Special Event

2023 Arts at Dartmouth Awards

with Virginia Johnson

May 31, 2023

This event occurred as part of the 22/23 Special Event season. This is an archived view.

Celebrate outstanding Dartmouth student artists with speeches and awards.

22/23 Special Event

Each May, the Hop gathers together its community to honor and present awards to Dartmouth undergraduates who have excelled in the arts—delighting us during their four years with great musical, theater and dance performances and marvelous film and video.

dth_artistic_director_virginia_johnson._photo_by_theik_smith.jpg

Virginia Johnson

We are honored to welcome guest speaker Virginia Johnson to address the students. A founding member of Dance Theatre of Harlem, Virginia was one of its principal ballerinas through her career of nearly 30 years and is recognized as one of the great ballerinas of her generation and for her performances in the ballets Giselle, A Streetcar Named Desire and Fall River Legend. After retiring in 1997, she founded Pointe magazine and was editor-in-chief for 10 years. A student of Mary Day, she graduated from the Washington School of Ballet and went on to be a University Scholar in the School of the Arts at New York University before joining Dance Theatre of Harlem. DTH founder Arthur Mitchell invited her to step into his position as artistic director in 2010. On July 1, 2023, she will pass artistic leadership of the company to former DTH principal dancer and resident choreographer Robert Garland.

A trailblazing dancer and mentor, Virginia champions the belief that ballet belongs to everyone. Throughout her career, her mission has been to make the form more inclusive and to harness the power of the arts for change.

Refreshments to follow in Nearburg Forum.

The Program

The Hop Presents

The Arts at Dartmouth Awards Ceremony

Guest of Honor
Virginia Johnson
Artistic Director of Dance Theatre of Harlem

Wednesday, May 31, 2023 • 5 pm
Loew Auditorium, Black Family Visual Arts Center • Dartmouth College • 2023

Funded in part by the Martin R. Rosenthal 1956 Memorial Fund

Program

Welcome
Mary Lou Aleskie
Howard Gilman ’44 Executive Director, Hopkins Center

Reflections
President Philip J. Hanlon ’77

Keynote Address by Guest of Honor
Virginia Johnson
Artistic Director of Dance Theatre of Harlem

Distribution of Awards

Department of Music
Theodore C. Levin, Chair Arthur R. Virgin Professor of Music

Department of Theater
Rebecca E. Biron, Chair

Department of Film & Media Studies
Paul D. Young, Associate Professor

Department of Studio Art
Tricia Treacy, Co-chair and Associate Professor

Hopkins Center Ensembles
Joshua Price Kol ’93, Managing Director/Executive Producer

Hopkins Center Awards
Mary Lou Aleskie, Howard Gilman ’44 Executive Director

Sudler Prize
President Philip J. Hanlon ’77

Reception immediately following in Nearburg Forum

Department of Music

Presented by Department Chair Theodore C. Levin
Arthur R. Virgin Professor of Music

Eugene Roitman 1943 Memorial Award
Eugene Roitman was a member of the Class of ’43 and a noted composer of chamber music who played the English horn and oboe in concerts in England, France, Italy and New Zealand. Following his death in 1984, his brother Harold B. Roitman, Class of ’35, made a donation to establish a fund to award an undergraduate student, or students, who show outstanding dedication to music and are deserving of encouragement for further study and advancement in musical performance and/or composition.

Gao Y. Chen ’22
Devon is a senior from Virginia majoring in music and computer science. At Dartmouth, he studies saxophone with Professor Michael Zsoldos and plays in the Dartmouth College Wind Ensemble. During his time at Dartmouth, Devon has had the invaluable opportunity to attend the London Music Foreign Study Program with Professor Sally Pinkas and recently returned from a trip to Mexico with the wind ensemble. Devon is grateful for all faculty, staff and students that he has had the pleasure of experiencing music with here at Dartmouth.

Shelby K. Dufton ’24
Shelby is a music major from Cutchogue, NY and has been singing since she was nine years old. At Dartmouth, she is part of the Glee Club, Dartmouth College Radio and an active member of the greater Dartmouth music community. When she’s not at school, Shelby spends her time performing with her band Audawind, which is composed of her and her two younger brothers, Ben and Sam. Her true passion is performing and after graduation, she plans to move to Nashville to devote all of her time to music. Shelby is extremely grateful for this award—it is an honor to be recognized for doing something she loves so dearly. She is also grateful for the Dartmouth music faculty and staff, specifically Kui Dong whom Shelby has worked with closely as her TA for the last year and a half and as her student in several of her classes since freshman year.

MacDonald-Smith Prize
This prize was first awarded in 1961 and is funded by gifts from the friends of Malcolm R. Macdonald and Philip D. Smith, both of the Class of 1915, to be awarded to recognize high achievement in musical performances, on the recommendation of the faculty of the Department of Music.

Marcus S. Chang ’23
Marcus is a music major and double minor in biology and global health from Los Angeles, CA. At Dartmouth, he studies violin with Professor Marcia Cassidy and played in the Dartmouth Symphony Orchestra, where he has also served as concertmaster. His experience on the music London Foreign Study Program with Professor Sally Pinkas also significantly shaped his musical perspective. Beyond music, he is a ski instructor, undergraduate researcher and dedicated volunteer. In his free time, he enjoys playing tennis and piano. Finally, Marcus would like to thank the amazing faculty and peers who have made his Dartmouth musical journey incredible.

Hannah C. Kim ’23
Hannah is a senior from Tampa, FL. She is a double major in biomedical engineering and music and is interested in exploring the intersection between music and medicine. She is the principal cellist of the Dartmouth Symphony Orchestra as well as a TA in the music department. She is also an Eichler Fellow and has worked with the Aging Resources Center at DHMC to create a class on music. Her hobbies include cooking, photography and learning about art at the Hood Museum. After graduation, Hannah will be working as a Clinical Research Coordinator at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

Erich Kunzel Class of 1957 Award
This fund was established by the Class of 1957 in honor of their classmate, Erich Kunzel. Erich was an enthusiastic supporter of music students at Dartmouth. The fund in his name supports student opportunities in the Music Department, including student musical performances both on- and off-campus, undergraduate musical research and travel grants to pursue off-campus projects.

Andrew W. Brozek ’25
Andrew is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Whitefish, Montana. Andrew’s favorite genres include folk, Americana and bluegrass, which lend themselves well to his favorite areas of study: bluegrass banjo and flatpicking guitar. When at school, Andrew is a very active participant in the music community, both on campus and off. He regularly performs with Ramblers and Co. around NH and VT, and has been known to sit in with other Upper Valley musicians during their sets. Andrew can often be found playing guitar on the steps of ROBO with his bandmates, or at the Filling Station jam sessions in White River Junction.

Dartmouth College Clarinet Choir
The Dartmouth College Clarinet Choir, in its current iteration, was started in June 2022 with the mission of bringing together clarinetists from across Dartmouth campus to perform in a student-led ensemble. Officially registered with the MUS 50: Chamber Music course, the choir is thankful to its mentors Jan Halloran, Brian Messier and Marcia Cassidy for their coaching over the past year. From May 18 to 21, 2023, the choir traveled to Houston, TX to premiere four new compositions for clarinet choir by Mexican-identifying composers at the 2023 Music Mexico Symposium. The choir is grateful to the Erich Kunzel ’57 Fund for their part in making this project possible!

Kevin M. Farrell ’25
Kevin is a member of the class of 2025, studying Classics and Economics. He has been a member of the Dartmouth College Marching Band since fall 2021, playing the bass drum. He served as the band’s president in 2022, and is currently equipment manager. Some of his favorite moments with the DCMB have been playing at the Cornell game in November 2021 and playing on the band’s intramural hockey team for the past two years. Elsewhere on campus, Kevin can be found working in the Theater Department’s scene shop, doing letterpress printing in the library’s Book Arts Workshop, and competing on the Timber Team.

Raegan A. Padula ’24
Raegan (she/they) is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, sound designer, DJ, producer, organizer and creator. In their creative work, they are investigating resonant metals, collaged sonic artifacts and woven acoustic and electronic instrumental textures. In her research, she is studying queer art spaces in the underground and how they heal communities. As an organizer and DJ, she gathers and educates other undergraduates at Dartmouth College on deejaying practices, history and community, while performing sets around campus and with visiting artists. They have composed music performed live and recorded by ensembles in New York City, London and Hanover, NH, and scored and produced music for the Hopkins Center for the Arts. Raegan is the studio and technical assistant in the graduate program for Digital Musics at the Guarini Institute at Dartmouth College. They will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Music from Dartmouth College in the spring of 2024.

