About
“Realizing Home” by Katherine Finch, ’22, dancer
From her perch on the balcony of a renowned ballet school, Katherine wonders what a “normal” life of a teenager might be, only to discover a new world in college where her identity as a dancer and pursuits as a scholar come together to make her feel whole.
“Work in Progress” by Leanna Bernish, ’24, painter
With stunning authenticity, Leanna struggles with how to be a girl, what femininity is, and how scary acrylic paint is until she paints her way into her identity on the canvas and in her own body.
“Breathborn(e)” by Brianna Coppolino, ’22, singer
In this breathtaking poem, the silencing of singers in Covid drives Brianna into the shadows where she and a friend meet to engage in the now illicit behavior of singing duets in the woods, where they also grapple with the realities of death, lost community, and the pain of silence.
“A Love Letter to Theatre” by Adarian Sneed, ’22, actor
After COVID forced Adarian to “break up” with acting, she writes an impassioned love letter, pleading that they might get back together, citing the beautiful and formative experiences they have had together.
“Audition Day” by Sarah Costanza, ’24, dancer
In clear detail and candid language, Sarah invites the readers into her head throughout an intense audition, illuminating the emotions, sensations, and significance she feels as a dancer.
“Music and Intention” by Liat Klopouh, ’22, pianist
With both humor and candor, Liat explores her life as a diligently trained child-pianist whose resilient parents facilitated her skill and fortitude in ways that challenged her but ultimately opened a world of beauty.
“A Hopeful Confidence” by Whitney Flautt, ’23, director
After years of nerves, growth, and a little rejection and reframing, Whitney is inspired to face her fears in a moment of pandemic and uncertainty as she relies on the tools that her experiences as an actor, singer, dancer, choreographer, and eventually director of children’s plays have taught her.
“Lens of Admiration” by Grace Powell, ’23, photographer
After hearing friends and loved ones doubt themselves, battle depression, and struggle to see beauty in a hurting world, Grace is moved to use photography to draw beauty out of everything she encounters, infusing the world with hope and love however she can.
“The Hardest Performance” by Olivia Blake, ’23, EMT
Whether under the pressure of an emergency medicine call, a challenging exam, or a scholarship interview, Olivia’s poem explores how chronic overachieving can turn all of life into a performance that can feel hollow and exhausting when she finds herself alone with no life-or-death stakes.
“After Eden” by Mary Costanza, ’21, dancer
After years of devotion to ballet, Mary steps back from the stage, first for healing and then because a pandemic closed the studios. In a new posture of reflection, she confesses her struggles, delights in the beauty, and experiences the revelation of how dance became her religion—in some ways she clings to, and in other ways she seeks to embrace. But who is she when she is on the precipice of either losing her religion or sacrificing all else for this faith?
“So the Stones Cry Out” by Ann Phelps, cantor
Whether in the mountains of North Carolina or the cathedrals of Europe, Ann hears her own voice echo back to her with both faith and fear, helping her discover what matters most in her life, especially in moments when clarity is most difficult to discern.
