December Commencement Profile: Nicholas Shoaf
Nicholas Shoaf ’19
BA Arts Administration, BM Music Education
Nicholas Shoaf has always known that music would be a part of his life. UNCG’s College of Visual and Perfoming Arts helped him discover how to combine that love of music with leadership skills to live a life in the arts. Nicholas started singing in elementary school and in church, and he just didn’t stop. By the time he was in high school, he was heavily involved in both the choral and band programs. When he started looking for colleges, he knew he wanted to teach and lead others. At UNCG he has participated in music, opera, and theatre productions, and this month he will receive a BM in Music Education (Choral) and a BA in Arts Administration. Nicholas says he feels the two degrees will serve him well:
“I value all of my stage and performance experience gained while being a part of the CVPA. I added Arts Administration my junior year because I wanted to broaden my knowledge of the arts as a whole. I wanted to know the behind the scenes action it takes to make everything run smoothly. Plus it makes me more marketable in today’s competitive arts world.”
In addition to the hours of classwork and practicums, Nicholas found ways to bolster his administrative resume by working in the College’s front office. He also applied for and became one of CVPA’s first Student Ambassadors, eventually becoming the group’s recruiting manager.
Like many of CVPA’s undergraduate students, Nicholas is from North Carolina. He grew up in Pilot Mountain and says UNCG was the best place for him because of the program and because it’s not far from home:
“My parents supported me by coming to every event and concert they could. I know I would not be where I am today if it was not for their love and support. My experience at UNCG has taught me valuable skills that will shape my future. My time here has taught me how to keep my doors open to all opportunities that might come my way.”
Although he’s not sure what door might open in the near future, Nicholas hopes to one day become a Director of Education for a non-profit arts organization. And after he picks up that diploma on December 13th, he will be one step closer.
Jewels: An Exhibition of Distinguished Alumni
Jewels is an exhibition curated by Associate Professor Emerita Amy Purcell and is a celebration of her 30 years on the faculty at UNCG’s School of Art.
The exhibition features the work of twenty-one of Purcell’s former students — people whom she calls her “jewels” — and runs through December 5th.
An opening reception was held on November 16th, followed by a retirement dinner for Purcell which was attended by many of the alumni artists.
Purcell has three of her own pieces in the show.
Other works are by:
Melissa C. Ball-Martin ‘00 MFA Studio Art, BS Art Education
Johannes Barfield ‘13 BFA New Media and Design
Jasmine Best ‘16 BFA New Media and Design
Kathryn Cook ‘18 MFA
Jym Davis ‘03 MFA
Bryan Colburn Ellis ‘00 BFA Design
Gina Gibson ‘06 MFA Studio
Quinn Hunter ‘16 BFA New Media and Design
Bill Klingensmith‘98 MFA Painting/Digital Imaging
Alexandra Litaker ‘19 MFA Studio Art
Lukasz Lysakowski ‘99 BA Media Production
Susan Mullally ‘03 MA
Timothy Brett Mullinix ‘91 BFA, ‘93 MFA
Janet Oliver ‘02 MFA
Brandon Pierce ‘01 BFA Studio Art
Arton Ragsdale ‘02 BFA Studio Art
John Rash ‘00 BFA Art Education
Derek S. Toomes ‘04 BFA, ‘18 MFA
Kyle T. Webster ‘99 BFA
Stephanie J. Woods ‘12 BFA New Media and Design, ‘15 MFA
Liliya Zalevskaya ‘10 MFA
Music Alumna on the Metropolitan Opera Stage is Featured in New York Times Article
Liz Brooks, ’00 BM Vocal Performance, is featured in a New York Times article about the rigors of rep-style opera, in which a company performs a different opera each night. Liz is a professional chorister with the Metropolitan Opear, and appears in all performances, which means learning lots of lyrics, multiple languages and many, many different costumes and wigs.
Read the NYT article – 4 Operas in 48 Hours.