Abigail Y. Pak ’26
Abigail is a prospective linguistics major and music minor from Germantown, MD. She is a percussionist for the Dartmouth College Wind Ensemble with a musical background in Eastern European and Mexican accordion, as well as classical piano. In 2017, she debuted at Carnegie Hall as a piano soloist for Concert Artists International, and returned in 2019 as a winner of the American Protegé Piano and Strings Competition. Abigail has also been the principal percussionist of the Maryland Classic Youth Orchestra’s Philharmonic and Young Artists of America, as well as a member of the Maryland All-State Senior Band.

Valeria P. Pereira Quintero ’24
Valeria is a Venezuelan-born ’24 majoring in Music and English. She was raised in Houston, TX by her single mother and older brother who have supported her in her passions in music and writing for over 10 years. Valeria has an unhealthy addiction to fiction books and is a sucker for a good love story. She wishes to enter the film and TV industry in the creative sector. Valeria is continuously inspired by the creativity and kindness she sees from her peers at Dartmouth.

Emma L. Ratchford ’25
Emma is a ’25 majoring in Government and Environmental Studies with a Music minor. She is a clarinetist in the Dartmouth College Wind Ensemble and Clarinet Choir. With Kunzel funding she was able to travel to Mexico City over winterim on an advanced trip to plan the DCWE tour. In Mexico City, she was able to visit historical sites, digitize wind band scores for Dartmouth’s Mexican Repertoire Collection, and play with the UNAM Banda Sinfonica for a concert that featured music from across Latin America. She would like to thank Brian Messier, Sally Pinkas and Karina Sainz for supporting her involvement in this initiative.

The Decibelles
The Decibelles are Dartmouth’s oldest historically female a cappella group. They arrange all of their own music and perform songs from a variety of genres, including modern pop, classic rock, Dartmouth traditionals and anything and everything in between! In addition to performing frequently on campus, the Decis sing at other colleges, at community events around the Upper Valley, and at Dartmouth Alumni Clubs. Every year, the Decis go on a week-long tour, most recently to Montreal, Toronto, London, Washington DC and Southern California. The Decibelles have been actively recording since the 1980s, coming out with an album every two years.

Jessica Wang ’23
Jessica is a senior from Columbia, MD majoring in Quantitative Social Sciences and Global Health. On campus, she is the student coordinator for the Pan-Asian community, president of a service and issue-awareness club Health Access For All, and an Eichler Fellow. She used the Kunzel Award to learn violin improvisation from local fiddler Jakob Breitbach in preparation for her senior feature with the Coast Jazz Orchestra. Following graduation, Jessica plans on traveling and spending time with family and friends before starting work at a primary care company.

Gerald Tracy Memorial Scholarship Prize For Piano
Established in 1983 by Pennington Haile ’24 in memory of his friend, Gerald Tracy, students compete for cash awards in an annual competition, judged by the faculty of the Department of Music and one guest judge.

1st Place: Jessica L. Jiang ’25
2nd Place: Daniel Liu ’26
3rd Place: Anais C. Zhang ’24

Department of Theater

Presented by Department Chair Rebecca E. Biron

The David Birney Award for Excellence in The Theater Arts
The David Birney Award for Excellence in the Theatre Arts was established in 1980 by David Birney ’61. The award is a cash prize, part of which is a contribution from the David Birney Fan Club. The award is given each year, according to the donor’s specifications, “to the student making the most significant contribution to the theater at Dartmouth during the previous year…Two qualities are to be considered: (1) the student’s contribution should embody, or aspire to, a standard of excellence, a deep concern for the quality of the craft; (2) since craft without passion is, I think, a dead thing, the student should evidence a genuine passion, a substantial emotional commitment to the art of the theater.” A committee consisting of two students and members of the Department of Theater faculty determines the recipient of the award.

Daisha A. Thornton ’23
Daisha grew up in Atlanta. At Dartmouth, she majors in Engineering Sciences modified with Studio Art and minors in HCD and FAMS. Freshman year, she found herself fascinated by a specific window as she got in a long line to retrieve her mail. THEA 42: Scene Design, formally introduced her to the theater. She currently serves as the Scene Shop Props Coordinator, aiding in Pippin, Fool For Love, And Thus They Began: A Decameron and Pretty Filthy, where she was set designer. She sends all her love and gratitude to the Shop and her favorite ‘punny’ folks: Bri, mentor Michael, Janine, Scott, sanity keeper BTD, and Naomi Agnew ’21 who told her “yeah people can work in that place!”

Schoenhut Service Award
Mr. and Mrs. George Schoenhut established a Service Award to be presented to a first-year, sophomore or junior in recognition of outstanding contribution in the non-acting activities of the Department of Theater as determined by a faculty-student committee. The activities to be considered include stage management, scenic design and construction, costume design and construction, lighting design and sound design for both student and faculty productions. The award consists of a cash prize.

George W. Schoenhut was associate professor of drama emeritus, who served Dartmouth from 1942 until his retirement in 1968. He died in September 1990.

Robbie Abel ’24
Robbie is from Canandaigua, NY, majoring in Film and Media Studies. Outside of class, he enjoys hiking, long naps, and of course, theater. In his time with the Department, credits include: Noon Panir in the Dark (Sound Designer), Pretty Filthy (Sound Designer) and Anatomical Hearts (Stage Manager), along with a daytime position as scene shop assistant/office gossip. Robbie also is an enthusiastic member of Displaced Theatre Company, serving this term as Technical Director. He is honored to receive this award, and would like to thank Scott, Janine, Bethany and Ben Scheff for showing him why tech is the best part of theater.

Yifei Liu ’26
Yifei is a dedicated and passionate artist interested in performing arts, visual arts, music, digital arts and many other mediums. Yifei has found a strong interest in stage lighting after she took Lighting Design in her freshman fall. She sees lighting to be a subtle expression and an unembodied character on stage. Since then, she designed lighting for Noon Panir in the Dark and Pretty Filthy, the musical, produced by the Theater Department in Winter 2023. Yifei is a first-year undergraduate student at Dartmouth.

Aryma Moore ’25
Aryma is from Tampa, FL. She is an aspiring filmmaker, digital designer and costume designer. In her free time, she enjoys dancing, pottery and sewing. In her work, Aryma strives to explore themes of mental illness, escapism, femininity, racial and economic equity, and pop culture. She is beyond grateful to receive this award and hopes to continue working with the Dartmouth theater department in the future.

The Benjamin & Edna Ehrlich Prize in The Dramatic Arts
This award was established in May 1989 by Michael Ehrlich ’60 and John Ehrlich G’69 in honor of their late parents. It is presented annually to the graduating senior in the Department of Theater whose student career has demonstrated remarkable strengths in literature/criticism and theater production. The recipient of this award must also have the ability to work collegially and collaboratively, as this is an essential requirement for the professional world of theater. The award consists of a cash prize.

Maggie MacDonald ’23
Maggie (she/her) is a senior from Massachusetts, majoring in Theater and minoring in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. On campus she is involved in Displaced Theatre Company and Dartmouth Comedy Network. She is also a Student Representative for the Theater Department. Recent credits include The Antipodes (Director), Dry Land (Director) and Hamlet (Gertrude). Her theater career at Dartmouth has culminated in her Honors Thesis: a workshop production of her original script, Orphan Play. After graduation, she plans to continue pursuing her passions of acting, writing, and directing wherever she can.

The Eleanor Frost Playwriting Competition
This competition was established in 1950 by a gift from Eleanor Louise Frost, which has been supplemented by gifts from Professor Henry B. Williams. Mrs. Frost was a member of the Dartmouth community, who enjoyed and wished to encourage playwriting. The competition is open annually to original, previously unproduced one-act plays written by currently enrolled Dartmouth undergraduates. The winning playwrights receive a cash award.

To be announced at the ceremony

The Ruth and Loring Holmes Dodd Drama Prize
This award was established in 1969 by a bequest in the will of Clark University Professor Loring Dodd for the best original play by an undergraduate. The prize is a cash award.

