ARTS representatives

arts reps: official student voices

We think we are a really cool college filled with pretty awesome students. And we think the best way to embody the energy, artistic expression, and fun within CoA+A is from the students themselves. The ARTS Rep position is an initiative to strengthen the community within our college via social media content creation and events. It gives exceedingly creative individuals the opportunity to build communication and marketing skills as an official student voice of the college. We are so excited to welcome Aaryanna (Dance), Zach (Art & Art History), Nejla (Architecture), Rayden (Theatre), and Christian (Music) as our new Arts Reps.

aisha

Hey everyone! I'm Aisha Qatabi. I am from Sana'a, Yemen, and I am your Architecture Rep! I am excited for the semester and the events that are coming with it; you don't want to miss out! 

Favorite Architect: One of my favorite architects is Zaha Hadid. I find her very inspiring because not only is she one of the few women who have risen to such high levels in the field, but she is also a woman from the Middle East, which I can connect with. 

Fun Facts: I love playing basketball and soccer, I was an Orientation Counselor over the summer, and I enjoy watching Turkish shows!

Hi, everyone! I'm Zach Allred, your representative for the Department of Art & Art History. I am excited about being an Arts Rep to immerse myself in the creativity of our college!

Favorite Piece of Art: My favorite piece of art is probably the Coraline movie! 

Fun Facts: I am an RA in Scott Hall, I run my own photography business, and I have been to the Bahamas twice. 

Hi! My name is Rayden Leeder and I am this year's Arts Rep for Theatre! I am super excited to be a part of this amazing group and be able to help build and improve the amazing community we have within COA+A!

Favorite Performance: One of my favorite musicals of all time would be "Come From Away" or the recent revival of "Sondheim's Company!" I highly recommend giving it a listen on Spotify!

Fun Facts: In total, I have 7 pets!; The only time my phone has ever been broken is when it was accidentally dropped by a cast member of a national broadway tour; The last concert I went to was a Pitbull concert.

headshot

My name is Christian Souza and I'm going to be the Arts Rep for Music this year! I'm so grateful to be a part of this program because it has already given me the opportunity to work with students outside of the music discipline, and I know that will continue as the year goes on!⁠

Favorite Performance: My favorite performance changes so frequently that it's hard to narrow it down, but as of right now, I've been really enjoying a performance of Franz Schubert's Erlkönig from a documentary titled Jessye Norman: A Portrait. This video regularly makes its rounds through the voice department, so please check it out if you haven't.

Fun Facts: I was born in Anchorage, Alaska, and lived there until high school. Even though it's expected as a vocal performance major, I can't roll my r's. I recently bought a pothos which doesn't need much sunlight or water, so I'm hoping I can keep it alive forever and ever.

Hi! My name is Aaryanna Henry, and I am your Department of Dance Arts Rep! I am excited to be a part of this program to give an inside into the hard work that takes place within the dance department and I hope to highlight the amazing work that you all do. I am also excited to get closer to the other arts departments and hope we can all support each other and the wonderful work we all put in each year.

Favorite Performance: My favorite performance that I have seen was "II: An Unspoken Narrative" which was a short YouTube film featuring Sean Lew and Kaycee Rice. It was utterly stunning and it incorporates all styles of art.

Fun Facts: I danced at Nina's School of Dance growing up; I spent two months in Orlando, FL this summer working at Chick-Fil-A with my campus ministry; and I am currently watching Avatar on Netflix!

 


MEET YOUR PREVIOUS ARTS REPS

Kelly Gilbert | Art Rep '21

Favorite SculptureMan with the Broken Nose by Auguste Rodin has a pretty interesting story behind it. I enjoy Rodin’s treatment of the surface of the body almost as a space to explore.

Eric Levine | Arts Ed Rep '21

Fun Facts: I love to take on a little photography as another art form, I am one of the Drum Majors of the Pride of Niner Nation Marching Band (PNNMB,) and I have a Yorkie-Poo named “Thor!

Natalie Perkins | Theatre Rep '21

Favorite Performance: Hands down Aladdin. I had the opportunity to see it on Broadway in New York and it really was a show-stopping performance. 

Angeli Novio |Production Rep '21

Favorite Performance: My favorite performance so far has been UNC Charlotte's Far Away. It was the first production I saw on campus and I left the Blackbox awestruck. It gave me a whole new perspective on theatre and the design aspect of theatre.

Bianca Muñoz | Music Rep '21

Favorite Piece of Music: My favorite is a piece for solo guitar called "Romance for Tree" (木洩れ陽のロマンス) by Takashi Yoshimatsu. This was a piece I learned my first semester on campus, and it holds a special piece of my heart because of that.

Rachel Vick | Dance Rep '21

Fun Facts: I played the violin for eight years, Mama Mia is my favorite movie, and I am the president of the student-run dance organization Range of Motion Dance Ensemble (ROM).

Skyler Parrow-Strong  | Graphic Design Intern '21

Fun Fact: I was a graphic design intern for the Mint Museum in Charlotte last summer and rebranded their youth program, NexGen. They offer young adults engaging artistic experiences and provide access to learning more about the museum and local artists.

Mari Vicente | SoA Rep '21

Favorite Design: Lina Bo Bardi’s Casa de Vidro is my favorite piece of architecture. 

Fun Facts: I’m 4’11”, I was in choir for 8 years, and I could eat sushi every day. 

Vishal Nair | Art Rep '20

Clubs + Activities: I intern with Charlotte Athletics and am part of the American Institute of Graphic Arts.

Abena Atiemo | SoA Rep '20

Fun Facts: I am learning to play the bass guitar, can jump rope on a pogo stick, and a pineapple on pizza enthusiast.⁠

Kayley McLamb | Dance Rep '20

Community Cultural Activities: I am president of the dance student org Range of Motion and work as a peer mentor.

Sam Pomerantz | Theatre Rep'20

Favorite Performance: Newsies! The dance breaks are insane and it’s a show that everybody can enjoy.⁠

Tia Wilson | Music Rep '20

Fun Facts: I wrestled on the men’s team in high school, I play the tuba, and I’m a first-generation college student. ⁠

Gianna Agostino | Music Rep '19

Community Cultural Activities: I’m in the Honors Program, in the orchestra, and a Robinson Hall Technician!

Meredith Pack| Dance Rep '19

Favorite Performance: Charlotte Ballet’s Fall Works in 2016. It truly re-sparked my passion for dance.

 

Daniel Petric | SoA Rep '19

Fun Facts: I am 6’9 (the tallest person in SoA), I have traveled to more countries in the world than states in the US, and I love to sing.

Breanna Andrea | Art Rep '19

Fun Fact: The first art class I ever took, I got into it on accident.

Blake Briles | Theatre Rep '19

Fun Facts: One of my circus disciplines is Fire Manipulation and I can solve a Rubik's Cube in under 2 minutes.