Working in the Arts

Oakland University alum Garret Klauss (BM ‘18) recently won the Music Teachers National Association Ohio Young Artist Competition. Klauss is currently pursuing a master of music degree in saxophone performance at Bowling Green State University, studying with Dr. John Sampen. While at OU, Klauss was a student of Dr. Jeff Heisler.

Theatre technology and design alum Andrew Mark Wilhelm (BFA ‘12) recently accepted a position with Geva Theatre Center in Rochester, N.Y. as their new Sound Department supervisor. As one of the country’s leading not-for-profit, professional theatres, Geva is Rochester’s flagship theatre company and the most attended regional theatre in New York State. Prior to this position, Wilhelm was the sound engineer/designer at the Pacific Conservatory Theatre in Santa Maria, Calif.

Musical theatre alums Ian Turnwald (BFA ‘17) and Stefanie Sambrano (BFA ‘17) were on the road from September 20 through December 9 as part of the national touring company of Nugget and Fang the musical. They also took over the Oakland University Snapchat on October 31.

Joe Santoni, (BA ‘14) has been busy touring with Disney’s DCapella, a new Pentatonix-style touring performance experience. On November 5, he had an opportunity to interview some of Hollywood’s biggest stars during the red carpet premiere of Ralph Breaks the Internet, the sequel to the hit film, Wreck-It Ralph. “Meeting and getting to talk to some of the stars and original Disney princesses was something I could’ve never imagined happening,” Santoni said. “I’m so grateful everyday for the opportunities that present themselves because of my Disney family and cannot thank them enough.” Santoni also appeared with DCapella on ABC News on October 24.

Brandon Santana (BFA ‘18) played the role of Solyony in a one-weekend only production of Anton Chekhov’s Three Sisters (adapted by Sarah Ruhl), which ran November 16-18 at Columbia University in New York City. The production, performed by an all-black cast, was looked at through the lens of African Diaspora while keeping much of the narrative by Chekhov. 

Cheyanne Coss (BM ‘14) is the studio soprano with Michigan Opera Theatre and just finished a run of The Magic Flute with Toledo Opera and Opera Grand Rapids, where she made her role debut as Pamina. Up next, she’ll be performing Paquette in Michigan Opera Theatre’s upcoming production of Candide, followed closely by Dew Fairy in Hansel and Gretel, which will round out her season in Detroit. In February, Coss will be giving a concert of Knoxville: Summer of 1915 with the Flint Symphony. “It is a piece that I feel very closely connected with, and I am so honored to have the chance to share it with my home state,” Coss said. “My heart is so full of joy being able to sing all around Michigan this year, and getting to give back to the community that founded my love for the art.”

Alumna AlissaBeth Jane Morton (BFA ‘18) is settling into life in New York City and loving every minute! After wrapping up her first NYC gig Off-Broadway at the Producer’s Club as Dorothy Gale in a new adaptation of The Wizard of Oz, which ran through the end of October, Morton performed in the Open Jar Institute Industry Showcase on November 9 and then in a staged reading of a new musical The Imaginary, directed by Jeff Whiting. She’s taken Fosse master classes from Dana Moore, learned choreography from Timothy Hughes (Strong Man from The Greatest Showman), attended an industry masterclass with Susan Stroman and had a backstage tour of Mean Girls and met Taylor Louderman.

Renowned jazz violinist, Regina Carter, OU's artist-in-residence, has received a Grammy nomination for "Best Improvised Jazz Solo" for her performance on "Some Of That Sunshine" by Karrin Allyson. Considered the foremost jazz violinist of her generation, Carter earned a bachelor’s degree in music at Oakland University in 1985. She recently returned to campus and performed as a special guest on November 30 during the World Music Concert and on December 1 during the Latin Jazz Concert in Varner Recital Hall on the Oakland University campus. She also worked with students and participated in a "Women in Jazz" discussion with Detroit bassist Marion Hayden.

On December 1 and 2, the Fort Street Chorale and Chamber Orchestra presented Handel's Messiah at Fort Street Presbyterian Church in downtown Detroit. The performances were conducted by Professor Mike Mitchell and featured OU faculty members Alta Marie Boover (mezzo) and Lois J. Jaare (continuo player) and OU music alums Ann Toomey (soprano) and Mark Hosseini (baritone).

The Academy Drum and Bugle Corps recently announced that OU alum Jared Seymour (BM ‘16), would be returning as high brass staff for the 2019 season. Seymour began his Drum Corps career at The Glassmen in 2011 and then was a member of The Bluecoats from 2013-2015 earning a silver and bronze medal in 2014 and 2015 respectively. After aging out, Jared spent two summers as the Visual Caption Head for the Jersey Surf Drum and Bugle Corps. Currently, he resides in Bakersfield, Calif. where he is the director of Music at Wonderful College Prep Academy. He spends his time playing in multiple ensembles like the Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra, and working with several high school groups in the Central Valley area.

Matt Wagner, an OU Dance Department alumnus who has been performing with DIAVOLO for three seasons and was there when the group was a finalist on America’s Got Talent in 2017, returned to campus Oct. 15-30 to work with students who performed one of DIAVOLO’s works during the annual Fall Showcase, which took place. Dec 6-8 in Varner Hall.

OU alumna Taylor Hillary Boykins (BM ‘11) is a semi-finalist for the Women in Opera/Operetta 2018-2019 Friedrich and Virginia Schorr Memorial Award in Voice.

David Bashaw (BFA ‘18) is now working as a member of the Pistons Extreme Team! They do choreography, acrobatics, trampoline jumping and basketball dunking. If you’re unfamiliar with what they do, watch here: www/facebook.com/PistonsExtremeTeam.

Shelby VanOphem (BFA ‘18) is now doing costuming for the “Marvel Universe Live!” road show. As part of the tour, VanOphem will travel all over North America and throughout the world, including Australia and New Zealand next year.

Meadow Brook Theatre wrapped up its production of Arsenic and Old Lace, which featured a ton of SMTD connections, including: Thomas D. Mahard (Mr. Gibbs and Mr. Witherspoon), theatre faculty; Olivia Urso (Elaine), SMTD alum (BFA ‘18); Travis Walter (director), SMTD alum (BFA ‘02); Kerro Knox 3 (lighting design), theatre faculty; Corey Collins (costume design), SMTD alum (BFA ‘01); Michael Duncan (sound design), theatre faculty; and Kai Stidham (intern, understudy), SMTD alum (BFA ‘18).

Theatre alum Anna Marck (BFA ‘15) recently completed playing Tybalt in Thunder Bay’s production of Romeo & Juliet. “(Anna) is doing truly marvelous work,” said Jeffrey Mindock, producing artistic director for Thunder Bay Theatre. Marck also accepted a second contract for the spring to play laura in the Thunder Bay production of Glass Menagerie and participate in the theatre’s educational tour.