The Dear School of Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) has four distinct departments: Fine and Graphic Arts; Music; New Media, Journalism and Communication; and Theatre and Dance. Each department has a host of opportunities for students, from live performances, bands and choirs to awards and scholarships.
Performances throughout the year include choir and orchestra concerts, such as the Chamber Choir concerts and Lyrica and Orpheus Concert, band performances like Classic on the Cane and theatre and dance performances like Dancescapes and The Learned Ladies.
Dr. John Dunn is an associate professor of fine arts who teaches a variety of classes, from introductions to the arts to music and disability studies. Dunn thinks Northwestern State University’s music program is unique, from the quality of the music and theater shows to the specialized classes and teachers.
“We are one of the few universities in the entirety of the south that offers a chance to study particular instruments with a specialist on that instrument,” Dunn said. “Off the top of my head, there’s only one other university that does that in the south…and that’s a unique thing that our students can take advantage of.”
In addition to undergraduate and graduate majors in the fine arts, students can pursue student groups such as the Student Theater Organization.
Samantha Bailey, a sophomore English major, is minoring in art. Her goal is to one day publish her own book that she both writes and illustrates. Bailey enjoys talking with her fellow students and sharing that passion with them, as well as learning more about her own. “I still feel like there’s so much more that I can learn,” Bailey said. “I’m wanting to go more into the graphic arts, so I’m really excited to learn how to do all of that.”
Throughout the semesters, the different programs will put on various shows, including theater, orchestra and dance performances. At the beginning of the fall semester, the theater program puts on New Faces, a production that introduces everyone and showcases what CAPA has to offer.
London Newton is a freshman communication major minoring in theater who chose the major because of how broad it is. “I’ve fallen in love with it since choosing it because I just realized that a lot of the things I want to do in life involve communicating and speaking to a large audience,” Newton said.
“My favorite part of theater was doing New Faces,” Newton said. “And especially the rehearsals, I met so many people and know all of them really well now. They’re all really nice people.”
CAPA offers many opportunities, no matter a student’s interests. Between shows, scholarships and friendships, students are given the chance to grow in their skills and as people throughout their time in the program.
