Tania Ghandour
Arts Scholar
Pentathlon Semester 1
As an experiential component of College Park Arts Scholars, I attended a selection of five art events during my first semester. These events ranged in art mediums and each sparked dialogue among my peers.
Adrift #film
Netflix
September 15, 2020
The choices made by the director to enhance the audience's experience and create a shock were especially effective. First, the camera angles inside of the boats created a swaying motion, which when viewing, is strikingly attention grabbing and allows the audience member to become engaged and on edge throughout. Additionally, without giving spoilers, the use of flashbacks connected to the present time was also an exceptional choice as it exhibited how life can turn itself around within minutes. This movie is a phenomenal reenactment of this heart-breaking true story, and as discussed in Arts Scholars, what makes 'good art' is having an impact on emotions and taking an audience member on a journey alongside the characters.
UMD Alexander Street Streaming
October 2, 2020
This performance, which I watched in my dorm room, was especially notable as it exhibited a personal form of expression through dance. The choreography, created and performed by Daniel Nagrin and based on ballet, was then stylized into bringing a performance to life in its intended setting, which in this case was the beach. The filming of the performance allows the audience to understand the emotions being conveyed by the dancer, as clips from performing on the beach were integrated. What makes this influential art is its uniqueness to show that such an energetic performance can be done anywhere, and only requires the dedication, creativity, and imagination of an artist.
SECRET PARIS #visualart
Color Your Way to Calm- Zoé De Las Cases
October 22, 2020
During this busy time of year, I decided to color some of my favorite things, fruit, in my dorm room as a way to recharge after a long day. The Arts Scholars program advocates for its members to step out of their comfort zone and explore a range of arts. I took this idea and was motivated to do so, and because I do not think myself to be the best drawer and do not color often, I tried it and genuinely enjoyed it. I think it is interesting how, personally, I turn to music as my art form when I am stressed, but many people turn to coloring, so I am now intrigued to learn about the effect this activity has on others and their enjoyment that follows.
SEE Presents: Fallapalooza with Finneas #music
Stamp Stream
November 12, 2020
I watched Finneas' live performance from my dorm room at UMD. It was great to have this opportunity to watch an artist that I admire. I was also pleased with the chat section, as the UMD community came together to listen to amazing music, bond from behind a screen, and celebrate the performance. This event has me pondering how livestreams will be even more implemented for a broader audience during these circumstances and especially after. This performance has excited me about who is to come next, and also about the in person field trips and opportunities that Arts Scholars will hopefully be soon offering!
AAB Chill with a Quill #literature
Zoom
November 17, 2020
From my dorm room, I came together with fellow scholars students to write poetry or self-reflect through a letter to myself. I chose the second option in order to address my feelings and thoughts for the upcoming year. This helped me organize my thoughts into words and express them out loud when sharing in the breakout room. In my letter, I claimed that we will be forever affected by this year, as the awareness of our surroundings has been greatly heightened and our relationships have been affected. This event and exercise allowed me to further think about the Arts Scholars podcast that my group is creating, which involves analyzing the effect that COVID-19 has had on the arts, resulting in dissecting all the other aspects it has affected.
Pentathlon Semester 2
As an experiential component of College Park Arts Scholars, I continued to attend a selection of five art events during my second semester. These events ranged in art mediums and each sparked dialogue among my peers.
True to Nature Virtual Tour #visualart
National Gallery of Art
January 30, 2021
I visited this virtual exhibition in order to explore how nature can be illustrated differently and uniquely with respect to an artist’s personal form of expression. I loved seeing how artists added texture to their paintings of rocks, and to those displaying an action, such as a crashing wave or waterfall, signifying such movement. These artists were able to capture their homelands and wonderful views, portraying full landscapes or a single perspective with authenticity and spirit. Specifically, I was intrigued by the different ways a tree can be portrayed. Because trees appear in all shapes and forms, a painter can choose how they desire to display it based on their artistic philosophy, distinguishing them from other painters. From this, I reflected on my choice of workshop for this semester: the painting of Gods and Goddesses. I realized that the visuals that we will create as students will be entirely different and personal to our own perception, even though the myth we focus on will be the same. This proves how important the role of creativity, inspiration, and observation is to an artist in order for them to create their own original piece, even if they are surrounded by an ocean of other artists.
