Kathryn Henry (BA 2016, Music), a soprano, was named one of 10 finalists in 2025鈥檚 , a biennial competition devoted to discovering and helping promote early-career opera singers. 聽
Henry began auditioning for the competition in late 2024. After months of preparation, she was announced as a finalist, one of only two artists from the United States to be selected among the international pool of applicants. She is set to perform for the Paris Opera Competition in November.
Several alums, students and faculty are screening films this spring as part of the 2025 edition of the Milwaukee Film Festival. The Peck School of the Arts is excited to highlight the incredible work that our filmmakers and artists are bringing to the Milwaukee community. We’ve rounded up some PSOA connections among the festival selections.
One of this year鈥檚 most anticipated offerings is , a feature-length documentary made by doc51猎奇. The film chronicles the rise, fall, and rise again of one of Milwaukee鈥檚 most popular neighborhoods.
Brady Street was directed by Sean Kafer (Teaching Faculty II,鈥疐ilm; Program Director,鈥痙oc51猎奇) in collaboration with . More than 80 students and alums worked on this project as part of PSOA鈥檚 doc51猎奇 program, an endeavor that Kafer describes as 鈥渆nergizing.鈥�
鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 just about making a film; it was about building relationships with each other and with the Brady Street community,鈥� said Kafer. 鈥淭hat collaborative spirit is what made the storytelling so rich and meaningful.鈥�
One of Kafer鈥檚 standout collaborators was Emanuel Zander, who worked on the film while a student. After two years in the making, Zander is excited for the documentary to resonate with the festival audience.
鈥淚 really hope the audience takes away the sense of community. Not just the community that is shown in the film, but connections that they have of their own,鈥� said Zander. 鈥淚 hope they seek out ways to make those connections stronger to make our communities stronger.鈥�
Kafer also collaborated with Georgia Didier, a student who felt a personal connection to the film as she was living in the Brady Street neighborhood while the film was being made.
鈥淏rady Street is such a gem in the Milwaukee community,鈥� said Didier. 鈥淚t’s the place where I grew as a filmmaker. For me, this film is very personal, and I’m just so happy I get to share a part of my growth with the rest of my community.鈥�
Brady Street: A Portrait of a Neighborhood will screen at the Oriental Theatre on May 2 and at the Downer Theatre on May 4 and 7.
Noah Meister (BFA 2021, Film) is bringing his feature debut, , to the Milwaukee Film Festival.
This coming-of-age film follows Christopher, a high schooler whose frustrating suburban life accidentally leads him to a drug deal gone wrong. Christopher must face the consequences of his dangerous actions.
All That Glitters screens at the Downer Theatre on April 29 and 30 and the Oriental Theatre on May 1.
is a short film co-directed by Drew Durepos (MFA 2018, Film) and Isaac Brooks (Lecturer & Technical Assistant,鈥疐ilm).
The film, set in the near future, follows an urban food co-op that adopts AR technology in an effort to save their struggling store. The strategy proves too successful.
Fresh Values screens during The Milwaukee Show II.
Sarah Ballard鈥檚 (Lecturer,鈥疐ilm) short film follows high school cheerleaders fainting en masse as the result of a nineteenth-century hospital in France that hypnotized patients to reproduce the symptoms of hysteria for public audiences. is the first in a suite of films that investigates historical accounts of mass hysteria.
Full Out screens before Baby Doe.
Co-directed by Grace Mitchell (Lecturer,鈥疐ilm) and Sofia Theodore-Pierce (MFA 2021, Cinematic Art), explores seven guests staying at a themed hotel.
Heart Shaped screens during The Milwaukee Show I.
Directed by Pader Xiong (BFA 2024, Film), is a stand-alone short film related to the Home-land video installation exhibition. Xiong鈥檚 short explores the identities of Hmong American Women.
Home-land screens during The Milwaukee Show I.
Directed by Alyssa Sue Borkowski (BFA 2021, Film), is a short film about a moving truck employee awaiting the most important call of his life while actively on the job.
