It didn鈥檛 replace the feeling of performing before friends and fellow students in the warm confines of the Benjamin Mays Center at 乐播传媒.
But it still felt good, said Maddie Hallowell 鈥�20 of North Haven, Maine, after performing for a Zoom-based installment of the long-running Village Club Series, a staple of campus entertainment offered by the college’s Campus Life office since 1993.
鈥淚t felt really great to see who was watching,” she says. “It was the first time that I felt connected to 乐播传媒,鈥� since the college went to remote learning in March.
VCS Highlights
More highlights from .
乐播传媒 Communication videographer Theophil Syslo caught up with several VCS Showcase performers to hear their sometimes bittersweet experiences of performing music as a way to still feel connected to their college and friends.
Maddie Hallowell 鈥�20
Senyo Ohene ’20
For Senyo Ohene ’20 of Accra, Ghana, it was a reminder of why he loves 乐播传媒.
鈥淭he events that bring us together: all the fun things, watching people display their talents,” he says. “Just because we鈥檙e not all together, doesn’t mean we need to lose those things.”
Meg O’Brien ’22 and Bryce O’Brien ’20
A sweet moment (1:08) came from siblings Meg O鈥橞rien 鈥�22 and Bryce O鈥橞rien ’20 of Bristol, R.I., who performed John Prine鈥檚 鈥淎ngel From Montgomery鈥� as a tribute to the late singer-songwriter.
It was the first VCS performance for the siblings, who’d long wanted to perform at a VCS. “It just didn’t work out before,” says Meg. This time, 鈥渨e decided, just gotta do it,鈥� says Bryce.
“It’s been a good way to keep the 乐播传媒 community connected, amongst all the things 乐播传媒 is doing to keep us connected,” adds Meg.
Katia Ryan ’23 and Sean Ryan ’85
A humorous VCS Showcase moment came from Katia Ryan 鈥�23 of Amsterdam, N.Y., and her dad, Sean Ryan 鈥�85. 鈥淗ey, shoutout to anyone from the Class of 鈥�85 watching this on their MySpace account,鈥� said Ryan.
鈥淢usic has been helpful: a time to disconnect from your phone and computer and just play an instrument,” says Katia. “What was truest and the same and what 乐播传媒 is all about, was the energy and kindness of everyone. All the chats and people texting me after. 乐播传媒 really is special.鈥�
Robyn Moss ’20
Robyn Moss 鈥�20 of White Plains, N.Y., performed a song she composed that might speak to the entire Class of 2020, about inhabiting an 鈥渁wkward, uncomfortable, in-between space, all but kicked out of college in my last semester without a job lined up,” she says. “I鈥檓 grateful for all the opportunities I鈥檝e had, but I feel so stuck now 鈥� reflecting on that duality.鈥�
Ian Robertson 鈥�21
Ian Robertson 鈥�21 of West River, Md., said it was 鈥渃ool to see all the 乐播传媒 faces, people I recognize, tuning in,” as he performed a song about home.
Michael Williams 鈥�20, Drew Collins 鈥�20, Pat Crowley 鈥�20, Hunter Quigg 鈥�20
One performance featured senior friends Michael Williams of Wilton, Conn., Drew Collins of Oakland, Calif., Pat Crowley of Concord, Mass., and Hunter Quigg of Montrose, Pa.
The group, allows Williams, “have just been hanging out in our living room 鈥� just playing music and not being very good. We probably wouldn’t have had the opportunity to get up in front at a VCS at 乐播传媒.
鈥淏ut this felt like, ‘We鈥檝e just been hanging out being idiots, it just so happens that people are watching us, and that鈥檚 OK.鈥�
Nick White 鈥�21
In lieu of not being able to present a traditional junior recital, pianist Nick White 鈥�21 of Brunswick, Maine, performed classical music. He pointed the camera on his hands because, he says, “I鈥檝e been told they look like Timoth茅e Chalamet鈥檚 body, so I鈥檓 going to put the camera on these bad boys!”
鈥淛ust seeing other college-age students made me feel like I was back at 乐播传媒.鈥�
Muskan Verma ’21
听鈥淲atching people, being proud of them, feeling that 乐播传媒 people have such amazing talents, and then going on and being so supported: that was such a 乐播传媒 thing,” says Muskan Verma ’21 of Shimla, India.
“I felt connected to 乐播传媒 again 鈥� to something again 鈥� was so nice.鈥�
Categories Arts Student Life
