small country, I was impressed at the diversity in the campus. I remember seeing people outside on the Quad, throwing Frisbees, listening to music on porches on a nice spring day, and thinking, “Wow! It’s almost like a movie. This is totally college. This is my college!”
I remember feeling very comfortable right away. There was this one moment freshman year when I was walking through the Quad, turned to look at Hendricks Chapel, and thought, “I am so glad I am here.” I could picture myself on the campus, and I knew that this was where I wanted to be.
“Not only are the buildings and architecture gorgeous, but the atmosphere is electric. It’s obvious everyone loves being here.”
KENNETH A. SHAW QUAD
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I remember walking into Crouse College with my dad and saying, “This place is beautiful; I want to go here.” I remember that everyone hanging around the Quad had sunglasses on, and I thought, “I want to be here.”
DOROTHEA ILGEN SHAFFER ART BUILDING
“You really get the best of both worlds with a typical college campus that integrates so cohesively into a more urban environment.” I came on a hot, sunny day at the end of April, and I was mesmerized by the amount of activity and the greenery… it was like a painting.
I thought SU was a very eclectic mix of historical buildings… I was overwhelmed by the beauty of campus. THE NANCY CANTOR WAREHOUSE
OUR CHOICE Students choose Syracuse and SU:VPA because we offer more than just an education — we offer an educational experience that shapes who you are and who you hope to become.
THE ORANGE GROVE
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“I wanted an excellent art program, but I also wanted to be involved on campus and have opportunities that ‘just an art school’ would not have been able to provide.”
TRANSMEDIA ENSEMBLE RECORDING STUDIO, SHAFFER ART BUILDING
“What I love most about SU:VPA is that it inspires creativity. The college instills this drive to create— a need to express yourself through something bigger than yourself. SU:VPA teaches you how to find those things and bring them to life.” SU:VPA gives you multiple perspectives that emphasize not just your medium but also an expression of your art and what you wish to represent in your art in the best possible form. 13
I chose to come to Syracuse because of the University’s emphasis on diversity and the conceptual freedom that art and design courses here provide.
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“I love being in SU:VPA because every day I am surrounded by incredibly talented and professional faculty and staff who are more than willing to give me as much guidance as I need.” When I first landed in Syracuse I vividly remember turning to my mom and saying, “This feels like home.” It wasn’t just the beautiful campus that welcomed me but the friendly students, professors, and admissions staff that made me feel this way. It immediately just felt right, and the decision to come here has been the best decision of my life. When I was looking at colleges I wanted a place that would help me develop into a good music educator and performer. What I didn’t know was that Syracuse would offer me that and so much more. During my four years, I certainly grew as a musician, but also had the opportunity to travel the world, form connections with faculty and peers, and further my skills in communication, time management, and collaboration.
I chose SU:VPA because I have a “classic” college experience and a variety of programs and activities while also being at an amazing art school. SU:VPA felt like a family, and that’s what I was really looking for in a college. SU WIND ENSEMBLE
Students value each other’s opinions, and it really is an exceptional place for artists to grow and change. I chose to attend Syracuse University because of the academic diversity and strong design program.
OUR FACULTY SU:VPA faculty members are active professionals who will inspire, guide, and mentor you. 15
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“He made learning a challenge and an opportunity for growth, and I’m extremely grateful that he encouraged me to recognize the power of my voice.”
COMMUNICATIONS DESIGN CLASS WITH ROBERT COONEY, THE WAREHOUSE
ZEKE LEONARD (RIGHT), SMITH HALL SHOP
RODNEY HUDSON, LOFT THEATER
He plainly just had this unshakeable faith that I was something great from the day he met me. That means a whole lot to me and makes me want to work harder to make him proud.
“They have always pushed me to be my best, and they believed in me even when I didn’t believe in myself.”
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She is an amazing teacher. She helps me combine art and design and emphasizes how one cannot exist without the other. She has such a passion for music. She has a positive, strong attitude always; she is an empowering woman.