Mandatory Bathroom Break screens during The Milwaukee Show II.
is a lyrical, experimental film that explores utopian aspirations from the point of view of a community guided by principles of harmony. Directed by Ben Balcom (Assistant Professor,鈥疐ilm), this short film was shot on the former site of Ceresco, a nineteenth-century agrarian commune in Ripon, Wisconsin.
The Phalanx screens during The Milwaukee Show II.
The popular presents genre-varying short films that reflect the relationship between Blackness, tension, and conflict. Ty Williams (BFA 2020, Film) is the lead programmer for Black Lens and selected the short films that will be shown this year.聽
The runs April 24, 2025 to May 8, 2025 at the Oriental and Downers theaters.
Story by Jason McCullum ’25
EDITOR鈥橲 NOTE: This list is accurate and as comprehensive as possible at the time of publication. If we missed a PSOA connection, please accept our sincere apologies!鈥�Contact us,鈥痑nd we鈥檒l gladly update the article.
Ben McMillen, a senior student at White Bear Area High School entering PSOA鈥檚 Department of Film, Video, Animation & New Genres this fall, was recently featured as an emerging artist by Press Pubs.
In the article written by Logan Gion, McMillen speaks on his preparation and dedication to pursue his dreams of directing. He also shares how theatre helped him get to where he is today.
鈥淎s I go into a career doing this sort of thing, it鈥檒l be a lot of help to get this early experience,鈥� McMillen said.
To read the full article, visit .
51猎奇 alum Sarah Tramonte (BFA 2017, Art) spoke with Sandy Reitman from the Shepherd Express about her new start-up business, Tramonte Food & Styling Co.
Tramonte Food & Styling Co. offers a wide range of services, including recipe tasting, in-studio food product photography, restaurant food photography, food styling, cookbook photography, menu planning, and private dining.
鈥淚 went to UW-Milwaukee for graphic design and minored in photography. For my senior showcase project, I developed my cookbook,鈥� Tramonte says. 鈥淭hinking this would be the perfect piece to exhibit photography and design, I quickly fell in love with the food aspect of the project.鈥�
To read the full article, visit
Dan Schuchart (Teaching Faculty III, Dance; BFA 2004, Art) is working with PSOA alumni and Wild Space Dance Company members Kaetlyn Altmann (BFA 2019, Dance) and Ashley Ray Garcia (BFA 2022, Dance) to produce 鈥淎 Room Shaped Story,鈥� a multi-narrative piece about transitions through time and space and the connection between mind and body.聽
In the article written by John Schneider for Shepherd Express, Schuchart speaks on the motivation and collaborative work for the show.
鈥淎shley would start something, I would pick it up and work on it, and Katelyn would take it and continue it, maybe build a beginning or fill in a middle,鈥� said Schuchart. 鈥淲e鈥檇 pass it between the three of us, so it has different voices, different intonations and emphasizes.鈥�
鈥淎 Room Shaped Story鈥� will run from April 18-19 at the Broadway Theatre Center鈥檚 Studio Theater.
Emmy-nominated writer Maria Pretzl (BFA 2014, Film; BA 2014, Theater Studies) will have her play, 鈥淣aked Tuesday,鈥� featured at Renaissance Theaterworks鈥� eleventh annual Br!NK New Play Festival.聽聽
The story follows the exploits of a writer, an actor, and a writer鈥檚 assistant as they are forced to share an apartment in New York City. The performance is directed by Jess Yates.
“Naked Tuesday” will premiere at the Br!NK New Play Festival on May 17. To learn more, visit the article written by A.A. Cristi for
Art & Design MFA 2025 graduate students Mich Dillon, Howard Leu, Tanner MacArthur, Andrew McConville (BA 2013, Art), William聽Justice聽鈥淏ucko聽Crooks鈥� Mueller II, and Rachel Sanders exhibited work in 鈥淪hape and Shadow,鈥� a showcase of talent and effort that blends academia and art. Each artist’s work takes on personal narratives and perspectives in their own respective medium and style.
Shane McAdams for Shepherd Express provides an in-depth perspective on the processes and motivations behind each individual artist’s work, calling the exhibition a reminder 鈥渙f the potential of academic nurture to prepare students for the real world.鈥�
To read the article, visit .