To be announced at the ceremony

The Warner Bentley & Henry B. Williams Fellowship
This award was established in 1988 by David Birney to acknowledge the passionate commitment by Warner Bentley and Henry B. Williams to the life of the theater at Dartmouth and in gratitude for the profound contributions made by both men to the lives of many students of the College. A fellowship is awarded to a student, chosen by the faculty of the Department of Theater, who has significantly enriched the world of theater within the Dartmouth community. This award shall be used to help provide a bridge between the undergraduate experience and that of the professional world—including, but not restricted to, graduate education, a professional internship or further professional study—that will sustain and extend a commitment to the theatrical arts first nourished at Dartmouth.

Lucy Biberman ’23
Lucy (she/her) studies English, Theater and Linguistics from Louisville, KY. A lifelong theater student, Lucy’s credits at Dartmouth include: Sweet Science of Bruising (Assistant Stage Manager), Flourtown (Stage Manager), Umma (Stage Manager), Saturday Night/Sunday Morning (Stage Manager), Lizzie (Stage Manager), Fool for Love (Stage Manager) and And Thus They Began (Stage Manager). Lucy would like to thank her family, friends, teachers and mentors in both the Department of Theater and the Hopkins Center for the Arts for their unwavering help and support. She will deeply miss haunting the tech booths in Hanover next year.

Isaiah Brown ’23
Isaiah, from Buffalo NY, is committed to theater-making and is passionate about his work in writing, acting and directing. During his time at Dartmouth, he has acted in several roles including Tom Collins in the 2022 Winter production of Rent and Bobby in the Fall 2021 reading of Saturday Night/Sunday Morning. As of late, he has also ventured into the roles of writer and director, with the recent reading of his play Destroy the Fool at Northern stage and his Studio lab production of Chekhov’s The Seagull, which he directed this Spring here at Dartmouth. Isaiah is excited to continue growing professionally.

Betty Faul-Welfare ’23
Betty double majors in Theater and English. After her graduation in June, she will be pursuing a career as a professional theatrical lighting designer. Betty’s past design credits include: The SpongeBob Musical (produced at Northern Stage), Fool for Love and Lizzie. She has assisted on: Pippin and Rent, and served as lighting crew on: Spamalot (produced at Northern Stage), Saturday Night/Sunday Morning, Ridgway, Poor Clare and The Living. Betty is deeply honored to have received this award and would like to extend her thanks to the faculty and staff of the Department of Theater.

The Rodney W. Alexander Theater Fellowship
The Rodney W. Alexander Theater Fellowship Fund was established in 2001 to honor the memory and contributions of Rodney W. Alexander, Professor of Drama and Director of Theater at Dartmouth College from 1967 to 1985. It was established to recognize student achievements in stage directing, acting and community 10 service; to encourage professional dedication and cooperation; and to promote a deepening appreciation for the theater. The fellowship is to be used to help underwrite the costs of an off-campus undergraduate student internship in directing or acting with a professional theater or similar organization. The fellows also will have their names inscribed on a plaque near Rod Alexander’s photograph in Shakespeare Alley.

Caileigh Dowell ’24
Caileigh (she/her) is a junior from Austin, TX, double majoring in Theater and Government. Recent Dartmouth credits in acting and stage management include The Antipodes (23S), Dry Land (22F) and Pippin (22F). She is involved in Displaced Theatre Company and the Rude Mechanicals, and is a Student Representative for the Theater Department. She would like to thank and express gratitude towards everyone in this department who has believed in her and given her the opportunity to do what she loves.

Emma Lavaune Johnson ’24
Emma (any pronouns) is honored to be recognized by the Department of Theater for The Rodney W. Alexander Theater Fellowship. Emma is a member of the Class of 2024 and is majoring in Theater and QSS (with a focus on Economic Game Theory). Previously, Emma has been seen directing/choreographing (Lizzie), stage managing (Noon Panir In The Dark), and performing (Pippin) in the Department of Theater. Outside of her studies, Emma can be found giving campus tours, advocating for her class as a member of ’24s Class Council, teaching other Dartmouth students to ski at the Skiway, and planning various events for her peers to enjoy.

David Charles Katz ’24
David is a budding theater-maker from Chappaqua, NY. At Dartmouth they have directed two full-scale productions, Fool for Love (Department of Theater) and The Tempest (Rude Mechanicals); acted in two MainStages (Rent and Ridgway, Fall 2021 Staged Reading Series); and participated in new work development residencies, including that of the New York Theatre Workshop. They are a double major of theater and physics and hope to pursue directing or dramaturgy. David thanks their family, friends, peers and the entire faculty and staff of the theater department, especially their major advisor Prof. Laura Edmondson. MORE LIFE.

The Clifford S. Gurdin 1964 Memorial Award
The Clifford S. Gurdin Award was established by gifts from friends and relatives of Clifford Gurdin, who drowned on April 28, 1963 in a canoe accident on the Connecticut River. Income from the fund was to be awarded to “that undergraduate judged to have done the best job as director in the IMPC.” The IMPC was discontinued in 1988. In the spirit of the original intent, beginning in 2000, the award was changed to acknowledge the best student director in a Department of Theater production during the year. The award consists of a cash prize.

David Charles Katz ’24
See bio above

Katie Devin Orenstein ’22
Katie won $625 for directing a musical about porn. She spent a year working on it, which comes out to $.07/hr. It was worth it. Theater: Jo & Laurie, Debutantes from Hell, Rent and two Frost plays. Thanks to Michael “Bowser” Ganio, the fearless cast & crew of Pretty Filthy, Steve Cosson, Chelsea Pace, and the Friedman family. After graduation, Katie hopes to direct, write and produce more theater, plus TV and movies, which could pay $.08/hr! Daniel, Alessa, Isaiah, Emma—if you leave me I’m coming with you. There’s another “Katie Devin Orenstein’’ in the film section of this program, and whatever she says—she’s lying!

The Susan Debevoise Wright Award
The Susan DeBevoise Wright Award shall be used to help underwrite the costs of an off-campus internship with a professional theater or similar organization for an undergraduate student or graduating senior. The award is to be used to recognize student achievement in stage directing, acting, design, stage management, playwriting, technical theater, dramaturgy or scholarship; to promote the continuing development of a personal artistic philosophy; and to provide the opportunity to enhance creative skills through immersion in a professional theater environment.

Kamila Boga ’25
Kamila (she/her) is a sophomore from Los Angeles majoring in Psychology and minoring in Theater and Education. Her recent performance credits include Pippin (Catherine), Hamlet (Ophelia) and The Tempest (Miranda). She is a Theater Department Student Representative and the proud Company Manager of Dartmouth’s Displaced Theatre Company for which she recently directed her original one-act play, Inflatable Heart. After graduation, she hopes to continue her work in theatre as an actor, director and playwright as well as further her studies in theatre arts as they relate to social and emotional development.

Alexandria Piton ’24
Alexandria is pursuing a major in African and African American Studies and a minor in theater. She was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, and studied vocal music at Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School. Most recently, she participated in the Experiential Learning Term (E-term) at Northern Stage, where she understudied Cynthia in Sweat and was the swing for ‘Bov Water. She was also the costume assistant for Sweat and is grateful for all the learning opportunities Northern Stage provided. Productions at Dartmouth include Fool for Love (Mae), Lizzie the Musical (Lizzie), Rent (Ensemble) and Saturday Night/Sunday Morning (Jackie). She has loved to perform since she was five years old and hopes to pursue a career in theater post-graduation.

Sophia Serpas ’24
Sophia is a Theatre and LALACS modified with Music double-major from Buffalo, NY. She has participated in multiple Dartmouth theater productions; as an actor, stage manager and sound op. Sophia also works in the department Scene Shop. Through the department she has been able to intern at Northern Stage Theatre and study at the London Academy of Musical and Dramatic Arts. Sophia is a member of film society and the Vice President of learning and development for her sorority. She plans to continue acting upon graduation and is very grateful for this award which will assist in her summer 2023 acting program in New York.

The Stanley Wallace Technical Theater Award
Established in 1999 by Margaret L. Tunnell ’78 in honor of Stanley Wallace upon his retirement. Mr. Wallace was a carpenter in the Scene Shop for many years, building sets for countless Theater Department productions. The fund was established to support the Theater Department’s Technical Theater Internship Program, providing an internship in an aspect of technical theater for a Dartmouth upper class student or a recent graduate.

