Visual & Performing Arts
Visual & Performing Arts
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Dare to create something that inspires.

Whether you are stepping into the spotlight or producing behind the scenes, by joining 无忧短视频鈥檚 Visual & Performing Arts program, you will never be far from creative pursuits.

As a student of Worcester State鈥檚 Visual & Performing Arts program, you will cultivate a deep understanding of and respect for historical art movements, while working alongside esteemed faculty to hone your craft. With countless exhibit and performance opportunities, you can showcase your talent at the national and international level鈥揳nd gain the resources, network, and mentorship you will need for a vibrant and dynamic creative path.

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Students in Mary Cosgrove Dolphin Gallery at Worcester State

STUDENT STORIES

Explore creative expression at Worcester State.

See some of the awe-inspiring creative endeavors at Worcester State.
Creative Gallery
Visual & Performing Arts students at Worcester State are talented individuals鈥搄ust see for yourself!
Creative Gallery
The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde
Creative Gallery
Mosaic of Music Rehearsal
Creative Gallery
Mosaic of Music Performance
Creative Gallery
Scene from Psycho Beach Party by Charles Busch
Creative Gallery
Scene from The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee with book by Rachel Sheinkin , music and lyrics by William Finn
Singer Kaylee Salatino sings "Pretty Funny" in Worcester State VPA's Spring 2022 Mosaic of Music
Mosaic of Music Performance
Creative Gallery
The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde
Art student at Worcester State stained glass
Student working with stained glass
Creative Gallery
Scene from The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee with book by Rachel Sheinkin , music and lyrics by William Finn
Worcester State music student African Drumming in front of the parking garage
African drumming student
Creative Gallery
Scene from Psycho Beach Party by Charles Busch
Worcester State VPA students pose with professor at Worcester Center for the Arts
Students at Worcester Center for the Crafts
Mary Cosgrove Dolphin Gallery at Worcester State
Mary Cosgrove Gallery
Music composition major working on computer at Worcester State
Music Composition student, Julian Wagner
Jazz ensemble at Worcester State, Saxophone and Clarinet
Jazz Ensemble
Creative Gallery
Caroline Ford Showcases Drawings In Spring 2023 Thesis Exhibition
Worcester State student Bellalorraine Carey-Hicks stitches a purple costume in the costume shop
Bellaloraine Carey-Hicks in the Costume Design Studio
VPA students at Worcester State screenprinting
Students engaged in screen-printing
Art student pottery mask with 3 faces
Working with clay
Creative Gallery
Scene from Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead
Worcester center for the crafts at Worcester State working with leather
Students working with leather
Julian Wagner performs "Took Me Forever," his own work, in Worcester State VPA's Spring 2022 Mosaic of Music Performance
Mosaic of Music Performance
Creative Gallery
The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde
Erica Hanlon and Jonathan Paine perform on piano in Worcester State VPA's Spring 2022 Mosaic of Music
Mosaic of Music Performance
Creative Gallery
Scene from Psycho Beach Party by Charles Busch
Creative Gallery
The Student Art Show in the Mary Cosgrove Dolphin Gallery
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VPA News

Spectrum 1 News Worcester

Local singing program gives voice to people with Parkinson’s disease

Page 5: Charlton Villager

Charlton natives to perform in Worcester State Theatre’s ‘The Importance of Being Earnest'”

Step sister of Blues legend Robert Johnson shares history and memories during campus visit

The Landmark

Holden native McAuliffe to perform in “The Importance of Being Earnest”

Music Professor Brings Talents to the Big Screen in "Spirited," starring Will Ferrell, Ryan Reynolds, Octavia Spencer

Boston Music Award Nominees Include VPA Music Professor Carlos Odria

The Boston Music Awards has nominated Carlos Odria, Ph.D., an assistant professor of music in the Visual and Performing Arts Department at 无忧短视频, for the Latin Artist of the Year category following the recent release of his album, “Montuno Negro.”

Spectrum News visits VPA's Mary Cosgrove Dolphin Gallery

as Buddhist monks create a sand mandala at Worcester State

Worcester Magazine: Last Call with Bradley Chapman Bleau, curator of WooTown Funk Exhibition

Veer Mudambi reports: “Returning to Worcester after completing a Master in Fine Arts program, Brad Chapman Bleau is planning a fall exhibit at 无忧短视频’s Mary Cosgrove Dolphin Gallery…”

VPA Department鈥檚 Steve Gagliastro to Appear in Star-Studded Film and TV Projects

As nearby Devens, Mass., steadily grows its reputation of being a 鈥淗ollywood of the East,鈥 Worcester State Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) voice instructor Steve Gagliastro鈥檚 impressive acting career continues to thrive.