Met Stars: Aleksandra Kurzak & Roberto Alagna #music
The Metropolitan Opera on Demand: Student Access
February 11, 2021
After viewing these performances by Aleksandra Kurzak and her husband Roberto Alagna, I was once again amazed by technology and the creativity that has allowed the arts to continue to flourish during the hard times we are facing at the moment. It is clear that in order to have a successful performance, a complicated set with a detailed backdrop, elaborate lighting, and fancy costumes is genuinely unnecessary to portray a moment of art and expression. The two wonderfully talented singers were able to perform a duet: “Vogliatemi bene”, and two solos: “Ah! Lève-toi, soleil” and “Una voce poco fa” through their artistic choices, including facial expressions, bodily gestures, and vocal dynamics. Specifically, however, the most unique, impactful, and special aspect of this virtual performance was the use of an amazing location: Eze, France. This location provided a beautiful background full of nature and life, mimicking a painting that would represent a backdrop on a typical theatrical stage. The use of a real life location to set the scene, and the smaller five string orchestra, allowed the performance to be more intimate and special to the audience watching. The simplicity showcased in each performance allowed for a full experience, in which I was able to focus on each element in a balanced manner, understand the story of each piece (with the help of subtitles), and naturally enjoy every second of this unique interpretation.
SEE Presents: Voice Actor Series with John DiMaggio #presentation
Zoom
March 9, 2021
I genuinely enjoyed this event because it brought laughter and joy to my night. Before getting too comedic though, John DiMaggio revealed that he is just an average person whose work is known by many. No matter how glorified and glamorous his life seems to be, he made it clear that one must be constantly dedicated and hard working to achieve their character, vocal, and team goals. For example, he emphasized that one must be able to work and remain in character for four to eight consecutive hours in order to fulfill the character, and qualify for the job. I thought this was especially interesting as it allowed me to reflect on my positions when I did musical and theatrical performances in high school, which will hopefully carry on next year. I was able to recall how crucial it was to not only stay in character, but focus in on the moment, and work hard to better the group’s efforts as well. After attending this event, my understanding of the arts has expanded yet again, realizing just how many forms of art exist that require an extreme amount of effort, talent, time, and in many cases luck. It is amazing how one’s voice can be so versatile to create a variety of arts, and I hope that John DiMaggio can come to campus in person one day so that I can engage in a vocal workshop.
OAS Virtual Dabke Night with UMD’s Dabke Club #dance
OAS Zoom
March 10, 2021
Although this event is usually done in person and is more formal, I enjoyed being able to come together with my club members to have fun and dance around. I especially looked forward to this meeting because not only am I able to remain connected to my culture at UMD, but the event allows us to come together as a community, who have common interests and similar cultures, to learn the traditional Dabke dance and bond. This event specifically reminded me of the current CPSA101 workshops that are taking place because some people who join know and have experience with this tradition, but many do not. However, if you are familiar with it, you are still learning new combinations and there is always room for improvement. In the workshop that I am partaking in, “The Painting of Greek Gods and Goddesses”, some of my peers are familiar with the stories, and some are not. Additionally, many have experience and talent within the world of visual art, but I chose to partake in order to expand that aspect of myself. This is one of the reasons that I love about the arts because you may be an expert or knowledgeable about a subject, but there is always a place for growth. Learning about new things drives our motivation to step out of our comfort zones and potentially find new hobbies, interests, and even goals that we wish to create for ourselves.