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JAMES R. TAPIA AND SU SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, SETNOR AUDITORIUM
They taught me to care about people, spaces, and the environments and how design can inspire as well as help and empower. He is always willing to help and teach and has taught me to push myself in all of my studio work. He’s an amazing teacher who really knows his craft, and he has really pushed me to a greater creative potential. DIANE GRIMES, SIMS HALL
I am constantly inspired by her passion for the arts, her creativity, and her involvement with the community. He saw potential in me that I didn’t know I had and continuously entered the classroom with a level of passion unlike any professor I’ve had in my entire life. His influence on my work — which he continues to have by being my professor as I work on my thesis — has been vast, and without him I certainly would not be as knowledgeable and interested in film as I currently am.
OUR EXPERIENCES SU:VPA students benefit from all that the college and University have to offer, including global study opportunities, internships, and visiting artists and speakers.
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“Study abroad was probably my best experience at SU. I was exposed to such great design in London, and it was a very hands-on learning experience.”
STUDY ABROAD IN LONDON
SUPERMODEL EMME ’85 VISITS FASHION DESIGN PROGRAM
The summer before my senior year I interned at an entertainment PR firm... it’s a one-woman company, but that was one of the best internships I’ve had because I was able to work oneon-one with an industry professional. I learned a lot, had a great mentor, and now I have a lasting connection and friendship with my boss.
I loved it when alumni from the Araca Project [a theatrical production company] came and spoke to the drama students. It was inspiring to see the work former students were producing, and it was motivating to think that could be me one day.
A visiting artist came to my art history class…his art has inspired me tremendously, but the thing that inspired me the most was the amount of knowledge he held, which inspired me to know that if I work at it, I can become just as knowledgeable, if not more!
“My internship with the Women’s Leadership Initiative helped me discuss women’s issues in the professional world and on campus.”
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“I interned in Mexico under National Geographic to help redesign a water canal system….This experience really helped me gain a sense of importance for interdisciplinary practice.” GLOBAL STUDY U.S. STUDY INCLUDES: • New York City • Los Angeles • Nashville • Washington, D.C.
FILM STUDY IN PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC
I studied abroad in Prague…it was amazing. I learned so much about myself, European culture, film, and more. In my opinion everyone should study abroad because it is such a beneficial and amazing experience.
STUDY ABROAD INCLUDES CITIES IN: • Czech Republic • England • France • Germany • Italy
OUR INSPIRATION SU:VPA students graduate and enter the professional world with skills, motivation, and powerful lessons that they carry with them throughout their lives.
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“This experience is what you make of it. There is an incredible amount of opportunity at SU, and it’s up to you to explore your passion and expose yourself to everything your program has to offer. ”
I’ve always known that the music industry is unpredictable, but the one critical thing I learned is that music is everlasting. There will always be music in the world; therefore, there will always be a job opening, and there are always opportunities.
TAYE DIGGS ’93, ACTOR
Communication and rhetorical studies has taught me how to take the things I’ve learned in the classroom and put them into practice in a variety of environments. Design is making an experience better for the user. Craftsmanship is very important, because to communicate fully the scope of your work, it is beneficial to have it done well. Don’t get too comfortable where you are; the industry is always changing.
CAROLYN STEINBERG ’14, ASSOCIATE, RESNICK EDUCATION WING OPERATIONS, CARNEGIE HALL
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The one crucial thing I learned during my time here is how the fashion industry is very large, and I have the ability to cross over many different career paths because of what I studied here. This school has allowed me to discover what film really is to me, and it has changed the direction I want to go as a filmmaker. Do what you love, and love what you do. Find something to be passionate about. JULIE GAINES ’85, OWNER/FOUNDER, FISHS EDDY
“While I may not have known it at the time, my experience as an SU:VPA student was crucial in shaping my career as a retailer and a businessperson because creativity is at the core of everything I do.”
In order to succeed you need to make connections and know your craft.