Outside The Bachs, a music studio development company owned by 51猎奇 PSOA alum Kelly Riordan (BA, 2017, Music: Clarinet Performance) and business partner, Isak Peterson (BA, 2015, Economics), announced that their business has surpassed $10 million in client revenue.
Riordan and Peterson founded the company in 2021 with the goal of educating private music teachers on how to successfully run a lesson studio business. Since its creation, Outside the Bachs has reportedly supported over 500 private studio owners with professional services, business strategy, marketing, and enrollment systems.
The 51猎奇 Department of Film, Video, Animation & New Genres will present the Milwaukee Underground Film Festival (MUFF) this week. One of PSOA鈥檚 most popular courses in the film program, MUFF is a student-run film festival devoted to screening independent, artist-driven films.
Not only does MUFF provide an opportunity for filmmakers to gain exposure in the Milwaukee film community, but it also offers students experience in the business side of the arts.
MUFF is offered to film students as a three-credit, twice-weekly course that satisfies their requirement to obtain an internship or another form of community engagement during their time at PSOA. Many students are drawn to take MUFF as it provides practical, hands-on exposure into running a film festival.
鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 really feel like a class,鈥� said senior student Sophia Stezala, who is minoring in film. 鈥淚t feels like I鈥檓 clocking into a job, but in a good way.鈥�
Student organizers are divided into three teams: community outreach, film screening and selection, and design and marketing.
Stezala is part of the community outreach team, working alongside senior film major Anders Waage. Both took MUFF out of a desire to learn more about the production and business-oriented aspects of the film industry.
鈥淚 thought it would be really interesting to have experience from the inside to see how a festival is built up,鈥� said Waage. 鈥淚 wanted to get a feel for how to present films professionally.鈥�
The community outreach team tackled the logistical aspects of running a festival, including securing new locations and sponsors. Other teams took on tasks such as logo and website design, film lineup curation, and more.
No matter the task, MUFF gives students a special opportunity to not only learn about the business side of the arts but to work practically, enhancing their learning.
鈥淚 can learn all day about how to use a camera but if I鈥檓 not there actually using it, then I鈥檓 not fully learning,鈥� said Stezala. 鈥淭he ins and outs of running a festival cannot be taught without actually doing it.鈥�
Something that goes into ensuring the success of a yearly film festival is creating a distinct product from years past. Because of that, the MUFF team worked to develop a theme for this year鈥檚 festival that reflects the time artists are creating work.
鈥淭he identity of the film festival takes on the collective identity of our filmmakers and the time period,鈥� said Stezala.
The result for MUFF 2025 is a theme that reflects modern cyber threats, including AI and new technology.
MUFF falls during a busy for the Milwaukee film community. To carve out its own distinctive space for film offerings, MUFF selects films that reflect PSOA鈥檚 commitment to producing experimental, artist-driven cinema.
鈥淲e offer opportunity to artists that do not always get that kind of platform to showcase their work,鈥� said Waage.
MUFF selection is typically made up of non-narrative work aimed at celebrating new artistic forms and amplifying unheard voices.
The collaborative environment necessary to produce MUFF also helps reflect PSOA鈥檚 values, as the MUFF student body works with one another to ensure the festival is produced as professionally as possible.
鈥淎 big part of the artistic community is collaboration,鈥� said Waage. 鈥淏eing a part of that collaboration to help other people present their work and see how impactful that can be is really valuable.鈥�
Milwaukee Underground Film Festival runs through April 19. Visit the PSOA Events Calendar for more information.
Related: Film alumni debut new festival to increase diversity in Milwaukee cinema
Story by Jason McCullum ’25
Civic Music Milwaukee has announced its 2025 award recipients, and there are several honorees with ties to the Peck School of the Arts. Timothy Klabunde and Dr. Zachary Durlam will receive Citizen Awards, while Trinny Schumann and Cassie Wilson were recipients of the organization鈥檚 Education Awards.