Color Me, Stress Free #artsscholars #visualart
Zoom
April 9, 2021
This event was yet another experience to highlight the versatility of the arts and how it can be connected to healing one’s mind. I enjoyed the meditation in the beginning of the session because it allowed for a freer mind and personal connection to the art that I created while coloring the mandala. It is amazing how just from conducting some self-reflection, colors appear in our minds and we follow these instincts to create an image on paper. I also appreciated that this philosophy was exactly what Nicole’s capstone project is about, and that as fellow arts scholars, we were able to join her and participate. I am glad to have been able to bring my personal creativity to this activity, and also be proud of the work I envisioned and completed. I am curious to see how the rest of her capstone project establishes itself and grows, especially when she fully develops her coloring book because this form of art therapy has proven itself to be especially effective!
Pentathlon Semester 3
To continue the experiential component of College Park Arts Scholars, I attend a selection of five art events during my third semester. These events ranged in art mediums and each sparked dialogue among my peers.
NextNOW Fest 2021: Terrapin Record Label Stage #music
The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center
September 17, 2021
I was so grateful to have had the opportunity to attend the NextNOW Festival. What made this event so special was that not only did I watch the concert of campus bands and artists perform, but I was also able to roam around the Clarice, observing artifacts and displays, and costume sales. In addition, I met peers and learned about new technology that has been woven into certain displays in compliance to COVID-19 regulations, but also, could have been interpreted as unique artistic interpretations.
However, the Terrapin Record Label Stage event was eye opening in that my friends and I learned about how many music groups exist on campus, and how students do not need to be involved in arts classes or clubs to immerse themselves in performing for the university. I, personally, love to meet musicians who are around my age, and as a result, I spoke to one of the artists who performed so that I can be in contact with him in case his band would like a female voice to accompany, or even if they want to jam to a variety of music one day. This is one way that I can expand my vocal performance minor into the real world or outside of the academic requirements. Additionally, this event reminded me about the concept of rituals and performative gestures discussed as a topic in the Arts Scholars colloquium. As an audience member, especially at this smaller event, it was special to dance with friends and laugh with the rest of the crowd, as it felt like an exclusive group experience that brought together a diverse group of people with one common interest: music.
Career Chat: Music Industry featuring Kayla Jackson #presentation
Zoom
October 1, 2021
I attended Kayla Jackson’s presentation directed by the University Career Center in order to learn more about the music industry and how its boundaries have been expanded over the years. Kayla Jackson is an associate marketing Director with RCA Records in New York City. She graduated from the University of Maryland in 2018 and provided the audience with advice and information relating to her every day job. For example, she stressed the importance of working 1 to 1 with her artists to ensure a release date, artwork, production, and platform selection is completed ahead of time. Additionally, her job requires significant traveling to view rehearsals and making sure the artist is comfortable before a show. Also, she said that she can have up to 15 to 17 artists in a time- some can be working on music but not releasing, come can be touring, or some can be in a middle transition state.
Moreover, when she was asked to give us advice as students, she stated that an internship in any given industry that one is interested in is crucial to learn about one’s goals, and in this case of music, it benefits us to learn how to put music out, to make relationships with others, be social, and listen to new music to stay up-to-date. Additionally, she touched on the concept of digital marketing and how that has become the central way of communicating trends and discovering any new artist. That may be through TikTok, Twitter, anything going viral and which artists qualities are noticed that are new or that are liked by society. Moreover, simple things like a resume or a LinkedIn profile can serve well to put yourself out there, and also meet other people.
Throughout this presentation, I learned that any goal, dream, or task is all about the effort that we choose to put in, which determines where we will go based on the motivation that we possess. It is about the connections that we develop, the hours of work that we dedicate, and most importantly, staying true to oneself.
Coffee and Crafts: Yoga and High School Music #dance #artsscholars
Bel Air Lounge
October 7, 2021
During this arts scholars night of dance and yoga, I was able to come together with a small group of fellow Scholars, make new friends, and meet peers who are all invested in the arts, yet have diverse interests within. During this event, we participated in a warm-up yoga exercise for 10 minutes, then proceeded to do group dances that are socially well known, such as the Cupid shuffle, the Cha-Cha slide, the YMCA, the Cotton Eye Joe, etc. and then, we did a more difficult 16 minute yoga practice that included the warrior pose and its variations. This definitely posed a challenge, however we all supported one another and encouraged our bodies to power through and feel strong as we breathed. Additionally, the gathering taught me that those who are interested in the arts are willing to push themselves to explore new activities, challenge their minds and bodies, and most importantly, collaborate with others. One of the crucial aspects of investing oneself in the arts is being social, communicative, brave, and willingly creating connections with others. As a small group, we all encouraged each other, took the time to introduce ourselves, and have conversations. This is what is so special about the community as we are able to come together outside of the colloquium to bond further within the arts.