Sydney Hassell ’24
Sydney is from Bridgetown, Barbados. She currently majors in Theater and Mathematical Data Science. In the Department of Theater, she has supported the department through her participation in the Fall Staged Play Reading Series, Rent, Pippin, Noon Panir in the Dark and And Thus They Began: A Decameron. Highlights of her time in the Theater department have been the Theater Foreign Study Program last summer and working as the Theater Office Worker. Outside of theater, Sydney is the Wellness Chair of the Dartmouth Sings and a previous Hopkins Center of the Arts Fellow. She’s unsure of her plans after graduation but intends to continue participating in the arts.

Daisha A. Thornton ’23
See bio on page 7

The Robert H. Nutt ’49 Award
The Robert H. Nutt ’49 Award, given in memory by his daughters, Sarah Nutt Van Leeuwen ’80 and Susan Gilman Nutt ‘81, is a true endowment established at Dartmouth College to recognize excellence in writing related to the theater or other creative performance media. The award is a cash prize. The award is given each year to a Dartmouth student who has written either the best play or script or the best paper that examines such work. The award is intended to support a piece of creative writing or writing about the creative arts.

Lila Hovey ’23
Lila is a costumer, playwright and actor who loves creating art that explores the intersections of history, gender and body. They are graduating this spring with degrees in theater and engineering. Dartmouth highlights have included writing and composing music for their play MURDERBALLAD, costuming and acting in Lizzie the Rock Musical, and dancing and singing in Pippin. Their playwriting honors thesis, Anatomical Hearts, a queer historical dramedy about meaning, love and medicine, performs May 26 and 27. They would like to thank Laurie Churba, Kathleen Cunneen, Brianna Parry, Bethany Padron and Anna Winter for their guidance and support. Hugs to the siblings of EKT and Neptune the Cat.

Maggie MacDonald ’23
See bio on page 8

Armita Mirkarimi ’25
Armita creates plays about identity, immigration and cultural erasure. She is an Iranian-American writer from Orange County, California. Her previous work, What Firouzeh Saw, was produced by the Wayward Artist Theater Company. At Dartmouth, Armita studies Government and English Literature while performing and stage managing in the Theater Department. She is passionate about using stories to invest in Iran’s cultural future while making sense of the world’s chaos. When not writing plays, Armita can be found at Mock Trial practice, contemplating democratic regression or reading Wordsworth’s poems.

Department of Film & Media Studies

Presented by Associate Professor of Film and Media Studies Paul D. Young

Maurice H. Rapf ’35 Award for Outstanding Achievement in Film and Media Studies
This award honors the legacy and contribution of Maurice Rapf ’35, professor and friend. It is given to a graduating Dartmouth senior for significant achievement and contribution to the function of Film and Media Studies over the span of their undergraduate years. The award may be given to a student or students who produced superior films or videos, but may also be given for outstanding scholarship.

Grace C. Boyd ’23
Grace is a senior at Dartmouth majoring in Film and Media Studies and minoring in English with a focus on Creative Writing. In the winter of 2022, Grace studied and interned in Los Angeles through the Domestic Study Program run by Dartmouth’s Film and Media Studies department. As the president of the Women in Media Club at Dartmouth, Grace seeks to champion women’s voices through community, collaboration and creativity. After graduation, Grace aspires to write, film and create meaningful stories and visuals.

Brandon Wade Ciraudo ’23
Born in New York City, Brandon is a student, filmmaker and the first of his family to go to college. After sneaking into the living room while his parents were watching Taxi Driver, Brandon was enchanted with a lifelong love of cinema. With passions for acting, screenwriting and musical scoring, Brandon loves bringing stories to life with his own hands. He leads by example and loves to laugh. In his time, he wishes to see the world and its people, doing great work along the way.

Vania X. Ding ’23
Vania is a Film and Media Studies major from Tucson, AZ.

Zachary H. Drescher ’23
Zach is a student, filmmaker and entrepreneur. As a major in Film and Economics, he aspires to inspire others through storytelling. Zach is eager to find creativity everywhere around him and bring out the best in others through his work.

Lola June Ellenberg ’23
Lola is a senior from Los Angeles, CA majoring in Film & Media Studies and double minoring in English and Environmental Studies. On campus, Lola performs with Casual Thursday Improv, writes for The Dartmouth and co-hosts two radio shows. She credits her teachers for her success, with special gratitude owed to Gary Ellenberg, Tom Kemper and Shevaun Mizrahi for inspiring her love of film, film studies and filmmaking, respectively. She also credits Kris, Eden, Bubba and Blaze for their love and support. After graduation, she hopes to pursue a career in entertainment, specifically as a writer/director.

Abigail Hamilton Emsden ’23
Abigail is a film and media studies student who is inspired by camp and variations in the way a piece of media is read. Her previous productions range from video editing projects to physical and virtual game development.

Noah C. Hensley ’23
Noah grew up in North Carolina, where running his high school’s morning news channel first sparked his passion for filmmaking and video art. At Dartmouth, Noah majors in Film and Media Studies as well as Government. Noah is inspired by the art of cinematography, and gained first-hand experience in the industry last summer while working for AbelCine. Noah used this knowledge to direct, shoot and edit his upcoming film, Mezzanine, with state-of-the-art equipment generously provided by the Film and Media Studies department. After graduation, Noah hopes to one day work as a cinematographer.

James Joseph Kaplan Filmmaker of the Year Award
The James Joseph Kaplan Filmmaker of the Year award was established in February 2010 to honor and continue the legacy and extraordinary spirit of student and friend, Jay Kaplan, Class of 2002. The award is given to a senior who thrives on the craft of filmmaking, bringing passion, creativity, imagination and a strong work ethic to their work. They may also possess some of the qualities that Jay exemplified, including acting with kindness, generosity, love and respect, humor, humility and inspiring and encouraging others.

Bernardo De Nardi ’23
Bernardo is a Film and Media studies major born and raised in Brusque, SC, Brazil. As an aspiring writer/director, he is interested in filmmaking as a storytelling tool and cinema as a language. Bernardo is deeply thankful for all his mentors, colleagues, and friends at Dartmouth, which all contributed to his love for making movies. He hopes to continue to pursue filmmaking as a career after graduation.

John P. Wolfenden Award in Film and Media Studies
John grew up in North Carolina, but visited Hanover every year. He knew at an early age that he wanted to go to Dartmouth and never wavered in that aspiration. At Dartmouth he particularly enjoyed courses in philosophy and the creative use of computers in music. After a semester helping a friend who was majoring in film, he found that he greatly enjoyed scripting a story, one frame at a time, using sound to support the narrative line. After graduating from Dartmouth in 1992, John completed a degree in the American Film Institute and went on to enjoy many years of work in Los Angeles, editing television programs and documentaries.

Benjamin P. Harris ’23
Ben is a senior from San Francisco, studying Film and Media, American History and Human-Centered Design. Regardless of medium, Ben has always loved to create things: films, drawings, paintings, dances. In elementary school, he learned how to splice, speed-up and reverse clips in iMovie from YouTube tutorials; he was hooked, and video editing quickly became his favorite creative outlet. Ben would like to thank his family, friends, teachers and the entire F&MS department for their unwavering support throughout his artistic development. After graduation, Ben will be completing a rotational advertising program at Ogilvy in New York City.

Mariah E. Hernandez-Fitch ’23
Mariah is a senior at Dartmouth, where she is pursuing a major in Film and Media Studies and a minor in Native and Indigenous Studies. Her undergraduate passions propel her exploration of how film can empower Indigenous communities such as her own, the United Houma Nation. After graduating from Dartmouth, Mariah is planning to attend the University of California at Los Angeles to pursue a Master’s degree in American Indian Studies, as well as a joint degree in law, as her ultimate goal is to advocate for Indigenous representation through entertainment law.

Alexander Laing Memorial Writing Award for the Best Original Screenplay by a Dartmouth Undergraduate
This award was established in 1978 by screenwriter-novelist Stephen Geller ’62 in honor of his friend and mentor, Professor Alexander Laing, who was killed in a bicycle accident in 1978. Laing ’25 was a poet, novelist, and Professor of Belles Lettres at Dartmouth. This award has been funded in recent years by friends of Film and Media Studies. The criteria for judgment, according to the original donor, were to be a) vastness or pertinence of theme; b) clarity of narrative and psychological line; c) relevance of language—through narrative and character—to thematic purpose.