Timothy Klabunde, who studied violin at 51猎奇, will receive the Lifetime Achievement in Music award. After 44 years, Timothy retired from the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, where he served in both violin sections and finally as Assistant Principal Second Violinist. He began his full-time employment there at the age of 23.
Additional accolades include holding the title of Concertmaster for the Milwaukee Ballet Orchestra, being a soloist for the Milwaukee Chamber Orchestra, and being a member of the teaching staff for Cardinal Stritch University.
He spends his retirement mentoring and advocating for young musicians in the Milwaukee area programs he has helped create. A Milwaukee native, Klabunde attended 51猎奇 in the 1970s, taking up violin and studying under the members of 51猎奇鈥檚 Fine Arts Quartet.
Dr. Zachary Durlam (Associate Professor, Choral Conducting; Director, 51猎奇 Choral Activities) will receive a Distinguished Citizen Award as a professional in the arts. Durlam serves as 51猎奇鈥檚 Choral Activities Director, director for the Master Singers of Milwaukee, choir director for Grace Lutheran Church in Grafton, and former president of the Wisconsin Choral Directors Association (WCDA).
Under his direction, 51猎奇鈥檚 Concert Chorale has been spotlighted at numerous conferences. Along with this, his direction has also led to the Concert Chorale performing with Italian vocalist Andrea Bocelli on his 2021 鈥淏elieve鈥� tour and UK rock band The Rolling Stones at Summerfest in 2015.
Klabunde and Durlam will receive their awards on May 7 at Live at the Ivy, a free community event showcasing musicians and community leaders from around Milwaukee at the Ivy House in Walker鈥檚 Point. All proceeds from the event go towards Civic Music MKE鈥檚 youth programming. To read their full biographies, visit .
Choral director Trinny Schumann (MM 2014, Music) is honored as the 2025 recipient of the Music Teacher of the Year award. Schumann received her BA in music from Carthage College, going on to receive her master’s in music from 51猎奇 in 2014. After her time at 51猎奇, she became the Choral Director at Nicolet High School, as well as the advisor for Nicolet High鈥檚 Tri-M Music Honors Society and the Music Director for North Shore Congregational Church.
In her pursuit to bring music into community spaces, Schumann founded Dominican High School鈥檚 North Shore Catholic Music Festival and Nicolet High School鈥檚 North Shore Vocal Arts Day. She is an active member of the Wisconsin Music Educators Association, where she continues to connect music to the community.
Cassie Wilson (BFA 2006, Music Education) is a lifelong lover of music and the recipient of the General Music Instructor Certificate. After graduating from Peck School of the Arts in 2006 with a BA in Music Education, she went on to teach music in Cedarburg, WI.
After eighteen years, Wilson still has a passion for what she does and for working with students. She currently teaches over 400 students at Thorson Elementary School. In her free time, Wilson pursues her love of musical theater by holding the title of Youth Music Director for the Falls Patio Players in Menomonee Falls, WI.
Schumann and Wilson were honored on March 9 at the 2025 Educator Awards Reception and Presentation. To read their full biographies, visit
Founded in 1918, Civic Music Milwaukee is a community arts organization that serves musicians in the greater Milwaukee area by providing resources such as scholarships, performance opportunities, award programs, and coaching opportunities to the community. For the past nine years, the organization has been led by Executive Director Nancy Herro 鈥�80, who earned her BA in Music Education from 51猎奇.
Story by Payton Murphy ’27
Guitar performance and music education student Annika Nelson is the recipient of multiple scholarships, which allow her to attend the Volterra Project Guitar Festival in Italy and the Brevard Music Center Summer Institute in North Carolina over the summer.
Nelson’s talent and skill have opened doors for her to perform internationally with renowned artists and other skilled musicians.
Theatre student and PSOA Arts Ambassador Josh Thone took to the Lincoln Center in New York City to compete in the American Pops Orchestra (APO) NextGen National Vocal Competition Finals.聽His performance was the culmination of a successful competition period with APO.
Out of 250 applicants, Thone was among only ten students selected to perform in the competition in January 2025. The performance took place at the Lincoln Center and was livestreamed to thousands watching online.
