By Mitchel Clow '13
Many students become involved in the creative arts at Siena to complement their studies in the Schools of Liberal Arts, Science and Business. It provides a nice balance as well as an outlet for their creative energies. Megan Lesperance ’14, Gaspard Callet ’13 and Ashley Broady ’13 are three students who embody this at Siena.
Megan Lesperance ’14, treasurer of Siena’s Student Senate, is a biology major who sings in the chamber choir. Despite pursuing a rigorous program that will prepare her for medical school, Lesperance has excelled with the choir under the direction of Tim Reno, Ph.D.
“I make music because it’s what I love and it is something that I have done since I was a kid,” said Lesperance. “I am thankful I was able to be a part of a group and program that has fostered this. It has made me more well rounded and allowed me to work with different kinds of people with wonderful talents.”
This March, Reno selected her and three other students to attend the American Choral Director’s Association Convention in Dallas, Texas. While at the convention, the students acted as the choir-in-residence for student conductors competing to prove their abilities. “My time in Dallas was amazing. I met incredibly talented musicians and learned a ton about the art of music,” Lesperance said.
The science major has impressed liberal arts faculty like Reno. “Megan is intuitively musical because her mind is open to investigating new possibilities,” Reno said. “These are the type of students who excel at Siena.”
The lighting and sound booth of Siena’s Stage III’s plays drew marketing major Gaspard Callet ’13 into the creative arts program. He ran the lighting for the play The Children’s Hour this spring semester, and feels that he is more well-rounded because of this experience.
As an international student, Callet has found a home in the Foy Hall theatre. “Before I left France, I decided running a lighting board in the USA was on my to-do list. My involvement in the Stage III productions will give me this little je ne sais quoi that will differentiate me from similar business students during interviews and job research process.”
Stage III technical director, Jason Cross, praised his work, saying “Gaspard’s best attribute was his extreme professionalism he showed at all times during a lengthy and demanding process.”
Sophocles’ Anti Gone Today was the artistic masterpiece for psychology major Ashley Broady ’13. Broady played the title character of an Iraqi-themed version of the classic play set at the end of the Oedipus trilogy. The time and dedication she put into the role demonstrated her passion for getting inside the mind of the lead woman.
Broady enjoyed her time playing Antigone, but recognized that it was no easy feat. When not studying for her next psychology exam, she was behind the curtain, studying her lines for opening night. “Ashley found a way to connect to Antigone’s experience on a very deep and personal level. Because of this, her performance was heartfelt and truthful,” Paul Ricciardi, M.F.A., assistant professor of creative arts, said.
Broady really enjoyed getting to know her colleagues in the performance. “There was a large cast, and we spent so much of the process bonding that we were very comfortable creating the show.” This opportunity allowed her to form life-long connections with students with whom she doesn’t usually interact. “It has helped me a great deal with public speaking, and learning how to work well with various groups of people at any given time," she said.
“The Creative Arts faculty here are incredibly open to all. They constantly encourage and support collaboration with students with numerous interests and backgrounds,” Broady said. "
When students like Broady need to find a creative outlet on campus the faculty in Foy Hall will help them fine tune their artistic abilities so they can take their talents to the next level.