Best Feature: Woodstock West by Lola June Ellenberg ’23
See bio on page 13

Best Feature 2nd Place: I’m Murdering a Man Tonight by Katie Devin Orenstein ’22
Katie Devin Orenstein studied film, theater and middle eastern studies. I’m Murdering a Man Tonight, a comedy about ambition and history at fictional Shmartmouth College, began as a DCN sketch in spring 2019. It would be a pile of mush without the patient advice of Professor Jennie Chamberlain and her dogs. Hopefully someday you will get to watch a Katie Devin Orenstein feature film in the Loew. Thank you to Jodie Mack for endless encouragement and faith, to Paula Holwerda for making every d-plan change, to MARINA for writing Primadonna, to Jelinda Metelus and Mia Nelson, and to old boy’s clubs, for giving me something juicy to hate. There’s another “Katie Devin Orenstein” in the theater section of this program, and whatever she says—she’s lying!

Best Feature 3rd Place: April Come She Will by Annabel D. Everett ’25
Annabel is a Film Studies major modified with Theater and a French minor. She is primarily interested in pursuing a career in acting but is equally passionate about writing and directing. At Dartmouth, she is an active member of the Displaced Theatre Company and a writer for The Dartmouth Mirror. She is currently studying abroad in Paris.

Best Pilot Screenplay 1st place tie: Love and College by Jonah C. Manso ’25
Jonah, from North Attleboro, MA, is majoring in Economics and Theater modified with Film and Media Studies. He has been writing stage plays since high school but has developed a passion for screenwriting at Dartmouth. His favorite filmmaker is Jordan Peele and soon he hopes to delve into the genre of psychological horror. Currently, he is committed to creating stories that center around multidimensional queer characters and their joy rather than just their trauma. Jonah would like to thank his family and all of his mentors, especially Bill Phillips and Liliana Padilla. Thank you for believing in him.

Best Pilot Screenplay 1st place tie: NOC by Hudson D. Rogers ’25
Hudson is a sophomore at Dartmouth studying Film & Media Studies and Philosophy. He is interested in writing and directing and has taken on numerous roles on sets both on and off Dartmouth campus. He is also a video marketing fellow at the Hopkins Center of the Arts and helps film live events and creates advertisements for the Hop.

Best Pilot Screenplay 2nd place: Ganji by Maxwell Simba Owino ’25
Maxwell is a filmmaker from Kenya, whose passion for storytelling has driven him since a young age. His breakout role was portraying William Kamkwamba ’14 in Chiwetel Ejiofor’s film, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind. He aspires to create a production studio that tells authentic and unadulterated African stories to inspire Pan-African ideals. His vision for the industry is to create a space where African narratives are represented and celebrated and where talented storytellers can flourish. Maxwell’s passion for his craft is evident in his work, and he continues to explore new avenues to tell compelling stories that resonate with audiences.

Best Short Script: Coming of Age by Levi Port ’24
Levi is a junior at Dartmouth studying Film & Media Studies and History. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Levi has remained steadfast in his pursuit of a career in the entertainment industry. Following a valuable experience as a Development Intern at AGBO (the Russo Bros production company) this past fall, he looks forward to working as an intern in the Podcast Department at Creative Artists Agency this summer. Levi’s favorite movie is The Truman Show. Levi is inspired by his three siblings: Zoe, Ruby and Rae.

Short Script 2nd place: Case Closed by Lola June Ellenberg ’23
See bio on page 13

Short Script 3rd place tie: Kid’s Table by Connor J. Norris ’25
Connor Norris is from Fort Lauderdale, FL. An English major with planned minors in History and Film, he is also involved in comedy and music on campus. He is a member of the Dog Day Players improv comedy troupe, President of the Can’t Sell Culture Comedy Collective, singer and guitarist for student band Bellboy Elroy, Cartoonist for The Dartmouth, and host of a WebDCR radio show. He hopes to pursue comedy writing in his future.

Short Script 3rd place tie: Meat by Sehwan Lim ’24
Born and raised in South Korea, Sehwan Lim began writing for the screen and stage upon his arrival at Dartmouth. His short script, Meat, was a finalist in the screenplay competition at the 2022 Tirana International Film Festival and his collection of micro-short plays was stage-read at the Warner Bentley Theater in the Hopkins Center for the Arts. Sehwan is currently pursuing a BA in Studio Art and plans to integrate his visual arts practice with his passion for storytelling through photography and sculpture.

Department of Studio Art

Presented by Department Co-Chair Tricia Treacy
Associate Professor of Studio Art

POD (Perspectives on Design) Award
The POD (Perspectives on Design) Award was established by Judith and David Collins in 1992 and is given annually to the graduating senior(s) whose accomplishments in studio art are judged by the faculty of the Department of Studio Art to be the most worthy of recognition. In addition to a monetary award, the winner will be afforded the opportunity to have an exhibition of their work in the department’s Jaffe-Friede Gallery, including support for mounting and advertising the exhibition.

McKenna W. Kellner ’23
McKenna is a studio art major from Phoenix, AZ, where she grew up relentlessly creating art. Constructing dolls, paper houses and picture books of stapled construction paper, she has always been interested in making. In school, her passion turned to illustration, but through college she developed a love of sculpture, book arts and mixed media practice. She now works primarily in oil paint, found material and textile construction to explore abstract autobiography. After graduating in the spring, McKenna will continue her studio practice while interning for the Studio Art department.

Isaac K. Letoa ’21
Isaac was born and raised in Wellington, New Zealand. After moving to Auckland with his family, Isaac completed his last three years of high school at Westlake Boys, graduating in 2016. Isaac’s concentration in Studio Art has evolved throughout his time here at Dartmouth: Initially interested in drawing and architecture, he now works primarily in sculpture and printmaking. After graduation Isaac will join the Dartmouth Studio Art department as an intern for the summer term.

W. David Dance 1940 Fine Arts Award
The W. David Dance 1940 Fine Arts Award is a prize of a contemporary fine art print awarded to three exceptional graduating seniors in the department of Studio Art. Each student selects a print from a group of works earmarked for this award. These prints—etchings, woodcuts, engravings, mezzotints, digital/new media and photographs —are purchased by or donated to the Hood Museum of Art specifically for this award. The fund for the award was given by Robert Dance, Class of 1977, in honor of his father, a devoted alumnus of the College.

Sienna A. Henderson ’23
Sienna was born and raised in Boston, MA. Her interest in art started from an early age. She continued her interests in drawing and painting at Noble and Greenough high school where she graduated in 2019. At Dartmouth, her main concentration in Studio Art has been photography, although she enjoys working with mixed media. After graduation, Sienna will move to Boston to work in investing. She hopes to attend graduate school to combine her interests in art and entrepreneurship.

Rachel M. Tiersky ’23
Rachel was born and raised in Mahwah, NJ, where she signed up for every art class she could find. Ray graduated from Bergen County Technical High School in 2019 with a concentration in the visual arts. Ray’s main concentration has been drawing, though she occasionally will break out the paints and reminisces on the brief time she worked with textiles. Ray is inspired by vulnerability, companionship and femininity, and uses her artwork to explore and analyze these themes. After graduation, Ray will move to Tel Aviv to conduct coral reef research before (probably) heading off to medical school.

Isabella B. Zenkl ’22
Isabella was raised in the small town of Monclova, Mexico, where they developed a passion for craft at an early age. At Dartmouth, Isa rediscovered that passion and joined it with their incessant need for self-expression. Isa’s main concentration in Studio Art has been painting, though they also dabble into photography and sculpture. After graduation Isabella will an intern for the Studio Art department at Dartmouth.

Robert Read Prize
This prize was established as a descriptive geometry award in a bequest by Robert Leland Read, an alumnus of the Class of 1864, who served much of his career as a civil engineer with railroads in Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. As descriptive geometry is no longer in the curriculum, the prize is now awarded for work in the graphic arts.

Landon C. Armstrong ’23
Landon grew up in Southlake, TX, where he graduated from Carroll High School in 2019. He has been drawing for as long as he can remember and is now concentrated in drawing and printmaking. His work explores how the viewer can experience art as a participant, allowing the work to exist in a fluid state through their interaction. In addition to his Studio Art practice, Landon works as a freelance digital artist and illustrator, which he plans to continue pursuing next year.