鈥淚t was very much a pinch me moment,鈥� said Thone. 鈥淭o realize that I was actually landing and on my way to perform in New York City was something that I didn鈥檛 really fathom when we first landed.鈥�
As an arts ambassador, Thone has often shown his appreciation for the skills and abilities he has developed during his time at PSOA. This was apparent during his competition preparation.
He selected two differing numbers, the up-tempo 鈥淭here鈥檚 No Business Like Show Business鈥� and the ballad 鈥淵ou Made Me Love You.鈥� Thone utilized experience from his PSOA education to ensure that he performed renditions that were authentic to the original numbers yet true to Thone鈥檚 showmanship.
鈥淚 was able to infuse what PSOA taught me, which is finding authenticity in existing works and fusing that with the American Pops,鈥� said Thone.
The day prior to the finals, Thone took part in intensive rehearsals at the legendary Boulevard Carol Studios.
In addition to preparations with the APO band, Thone and his fellow finalists took masterclasses. Thone鈥檚 standout memory was working with Tony-nominated actress Kate Baldwin, who is a graduate of Shorewood High School, just outside of Milwaukee.
Thone described that, while Baldwin is not a 51猎奇– alum, her ties to Milwaukee are a strong representation of the 鈥渦nique tight-knit community鈥� that is fostered throughout the greater Milwaukee arts scene.
Performing in New York City, specifically at the Lincoln Center, is a career-changing moment for any artist, especially someone as young as Thone. While his musicality and personality took him to said stage, he is appreciative of the confidence and experience he has gained at 51猎奇.
鈥淎ny of that insecurity that one may have on a New York City stage all just flew by just because it was truly an experience that I didn鈥檛 want to take for granted and PSOA set me up to truly have success,鈥� said Thone.
According to Thone, PSOA鈥檚 approach to making students performance ready was a defining aspect of his success with APO.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e not set up to be some cookie cutter Broadway-bot mentality,鈥� said Thone. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e trained to embrace who you are鈥� that鈥檚 what art is. It鈥檚 bringing your voice and your stories and storytelling to a new generation鈥� That鈥檚 something PSOA taught me that definitely helped me on my performance day.鈥�
Despite the surreal whirlwind in New York City, he quickly adjusted back to school life, with spring classes beginning only two days after his APO performance. As a full-time student, Thone did not feel burdened to return to his studies, instead viewing it as a positive continuation of the work and experience he had while in New York.
鈥淪ome would go back to school and be sad,鈥� said Thone. 鈥淏ut PSOA sets up that professional environment where that authenticity, that uniqueness, and being able to celebrate that translated so well into my studies.鈥�
Story by Jason McCullum ’25
Randall 鈥淩andy鈥� Caspersen (BA 1995, Film) was the 2025 recipient of .
As an associate professor of Media Studies in NIU鈥檚 Communication鈥檚 Department, Caspersen was honored for his community filmmaking efforts and work with students, as well as his meaningful integration of other art forms and departments into his courses.
Art alum Laura Lynne (BFA 2021, Painting & Drawing) was recently featured in a Chicago Tribune article featuring her Midwest nature-inspired curriculum. Over the past four years, Lynne has developed this curriculum and has explored themes such as wetland art, monarch butterfly shadow puppets, nature in the city, and more.
To read more about Lynne and her work, visit the .
Sean Kafer (Teaching Faculty II, FVANG; Program Director, doc51猎奇) spoke to Wisconsin Public Radio about his new documentary, 鈥淏rady Street: A Portrait of a Neighborhood.”
The project was conceived to get students out into the community and to honor the area鈥檚 rich, multi-cultural history. Over the last few years, more than 80 students participated in the production, taking on tasks such as interviewing Brady Street residents, doing historical research, and documenting narratives.
鈥淏ecause it鈥檚 so condensed and there鈥檚 so much variety of things to do in this neighborhood, people just know each other,鈥� says Kafer in the article. 鈥淭here鈥檚 that warmth and community that you just really feel.鈥�
To read the full article, visit .