Spookapella #music
Catholic University
October 29, 2021
Spookapella is an annual Halloween acapella event hosted by Catholic University’s Red Line acapella group that brings together groups from colleges around the area to perform and meet. What was special about this was the fact that it was the first time I had formally performed with my acapella group since joining during the pandemic. This past year, we have been working hard to learn music for our upcoming concert in November. Because of this, it is rewarding to be able to showcase our hard work and feel especially proud of our first performance with new members from this and last year. It is great to observe the acapella community come together and cheering for one another, without even knowing each other. This is how one knows that we are passionate about the art, are able to feel the emotions of another’s performance, and feel like we belong within their pieces since we all share the same experience. Even during the pandemic and having to wear masks on stage while singing, we can conclude that the arts cannot be stopped no matter the circumstance. Although we continued to meet and work virtually last year, we became even more determined when we returned in person to make up for lost time, and were actually able to bond even more as a result of this motivation and feeling of missing the group. The bond between the members is crucial, which is why we sing well together, celebrate our achievements, and support one another on and off the acapella stage as family, friends, and peers.
High School Musical #theatre
St. Paul’s School
November 6, 2021
It is always a great experience to visit one’s high school and relive the moments that made it such a memorable experience. Watching this year’s musical was especially rewarding, not only because it was my first time sitting in the audience as an alumni since last year ‘s opportunity did not present itself due to COVID-19, but it was a way to become in touch with my artistic roots and remember my own time on stage. Seeing my friends performing, greeting old teachers, and wandering the house and backstage of the theatre brought great nostalgia. As a result, I think about the Arts Scholars community and how we all want to keep in touch with our artistic side, therefore choosing to do so by coming together in this program and bonding with one another based on these interests. It is why we enjoy guest artists and field trips, but also the simple moments such as group collaborations or conversations about pop artistic current events and break throughs. To many of us, our art is an identifying factor that we carry with us every day, and so we use Arts Scholars as an outlet to continue to express it, find opportunities on campus to directly participate in groups, or strive to attend events that are marketed to us. Because of this, we wish to give back to our communities, and one way I enjoy doing this is to reunite with my memories and friends in order to show appreciation for my past experiences that will continue to influence my current and future artistic ones.
Pentathlon Semester 4
To continue the experiential component of College Park Arts Scholars, I attend a selection of five art events during my third semester. These events ranged in art mediums and each sparked dialogue among my peers.
What Do You Own? Becoming Better Through Accountability & Vision Panel #presentation
The Clarice Vimeo
February 4, 2022
The most intriguing part of this livestream was when Kahina Haynes from The Dance Institute of Washington discussed students and artists using “readiness as a barrier” against their motivation to succeed or go for an audition. She stressed that students need mentors to help them feel performance ready. All types of artists need to be empowered with the right information and support to make the decision, fill out the forms, and reach the goal they have set for themselves. Having help and someone who believes in you increases an artist to strive for success. Additionally, Erica Bondarev Rapach from The Clarice explained that artists often feel judged by those they think are responsible for accepting or rejecting them. She outlines that the artist being in the room themselves and being self-representative is the ideal method of directly connecting with someone who an executive wishes to hire. Being oneself and showing the strongest capabilities with confidence is the key, but from another lens, it is about whether or not the organization fits the artist. These two discussion pieces resonated with me the most as it reminded me of my journey auditioning for musical theatre programs my senior year of high school. After all these years, I have realized that there is a system built to each department and program, and because I was supported by family, friends, and instructors, I have grown to be proud of the work and auditions I was invited to, regardless of the final outcome. I went out of my comfort zone and practiced for hours to receive an opportunity that not many people experience. Consequently, I take these lessons that I have learned and apply them to my life in college whenever I succeed on an assignment, perform with my acapella, group, and even when I do not succeed. Every project has a lesson to be learned from, leading to personal growth and maturity. At the end of the day, any profession has its difficulties, so as a non-dance major student, this advice and discussion was still applicable to me and can apply to anyone.