Leah Ryu ’22
Leah is a second generation Korean American born in Athens, GA and raised in Athens, OH. She was solely a computer science major until she took her first studio course as a sophomore and declared a second major in studio art. After a long break from studio courses during the COVID-19 pandemic, before which her main focus was drawing, Leah returned to the studio with an interest in sculpture and all that works in two dimensions cannot say. Her current practice is best described as object-making, and deals in themes of archive, identity/ fungibility and digital memory. Though next year she’ll work as a software engineer, she hopes to get an MFA someday.

Wolfenden Fine Arts Prize
Established in 1987 in honor of the late Josephine Wolfenden, wife of a faculty member and a student for many years of Paul Sample, the Wolfenden Fine Arts Prize is a cash award given to a student for demonstrated proficiency in painting, sculpture or draughtsmanship.

Moonoka M. Begay ’23
Moonoka grew up in the Bay Area of California, where she developed a strong appreciation for art at an early age. Growing up Moonoka immersed herself in visual and performance art communities, devoting herself to drawing, poetry, trapeze and dance. Moonoka’s chosen discipline in Studio Art is sculpture, and she particularly enjoys working with steel, textiles, plaster and wood. After graduation, Moonoka will stay in the Upper Valley for another year to work as an intern in the Studio Art Department at Dartmouth.

Kyle Hartin ’21
Kyle was born in Virginia, and raised mostly in TX and HI. Kyle graduated from Canyon High School in 2013 and continued on to be a medic in the Army where he earned his paramedic license and worked with Civil Affairs. Kyle’s main concentration in Studio Art has been a mix of mediums, although he hopes to work more with painting in the future.

Annika L. Morgan ’23
Annika was raised in Redding, CT and Walton, NY where she graduated from Joel Barlow High School in 2019. Her main concentration in Studio Art is figurative oil painting and realism graphite drawing, which she hopes to continue with in the future. One of Nik’s paintings won the honorable mention in the National Juried Exhibition in 2022. Outside of the studio, Nik has a passion for hiking and climbing and can often be found in the White Mountains of NH or local climbing crags. After graduation Nik will be returning to Studio Art at Dartmouth as an intern for the 2023/24 year.

Melissa Brown Hurlock-Hobson ’93 Award
The Melissa Brown Hurlock-Hobson 1993 Award Fund was established in July 2002 in honor of Melissa Brown ’93. Melissa was a studio art major, intern and P.O.D. Award recipient. She received a Reynolds Scholarship to study Aboriginal art and culture in Australia and then went on to complete an M.F.A. at The San Francisco Art Institute. After a long struggle with breast cancer, Melissa passed away on December 26, 2001. This award was established in recognition of Melissa’s commitment and achievement as an artist. In her memory, an annual award is presented to a student who demonstrates accomplishments preferably in the area of printmaking, painting, sculpture, drawing or photography. Priority is given to an already established art student who submits a proposal for a special project to the Department Chair, or a sophomore with outstanding potential in the artistic areas specified. The award is designed to recognize outstanding accomplishments, and to help provide recipients with the means to pursue their artistic aspirations as outlined in student proposals.

Maya Cole ’25
Maya was born and raised in New Rochelle, NY, where she inherited her father’s love for art and passionately pursued it at the young age of three. Throughout her lower education, Maya participated in various artistic clubs like the National Art Honor Society and New Rochelle High School’s acclaimed performing and visual arts program, PAVE, program. Maya graduated from New Rochelle High School in 2021. Her main concentration in Studio Art has been mixed media and drawing. She is currently experimenting with digital media. In her time at Dartmouth she has become a board member of the Dartmouth Art Club and continues to create art in her day to day life. After graduating from Dartmouth College, Maya hopes to combine her passion for visual art and design and work as an User Experience/Interface designer.

Naaz Valvani ’26
Naaz is a New York-based artist specializing in photography, and film, and is passionate about the discipline of nonfiction writing. Naaz’s love for both visual and literary arts is rooted in grievances experienced in her early adolescence. Her creations draw from her unique narrative and vibrant upbringing in both Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan. Through her work, Naaz concentrates on the years of early adulthood in her exploration of grief, sexuality and expression. After graduation Naaz seeks to work in entertainment, pursuing executive roles in film and television production.

Class Of 1960 Curatorial Fellowship Award
This award was established in 2014 by the Class of 1960 to enable a student(s) to curate exhibitions in the student run art gallery in the Black Family Visual Arts Center. Each year the fellow(s) will curate, coordinate and oversee four to six exhibitions of Dartmouth students in the gallery. This involves soliciting artwork, curating work, installing and de-installing exhibitions, preparing labels, writing publicity and organizing receptions.

Molly C. Rouzie ’24
Molly grew up in Williamsburg, VA and graduated from Hampton Roads Academy in 2022 with a concentration in humanities and art. Her passion for art developed at a young age and continued into high school where she served as the National Art Honor Society vice president and was the two-time recipient of the AP studio art award and of the Scholastic Art & Writing Award. Molly’s senior project focused on an art service project to give back to her community. She was recruited as a member of the Varsity Swim and Dive team at Middlebury College, where she attended for her freshman year. Molly transferred to Dartmouth College for her sophomore year. At Dartmouth, she is pursuing a studio art major with a double minor in art history and Italian. Molly mainly works in oil painting and is excited to continue developing her portfolio senior year.

Isabella B. Zenkl ’22
See bio on page 17

Hopkins Center Ensembles

Presented by Joshua Price Kol ’93
Managing Director/Executive Producer

Handel Society Chorus Award
The Handel Society Chorus 1930 Fund was established by John M. Tiedtke ’30 in 1969 to be used to fund a cash award to be made annually to a Dartmouth undergraduate “who has helped the Handel Society most in a musical or managerial capacity.” The award recipient is chosen by the president of the Handel Society Chorus, the conductor and an undergraduate member of the sophomore or junior class.

Wynter R. Alford ’22
Wynter ’22+1 (fae/faer/faers, they/them/theirs) is a Physics major and Mathematics minor. Fae joined the Handel Society of Dartmouth College in fall 2018. As of this spring, fae has participated in seven Handel Society concerts, and fae is grateful for having had the opportunity to perform great choral works such as Brahms Ein Deutches Requiem, Haydn’s Creation and Lauridsen’s Lux Aeterna, among others. After graduation, Wynter will be attending the University of Rochester, pursuing a Ph.D. in Quantum Physics.

Charles S. Fleet 1953 Prize
This prize was founded in 1992 through a fund established in the memory of Charles Fleet ’53 by friends, family and classmates and is given to a Glee Club senior who makes the most significant musical contribution to the Glee Club and who most displays a sense of loyalty and commitment to the Club.

Breanna A. Boland ’23
Breanna is a multidisciplinarian majoring in Computer Science modified with African & African-American Studies and minoring in Music. She is a leader on campus as President of the Glee Club, a UGA, and more. As a vocalist, she has performed solos at Carnegie Hall, Commencement and three Glee Club concerts. Breanna’s passion for music, justice, and service has driven her work on initiatives related to equity such as efforts regarding mental health in the Black community and supports a diverse group of residents as a UGA. She plans to use her Computer Science degree to provide support to the underserved and underrepresented.

DSO Distinguished Service Award

Ida Z. Claude ’22
Ida is a music and government double major from Chicago, IL. She plays violin in the Dartmouth Symphony Orchestra and various chamber music groups. Ida is passionate about arts administration, and in addition to serving as a student manager for the DSO, has worked at the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra, the People’s School of Music and the Marlboro Music Festival. After college she hopes to pursue her interests in the arts and healthcare while continuing to play the violin.

Culley Concerto Competition
The Culley Concerto Competition is intended to recognize high achievement in orchestral instrument performance in brass, string and woodwind divisions through a formal competition adjudicated by professional musicians who are not associated with Dartmouth and to whom all of the participants are unknown. The award was established in 1988 by Mr. and Mrs. Grant Culley, Jr., parents of a member of the Class of 1986, Maryly Culley. First and second prize in each of three categories is a cash award; the names and photos of all winners are displayed in a showcase in the Department of Music in the Hopkins Center.

