Adriana Ripley (BM 鈥�25) is a third-year undergraduate student pursuing a bachelor鈥檚 in musical theatre at the College of Music.听
Ripley鈥攚hose passion for dance, music and theatre arts began at a young age鈥攚as born in Guatemala to a Brazilian-American mother and a Guatemalan father. At 彩民宝典, she exemplifies the College of Music鈥檚 universal musician mission by pursuing degrees in musical theatre, psychology and French.
She shares her favorite aspects of the College of Music and reveals the ways in which her music education is preparing her for a promising career:
What鈥檚 your favorite aspect of the 彩民宝典 College of Music?
Ripley: There鈥檚 a beautiful sense of camaraderie in the College of Music鈥攑eople look further than the instrument someone plays or the role they are given, and love and appreciate the person behind that. While it鈥檚 true that the hallways are filled with the sounds of music that people enjoy making for themselves, students here accept and embrace the beauty of sharing music with one another as well. I鈥檝e noticed a fantastic balance between drive for personal improvement and a love for the art form we鈥檝e all chosen.听听
How does the College of Music support you in your professional endeavors?
Ripley: The College of Music provides me with curricular support. I鈥檓 acquiring practical skills鈥攍ike business and networking techniques鈥攂eyond the musical aspects of my degree through the classes offered in my major. I鈥檓听learning skills that can help me get further in my career鈥攅ven before I graduate and enter the workforce.听
I鈥檓 also receiving stellar individual training from brilliant professors. Jennifer DeDominici, Andrew Garland and Mutsumi Moteki are the professors I work most closely with in my applied area of voice. The art of collaboration is valued here, making me a more well-rounded artist, giving musician and focused person.听
There are many individuals here who share similar dreams to my own and who have supported me in pursuing my passion鈥攁 rare and cherished quality to find in classmates.
What upcoming project are you looking forward to?
Ripley: I鈥檝e served as a resident artist in the Shedd Institute鈥檚 Contemporary Broadway Songbook Project since 2015 and have been closely involved with 鈥溾�澨齭ince its creation the same year. I鈥檒l be playing the part of Gabriela (Gabi) Milagros Mishel Armstrong in 鈥淢ija鈥澨齠or the National Alliance for Musical Theatre鈥檚 35th Annual Festival of New Musicals in New York City, Oct. 26-27.
Congratulations, Adriana!
Inspired by a true story, 鈥淢ija鈥澨齣s a new bilingual musical about survival, identity and the complexity of family鈥攊t follows characters across continents, decades and generations. When Luisa leaves behind her sheltered life in the United States for Guatemala, she鈥檚 blindsided by a life-threatening pregnancy. In Oregon, Gabi aches for grownup life to start but first she seeks to uncover secrets the adults around her deny. The show provides a finely-crafted look at the relationships between mothers and daughters across different eras, capturing both the specific and the universal.听
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