Worcester Magazine: VPA Gallery's "Interconnected" fiber show featured in WM's "Eight Things to Do"

Visual and Performing Arts Department and students recognized for excellence by regional Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival

The Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival Region 1, recognized Worcester State鈥檚 Visual and Performing Arts Department for excellence in theatre production with a special invitation to stream its Spring 2021 presentation of 鈥淒ancing with Demons.鈥

Millbury Sutton Chronicle Page 7

Millbury’s Aiden Bordeau to Perform in Worcester State Theatre Spring Musical

Hopkinton Independent Page 16

Leibowitz appears in college play

Leominster Champion

Leominster’s Alyssa Peppler to perform in Worcester State Theatre spring musical

Quaboag Current Page 15

Roan Testa performs in Worcester State’s Spring Musical

Quaboag Current Page 3

Evan Couture performs in Orchestra Pit at WSU

Theatre Professor Adam Zahler recognized for extraordinary service

Photo Credit: Matt Wright

无忧短视频 President Barry Maloney presents extraordinary service award to VPA Theatre Professor Adam Zahler

Why study Visual & Performing Arts at Worcester State?

As a student of Visual & Performing arts, you will experience the joy of belonging to a tight-knit, collaborative creative community鈥揳nd witness your own practice evolve
  • Costume Design for Theatre
  • Design
  • Cross-Media
  • Driftwood to Dumpsters
  • Modern Art
  • Directing
  • Music of the Cinema
  • 厂肠耻濒辫迟耻谤别听
  • Composition
  • Gallery and Museum Studies
  • Jazz Ensemble
  • Worcester State Chorale
  • Computers and Music
  • African Drumming
  • Visual Arts in the Schools
  • Printmaking

At Worcester State, there's a whole world of creative spaces and resources at your fingertips. Some examples include:

See the diverse career paths that a degree in the Visual & Performing Arts can prepare you for.

Explore a wide range of rewarding professional opportunities with your VPA degree from Worcester State.

Wardrobe
Music Director
Artist
Set or Exhibit Designer
Graphic Designer
Actor
Art Director
Arts Educator
Arts Administrator
Costume Designer
Lighting Technician
Museum Director/Curator/Docent
Music Composer
Musician
Sound Engineer
Stage Manager

Where will your Worcester State Visual & Performing Arts degree take you?

Bellalorraine Carey-Hicks, English & Theatre Student at Worcester State
I feel like I get a lot more out of my English degree through my Theater degree. They are two very different ways of looking at texts, but between the two of them, you end up with a more in-depth experience.
— Bellalorraine Carey-Hicks, Theatre
Portrait of VPA student at Worcester State Emily-Cawley
My Senior Capstone art project on dog breed discrimination allowed me to use my art not simply for enjoyment but to challenge a topic that is near and dear to my heart. After graduation, I want to make art that forces people to think about the world around them and inspire them to change their perspective.
— Emily Cawley, Visual Art
Ziliang Jin performs with Worcester State VPA's guitar ensemble at the Spring 2022 Mosaic of Music
Private lessons and improvisation classes gave me the opportunity to build up tunes of my own personal style. I had the opportunity to participate in multiple ensembles - Chamber Orchestra, WSU Jazz, African Drumming, and the Guitar Ensemble. I had so many great memories with professors and friends.
— Ziliang Jin, Music
Worcester State students Brighid Campbell and Angel Sotomayor perform in "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead" theatre production in Spring 2022
The health of a community can be seen in the vitality of its arts community. Even during the most isolating times in the pandemic, faculty, students, and staff in the Department of Visual and Performing Arts worked tirelessly to bring dearly needed creative expression and performance to the university community and the community at large.
— Russ Pottle, Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences
无忧短视频 chorale members return to in-person performance in Sullivan Auditorium during the Spring 2022 Semester
Now, with programming expanded through new majors in Art and Theatre and a new scope of possibilities in Music, the department has so much more to offer students in their educational experiences and to offer to our university and larger communities. I鈥檓 really looking forward to seeing how things develop over the next years.
— Russ Pottle, Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Christine Begin '13, owner of Christine's Creative Co, a local children's and family entertainment company
VPA at Worcester State helped me to explore, develop, and express my creative talents in all areas of the arts. Each concentration directly influenced my decision to create this business. I am thankful for each of the classes and, of course, the performances!
— Christine Begin '13, owner of Christine's Creative Co, a local children's and family entertainment company

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Sam O’Connell

Department Chair, Visual and Performing Arts
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Name not found

Carlos Odria

Assistant Professor of Music and Interdisciplinary Arts

Carlos Odria, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Music and Interdisciplinary Arts in WSU鈥檚 Visual and Performing Arts Department. In this role, Odria offers WSU students his expertise in modern guitar performance, world music, jazz, and [...]

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Name not found

Kim Carrell

Lecturer

Actor/director/fight choreographer with 30 years experience in theatre, film, and television. [...]

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Contact Visual & Performing Arts
Learning Resource Center
Suite LRC-325
VPA@worcester.edu
508-929-8145