Best Overall Performance
Sophia R. Chang Stauffer GR
Sophia ’22 TDI ’24 was an anthropology major and music minor and is now staying for a Master of Public Health. She grew up in Chicago, Illinois. She began playing violin in preschool and started piano shortly after. At Dartmouth, she has studied violin with Marcia Cassidy since freshman year and has played in the Dartmouth Symphony Orchestra and various chamber ensembles. She has conducted the Dartmouth Chamber Orchestra since fall 2021. Sophia was a 2022 recipient of the Eugene Roitman 1943 Memorial Award. Outside of music, she works in a CRISPR lab and studies moss protein function.

Brass/Percussion
1st Place: Margaret E. Frazier ’25
Margaret is in the class of 2025 at Dartmouth and will be double majoring in engineering and music. She spends her time involved with various musical ensembles, including playing euphonium in the Dartmouth College Wind Ensemble and being the drum major of the Dartmouth College Marching Band. For her degree in music, she intends to pursue a concentration in composition and is actively working towards that through music theory courses. She hopes that the creativity of her music degree will work well in conjunction with her engineering degree and is excited to continue her time at Dartmouth working with both the Hopkins Center and Thayer.

2nd Place: Karsten Kleyensteuber ’23
Karsten is a senior from Claremont, NH, studying Computer Science and Economics. He has played with the Dartmouth College Wind Ensemble since 2019 as well as in other student groups on campus. He also studied with trumpet Professor Ed Carroll. Outside of music and his studies, Karsten enjoys many outdoor activities such as canoeing and snowboarding. Next year he will be living and working in the greater Boston area and looks forward to continuing to play and enjoy music in his free time.

String Division
1st Place: Jessica L. Jiang ’25
Jessica is a sophomore from Madison, WI. She has been playing the violin for eight years and currently studies with Professor Omar Guey at Dartmouth College. Besides violin, Jessica has also been playing piano for 13 years and studies with Professor Sally Pinkas. She has performed as a soloist with the Madison Symphony Orchestra live on Wisconsin Public TV and Radio, as well as won numerous awards on both instruments. Outside of private study, Jessica is a first violinist in the Dartmouth Symphony Orchestra and an Associate Editor of the Dartmouth Law Journal. She plans to double major in Math and Economics and minor in Music.

2nd Place: Marcus S. Chang ’23
See bio on page 4

Woodwind Division
1st Place: Nathaniel Y. Chen ’25
Nathaniel ’25 is an anthropology major on the pre-med track. An accomplished oboist, he studied with Francisco Castillo at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, receiving honors recognition from the Music Teachers’ Association of CA for his outstanding performance. He has been principal oboist of the LACHSA Symphony, Olympia Youth Orchestra, and Pasadena Youth Chamber Orchestra, as well as a guest oboist for the California Philharmonic. At Dartmouth, he studies with Aaron Lakota and plays with the Wind Ensemble. Nathaniel also competes nationally with the Dartmouth Figure Skating Team and performs with the Ujima Dance Troupe.

2nd Place: Sunny Chen ’25
Sunny, a talented clarinetist, started playing the clarinet at the age of 10 and has since been on a remarkable journey. Sunny has studied at the prestigious Royal Academy of Music, under the guidance of renowned instructors such as Jordan Black, Katie Lockhart and David Campbell. Currently in his second year of an Economics and Sociology double major, Sunny is also studying under Jan Halloran. Sunny’s hard work and dedication have paid off, and he has played in the National Children’s Orchestra, National Youth Woodwind Orchestra and the London Schools Symphony Orchestra. His passion for music is evident in every performance, and he has become a role model for aspiring musicians.

The Senior Symphonic Award
The Senior Symphonic Award was established in 1988 under the auspices of the Culley Concerto Competition endowment given by Grant and Suzanne Culley of Portola Valley, CA and their daughter Maryly Culley, Dartmouth ’86. The Senior Symphonic Award is given for outstanding service and musical contributions to a senior member of the Dartmouth College Wind Ensemble. The winner is chosen by the conductor of the organization. The award is a cash prize, an inscription on the award plaque that is displayed in the Culley Concerto Competition Showcase and a public presentation to the winner at the spring term concert of the group.

Karsten Kleyensteuber ’23
See bio on page 21

The Whiteley Band Spirit Award
The Whiteley Band Spirit Award is presented by the Friends of the Dartmouth Band and the Whiteley Family in memory of Dr. John P. Whiteley, a dedicated member of the Friends of the Dartmouth Band. Dr. Whiteley was known for his love of the band and his talent for always “being there” no matter what problems arose. The award will be presented annually to the DCMB senior who shares these attributes.

Victoria G. Moss ’23
Tori is a ’23 from Carmel, IN, majoring in Biology with a concentration in Human Ecology and minoring in Anthropology. She has served as librarian, Show Chair, Assistant Drum Major and Drum Major of the Dartmouth College Marching Band. She has also been in involved in the Music Department through flute lessons with Rachel Braude since her freshman year, culminating in a senior recital this spring. She has made some of her closest friends in the DCMB and is honored to be known for her love of it. After graduation, she hopes to continue studying biomedicine and working in clinical research.

Hopkins Center

Presented by Mary Lou Aleskie
Howard Gilman ’44 Executive Director of the Hopkins Center

Mark L. Lebowitz 1977 Memorial Prize in the Performing Arts
This award was established in 1987 by the Class of 1977 in memory of the late Mark L. Lebowitz ’77. The prize was established in recognition of both the contribution of Mark Lebowitz and the commitment to the performing arts that is nurtured at Dartmouth College. The recipient of the prize is a senior chosen by the Director of the Hopkins Center and the chairs of the Departments of Theater and Music. The award shall be used for professional study, graduate education, a professional internship or some endeavor undertaken in pursuit of a career or post-graduate training in the performing arts.

Music: Shelby K. Dufton ’24
See bio on page 4

Theater: Lila Hovey ’23
See bio on page 12

The Christina Porter Award in the Arts for Achievement in Vocal Music
The Christina Porter Award in the Arts for Achievement in Vocal Music is offered in memory of Christina Porter ’06, who died in January 2005 after a long struggle with a head injury sustained while skiing in 2004. The award is intended to honor annually the Dartmouth student who best exhibits the following: talent in the area of vocal music, accompanied by a serious passion for its performance; an overarching creative spirit as 24 demonstrated through a broad engagement in the arts, be it other performing arts, the visual arts or in creative writing; personal qualities of humor, grace, generosity and a concern for others; breadth of individual achievement and an impact on campus life.

Given the above, the award is most appreciatively given to a graduating senior. The recipient is chosen by the Director of the Hopkins Center after consultation with voice faculty, ensemble directors in the vocal areas, as well as additional arts faculty as appropriate.

Christopher W. Smith ’25
Chris is a biological chemistry major from outside of Troy, NY. He loves organic chemistry, English literature and classical music, with a particular fondness for the works of Schubert, Mozart and Mahler, among many others. On campus he performs with the Glee Club and the Handel Society, and is a teaching assistant for organic chemistry. He is grateful to the Hopkins Center and to incredible faculty members for the opportunity and encouragement to perform incredible music.

Lazarus Family Musical Theater Award
This award was established in 1995 by the members of the Steven Lazarus ’52 family for the support of student initiated projects in musical theater with a priority given to original work in the areas of musical drama and comedy.

Katie Devin Orenstein ’22
See bio on pages 10 & 15

Charles L. Peoples III GR
Charles Peoples III (He/They) is a performing artist, composer and choreographer. He uses sound, movement and visual storytelling to create experiences that bend towards mysticism, spirituality, queerness and transformation. Charles has performed his music at multiple conferences, workshops and theaters; significant mentions include the 9th International Sound Healing Conference, the New Living Expo, Oakland Pride Festival, San Jose Pride Festival and the Lesher Center for the Arts. Currently a grad student at Dartmouth College, Charles is researching societal/individual misremembering and the therapeutic value of performance. He is now merging his interests in ancient ritual, storytelling and shamanism with technology to create transformative, mystical and immersive performances. CharlesPeoplesIII.com

Olivia Shortt GR
(They/Them: Anishinaabe, Nipissing First Nation) Olivia is a Tkarón:to-based trans-disciplinary performing artist. They are a trouble-maker (and a noisemaker, improviser, composer, sound designer, curator and producer). Highlights include performing at the Lincoln Center (NYC) in 2018 with the International Contemporary Ensemble in Michael Pisaro’s A Wave and Waves, their Australian debut with keyboardist Jacob Abela in Melbourne (performing new works by Canadian and Australian composers), their film debut performing as part of the Dialectica Saxophone Quartet in Canadian filmmaker Atom Egoyan’s 2019 film Guest of Honour, (Venice Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival), as well as recording an album of music by Robert Lemay, Fragments Noirs, inspired by poet Theirry Dimanche, two kilometres underground with Stereoscope in the SnoLAB (Neutrino Lab specializing in dark matter physics in Sudbury, Canada).