Alina Collins Maldonado: Concert in the Quad #Music + #ArtsScholars
Cambridge Community Center, Room 1100
February 10, 2022
As stated when Alina Collins Maldonado was being introduced, this event was highly relatable to me as a student. The first thing that resonated with me was that, although we choose a major to pursue and belong to that program, there continues to be a bubble blocking us away from the real world and decreases our abilities to expand beyond our borders. Of course, UMD has excellent opportunities and experiences to provide in the arts and the academics, which is greatly recognized throughout the Scholars program. However, I believe that it is just part of the college experience that we cannot quite expand our horizons due to the few but significantly time consuming commitments we choose to make as students. It is always important to note that we are all learning, and although it may be the same information, what we choose to do with our knowledge is what will differ in the future. Each individual may graduate from same program and mold their career in a way that represents them the best. Accordingly, the characters Maldonado portrayed were all individualistic, opinionated, and able to voice themselves confidently. These characteristics are crucial in forming communities, developing new ideas, advancing creativity, and learning to be an honest individual. Finally, in relating this to Arts Scholars, Alina Collins Maldonado mentioned that she learned so much from working with youth programs in theatre. As I learn to be a better workshop leader this semester, I will appreciate being on the other side of education in order to assess my abilities. This includes presenting myself as a confident leader, and being comfortable passing on my knowledge to others, as well as learning to ask for feedback, and understanding how to accommodate everyone’s needs and differences in learning.
OAS Arabian Nights 2022 #dance
Stamp Ballroom
March 13, 2022
The Organization of Arab students put on this year‘s Arabian Nights event, featuring a professional Dabke dance team. Dabke is a Lebanese or Palestinian traditional group dance. The group performed first, and then allowed us to join in and taught us some moves. However, it is likely that if you attend a Middle Eastern event there will be music and dancing, therefore the Dabke Will naturally occur, in which we all hold hands and dance in a circle. This night was one of the most fun I’ve had on campus yet as I was able to unite with those who come from the same place that I do and celebrate our culture, music, and pride. It is events like this that allow the large population at the university to become small, creating such a fine community. Finally, in terms of relating this to Arts Scholars, I had the opportunity to share that this event was going on with my peers. Being that many international cultures have unique artistic elements and traditions, communicating this was important to me. This is because while I tend to learn from my peers when they have news to share, this time around my peers get a chance to learn from me.
The Ignis Woodwind Quintet #music
Stamp North Atrium
March 31, 2022
This pop-up performance in the Stamp Student Union northern atrium for women’s history month was especially lively and amusing to watch and listen to. I was sitting outside of the Maryland Dairy, eating lunch with my friends waiting for the quintet to begin. It was a nice change of environment to have a live music performance where are all the UMD students, faculty, and visitors in Stamp could tune in on and appreciate, for me especially after a full week of studying. I believe that it is important for those that do not participate in the arts on campus to understand the variety of groups and artistic experiences that are provided. Moreover the quintet was well rehearsed and there was an interesting dual melody on going with a main soloist and then a component of support provided by the rest of the instrumentalists to add texture and tones to the piece. Additionally, my friends and I were discussing that it sounded as if there were strings being played, and it was interesting to observe how wind instruments can mimic the sound through these layers, heightening the audience’s perception of the music. I received an email from the Clarice notifying me about this pop-up performance, but I had also coincidentally been in the space at that time. Differently, my friends did not know about it so it was a pleasant surprise for them, which is why these events can be enjoyable, adding an extra element to one’s average school day on campus.