Faculty encourage enlightenment by art

Bellevue College is home to a student body with a vast array of artistic talent. Many exhibit these skills and passions through performances and displays from the art department, theatre arts department and the music department. Faculty members at BC emphasize that students shouldn’t be oblivious to the teachings of music, visual arts and stage performance.

The spring concert season kicked off with a rendition of  “Les Miserables,” performed by the concert choir on May 31. Students had the chance to listen to recordings of professionals when preparing for the concert. The material features many one-phrase solos that gave many students the opportunity to perform as soloists.  “Solo singing encourages students to perform at their highest skill level resulting in music growth and competence,” said Lyle Forde, a choir instructor at BC.  He continued by describing the pleasurable effects of music on a person’s life. The more one understands music and the more musical skills one has acquired, the more their enjoyment is enhanced,” explained Forde. “That is a good reason why I encourage everyone to participate in this art as a young student. They then have their whole life to enjoy the thrills and joy that music provides,” he said.

Dr. Brian Cobb, a composition instructor said, “music is for everyone. In terms of musical performance, there is so much to be said about interpersonal connection, camaraderie and working towards one goal and one vision.” Dr. Cobb’s composition and music concentration students have the opportunity to perform at the “From the Chamber” concerts in the Carlson Theatre quarterly. “It’s catered to getting all of the students that feel ready to perform the opportunity to play in front of their peers, and that just wasn’t around two years ago.”

The theatre department staged three plays last quarter, including “Little Shop of Horrors,” “The Last Days of Judas Iscariot” and “Translations.” “Little Shop” was characterized by distinct choreography under the direction of Philip Lacey.  “The Last Days of Judas Iscariot” was a dark, risky endeavor by student Michael Lacker, who believed it must be beheld with an open mind. Lastly, Brian Fuel’s 1833 tale of “Translations” held its own challenges for the department. “It’s a tough show. It’s talky. There’s not much action. There’s one huge part of action that happens offstage,” said Tammi Doyle, chair of the theatre department. They now prepare for a new show, called “Entanglement Theory,” which will be performed in early August.

Photography and visual art students also had a busy spring quarter, providing displays for Earth Week and preparing for the student art exhibit on display in the BC gallery D271 until fall. Echoing the tune of awareness like the other faculty members, photography instructor Chad White said, “It’s about visual communication. Even if you are a business major, accounting major, or if you want to get into the NBA, it’s very important that you understand visual communication and how it plays a part in our context and our part in society. It’s an unconscious system so we raise awareness of visual communication, which plays a part on how we read things and how we interpret things and how we respond.”