The Robert Dance ’77 Arts Initiative Fund
This fund was established by Robert Dance ’77 in 2002 in order to enable talented Dartmouth undergraduates to undertake special projects in the arts. Special preference is given to those projects that are “site specific,” or created for venues other than traditional galleries, theaters and auditoriums.

Aidana Bolat GR
Aidana holds a BA in Political Science and International Relations with a minor in History, Nazarbayev University (Astana, Kazakhstan). MA in Liberal Studies (Globalization concentration), Dartmouth College. Project: Körermen Közımen (in Kazakh) / Through the eyes of the viewer. The project is based on 12 pictures, each followed by a short writing/poem based on Aidana’s personal or someone else’s experience in her life. The idea is to share experiences through common themes that can be understood by different people.

Kale Camara ’21

Victor Muturi ’23
Victor is an architecture student whose work explores the interplay between light, space, and the sensory experience of the viewer. Drawing on various architectonic principles, Victor creates immersive installations that provoke our perceptions of the built environment and push us to engage with our surroundings in a slower and reflective manner. Through the use of light, they create dynamic environments that transform as the viewer moves through them. They experiment with the interplay of light, materiality, and scale to create a sense of depth and dimensionality within their installations, inviting us to re-evaluate how we experience the world around us.

The Davin Polk Fund for the Arts
The Davin Polk Fund for the Arts is a true endowment designed to support the Hopkins Center at Dartmouth, with a preference for student theater projects.

Sylvia R. Benson ’25

Rishav Chakravarty ’25

Armond E. Dorsey GR

Grant M. Foley ’25

Daniel M. Lampert ’25

Connor J. Norris ’25
See bio on page 16

Christopher T. Sherman ’23

The Warner Bentley & Henry B. Williams Fellowship
This award was established in 1988 by David Birney to acknowledge the passionate commitment by Warner Bentley and Henry B. Williams to the life of the theater at Dartmouth and in gratitude for the profound contributions made by both men to the lives of many students of the College. A fellowship is awarded to a student, chosen by the faculty of the Department of Theater, who has significantly enriched the world of theater within the Dartmouth community. This award shall be used to help provide a bridge between the undergraduate experience and that of the professional world—including, but not restricted to, graduate education, a professional internship or further professional study—that will sustain and extend a commitment to the theatrical arts first nourished at Dartmouth.

Katie Devin Orenstein ’22
See bio on pages 10 & 15

Marcus Heiman-Martin R. Rosenthal ’56 Achievement Awards in the Creative Arts
The late Samuel R. Rosenthal, lawyer and supporter of the Ravinia Festival in Ravinia, IL, endowed these awards in 1959. The award is named after both Samuel Rosenthal’s uncle, Marcus Heiman, and Mr. Rosenthal’s late son, Martin R. Rosenthal ’56, killed tragically in an automobile accident in 1976. Marcus Heiman, 1883-1957, was owner and operator of several Midwestern vaudeville theaters and founder of the Orpheum Circuit, the Keith Orpheum Circuit and Radio Keith Orpheum Theater Company (RKO). In the 1930s he founded and became the head of United Booking Office, which booked plays for legitimate theaters throughout the country and also participated in the production of many plays. The awards are to be used to “promote the work in the creative arts to be carried on in the educational program of the Hopkins Center.” They carry a cash award and a certificate.

Arts Administration: Lucy J. Biberman ’23
See bio on page 9

Arts Administration: Ainsley R. Bryant ’23
Ainsley is a graduating senior double majoring in Psychology and Environmental Studies. Ainsley has been a loyal Hopkins Center student employee since her freshman year, where she has worked as a member of the Events Team. She has also been a member (and now a director) of Fusion Dance Ensemble, a student-led and audition-based dance group on campus, for four years. In her free time, Ainsley enjoys conducting research in the neuroscience department, downhill skiing, watching the Chicago Cubs, listening to country music and spending time with her dog, Chester. After college, she will be returning to her home city of Chicago to work at a law firm. She hopes to attend law school in the next few years.

Film and Media Studies: Grace C. Boyd ’23
See bio on page 13

Music: Daniel Lin ’23
Daniel is a double major in Sociology and Music with focuses in Asian American Studies and Black Creative Music. His musical involvements have included the Dartmouth Cords (a cappella), the Coast Jazz Orchestra (piano/cello), and the Gospel Choir. Daniel is active in the Department of Theater (Flourtown; Pippin; Pretty Filthy - music director), the New London Barn Playhouse (Elf Jr. music director), and Northern Stage where he will music direct this summer. Outside the arts, Daniel is an Undergraduate Advisor (UGA), part of the Dartmouth Asian American Studies Collective (DAASC), and a leader in People of Color in the Outdoors (POCO).

Studio Art: Isaac K. Letoa ’21
See bio on page 17

Theater: Isaiah Brown ’23
See bio on page 9

Ensembles (Dance): Rachel Y. Hsu ’23
Rachel is a dancer-choreographer studying Computational Linguistics. Her work has been showcased in Taiwan, California, Thailand and the Philippines. She combines her background in contemporary, breaking and martial arts to teach dance classes and freelance for dance films and music videos. Having trained in Taiwan, California, England and New York, she has worked with Backhausdance, Hung Dance, Cloud Gate, PDG, Yuka Kodama Ballet and other companies. On campus, Rachel directs Dartmouth Classical Ballet Theater and Wild Things Dance Workshops; she choreographs and dances with Sugarplum, Dartmouth Dance Ensemble and Breakfast Club.

Ensembles (Instrumental): Eli C. Hecht ’23
Eli is a Cognitive Science major and Music minor from Brooklyn, NY. Eli began playing piano in kindergarten, but made the switch to bass guitar in fifth grade when his friends were starting a rock band. At 13, he got an upright bass and joined a jazz ensemble. He has studied bass with Harvey Valdes, Michael Bates and Nicholas Browne and composition with Taylor Ho Bynum. At Dartmouth, he is a member of the Coast Jazz Ensemble and co-founded Frank, a student-run band. He enjoys playing and making music in many styles. While he’s not sure where his path will take him after Dartmouth, he knows music will always be a part of his life.

Ensembles (Instrumental): Nathaniel A. Alden ’23
Nathaniel ’23 is a physics and math major from St. Paul, MN. He has played french horn in the Dartmouth College Wind Ensemble all four years, and is playing in Dartmouth Symphony Orchestra this Spring. He is also very grateful for the musical guidance of Patrick Kennelly, the Dartmouth horn teacher. Outside of music he has been a captain of the nordic ski club and of the ultimate frisbee B team, and also enjoys hiking and canoeing. After graduation he will be pursuing a physics PhD at the University of Chicago.

Ensembles (Vocal): Breanna A. Boland ’23
See bio on page 20

Student Workshops (Jewelry): Sean Kim ’23
Sean found his way into the Donald Claflin Jewelry Studio, summer term, 2022. That summer Sean came to the studio almost every day. With no previous jewelry making experience, he chose projects that were far above the skill level of an ordinary beginner, but Sean did the work necessary to accomplish his goals. Since then, Sean has become a valuable contributor to our jewelry student maker space, helping to keep our equipment running smoothly, giving assistance wherever it’s needed and making extremely complex, professional-level jewelry.

Sudler Prize in the Arts
The late Louis Sudler, a lawyer from Chicago, IL, established an endowment at Dartmouth, as well as at other institutions of higher learning, to provide an annual cash award to a student in recognition of outstanding excellence in the creative or performing arts. Since its establishment in 1982, and with the agreement of Samuel Rosenthal, the Sudler Prize is awarded to a Marcus Heiman-Martin R. Rosenthal ’56 Achievement Award winner.

The Ritual of Breath Is the Rite to Resist

2022/23 Season

This season, the arts are everywhere. As the Hop's iconic building undergoes renovation and expansion, our offerings will be popping up in venues all across campus and the Upper Valley. View our...

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2023 Arts at Dartmouth Awards

2023 Arts at Dartmouth Awards

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