Alumni SU:VPA’s reputation is supported by the more than 22,000 active alumni around the world who are constant sources of inspiration and support for our students. These are just a few — meet more of them at suvpa.syr.edu! Josh Altman ’01, real estate agent and television personality Jordan Bass ’03, co-owner, Bass Casting Andrew Beyda ’11, director, business and legal affairs, Universal Music Publishing Group Samantha Brown ’92, Travel Channel host Bryan Buckley ’85, television commercial and film director Kevin Chernett ’91, executive vice president, global partnerships and content distribution, Live Nation Studios Division Joy Cho ’01, designer and blogger, Oh Joy Michelle Cox ’07, textile designer, Target Rob Dekker ’12, marketing and social media manager, Wind-Up Records Tracy Dendy ’10, user experience design consultant, HBO Taye Diggs ’93, actor Alan Dye ’97, vice president of user interface design, Apple Emme ’85, supermodel and entrepreneur Vera Farmiga ’95, Academy Award-nominated actress
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Thom Filicia ’93, interior designer, Thom Filicia Inc. LaToya Ruby Frazier G’07, professional artist (photography, video, performance) and Guggenheim Fellow Julie Gaines ’85, owner/founder, Fishs Eddy (home goods) Alex Haldi ’06, art director, SoundCloud Betsey Johnson ’64, fashion designer Ted Koppel ’60 H’82, legendary broadcast journalist Alexis O. Korycinski ’07, filmmaker Brittany Lahm ’11, music licensing coordinator, ESPN Arielle Tepper Madover ’94, Broadway producer Emily Meluch ’09, associate graphic line designer, American Greetings Philip Metz ’98, managing director, entertainment marketing and music, NASCAR Jessie Mueller ’05, Tony Award-winning actress (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical) Danielle Nottingham ’99, correspondent, CBS News
Thank You Thank you to the following SU:VPA current students and alumni who contributed their voices: Michael Rego ’90 and Hank Unger ’90, principals, Araca Group (theatrical production and brand management) Chris Renaud ’89, director (Despicable Me, Despicable Me 2) Evin Robinson ’12, co-founder, New York On Tech (technology leadership preparation) Aaron Sorkin ’83 H’12, award-winning screenwriter, producer, and playwright Carolyn Steinberg ’14, coordinator of operations and programming, Resnick Education Wing, Carnegie Hall Margaret Tomlin ’13, A&R representative, Sony Music Entertainment Bill Viola ’73, H’95, professional artist and video art pioneer Zachary Weiss ’14, contributor; style, arts, and culture; New York Observer Vanessa Williams ’85, actress, singer, producer Pete Yorn ’96, singer-songwriter Rebecca Zeller ’07, violinist, Ra Ra Riot
Gabriella Bello ’17, Department of CRS Jourdann Borski ’17, School of Design Carly Bova ’18, Department of Transmedia Ethan Butler ’15, Department of Drama Tatiana Cadet ’16, Department of CRS Hannah Crowell ’16, Department of Transmedia Kelsey Francella ’15, School of Design Julie Gaines ’85, School of Art Marius Jackson ’17, School of Design Joan Kao ’17, School of Design Michelle Lee ’16, School of Design Alexandra Mayo ’16, Setnor School of Music Morgan Mills ’15, Setnor School of Music David Peer ’16, Setnor School of Music Daniel Ramirez ’18, Department of Drama LaNia Roberts ’18, School of Art Kevin Sampaio ’16, Department of Transmedia Tiffany Soohoo ’17, School of Design Carolyn Steinberg ’14, Setnor School of Music Katie Woelfel ’16, Department of Drama Laura Wright ’17, School of Design
More About SU:VPA SU:VPA ENROLLMENT Undergraduate students: 1,890 Graduate students: 193 Total enrollment: 2,083
SU:VPA LOCATIONS Main Campus: • Comstock Art Facility (art) • Crouse College (music) • Shaffer Art Building (art, transmedia, music) • Sims Hall (communication and rhetorical studies) • Smith Hall (art, design, transmedia, Bandier Program) Downtown Syracuse: • 900 Block, East Genesee Street (drama) • Regent Theater Complex (drama) • The Nancy Cantor Warehouse (design)
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STUDENT LOUNGE, THE WAREHOUSE
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LEARN MORE To learn more about SU:VPA, visit suvpa.syr.edu or contact: Office of Recruitment and Admissions College of Visual and Performing Arts 315.443.2769 | admissu@syr.edu
•suvpa.syr.edu
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