Tag Archive for "College of Performing Arts"

CoPA Theatre Student Launches Nonprofit Dedicated to Empowering Disabled Artists Through participating in CoPA’s Interterm Incubator program, Karli Jean Lonnquist co-creates the Dale’s Studio Theater, committed to creating an inclusive performing arts space.

May 1, 2026 by Sydney Paik | CoPA News

A project born from Chapman University’s College of Performing Arts (CoPA) Interterm Incubator program is already making its way into the professional world. CoPA student Karli Jean Lonnquist (BA Theatre, BA Peace & Justice Studies, ‘26) has partnered with industry professional and Incubator judge Steven Sass to launch Dale’s Studio Theater, a nonprofit dedicated to

Where Music Meets Sport: Chapman Professor Draws Parallels Between Orchestras and Sports Teams Music faculty member Dr. Danko Druško applied his musical expertise to sports psychology with a Swedish dragon boat racing team.

April 16, 2026 by Sydney Paik | CoPA News

Danko Druško, conductor of The Chapman Orchestra and Director of Orchestral Studies at Chapman University’s College of Performing Arts, comes from a rich background in several disciplines, including both the musical arts as well as athletics. Recently, Dr. Druško led a consulting session for a Swedish dragon boat racing team, during which he highlighted the

Chapman Student Dancers share the stage with the Iconic Martha Graham Company Students perform Graham’s Steps in the Street for the dance company’s centennial celebration in a journey of rich history and emotion.

March 17, 2026 by Zoe Braggs | CoPA News

Chapman Dancers have once again received a once-in-a-lifetime performance opportunity through the university’s College of Performing Arts (CoPA). As part of the Marybelle Musco Contemporary Dance Series at the Musco Center for the Arts, 17 dancers graced the Musco Stage with the world-renowned Martha Graham Dance Company after months of rehearsals, diving headfirst into the

CoPA Theatre Student Ruby Mejia’s Segerstrom Internship Experience and Beyond From a Segerstrom Internship to her work with CoPA productions, Ruby has gained the inspiration and skillset to pursue an interdisciplinary career in performing arts education.

March 10, 2026 by Jessie Levasheff | CoPA News

Community engagement is a value that drives Ruby Mejia, a Chapman Theatre and Integrated Educational Studies student in the Class of 2026; it has played a pivotal role in her decisions to pursue her first internship and a career in performing arts education. “It’s so vital to connect with the community through theatre,” Ruby says

From CoPA to Pacific Symphony: How a Music Alum Turned Her Chapman Education Into a Career Cellist and music librarian Kelly Picton brings her passion for her craft together with the skills she developed at CoPA in her work with Orange County’s leading orchestra.

February 18, 2026 by Sydney Paik | CoPA News

We had the chance to speak with 2025 CoPA alum Kelly Picton (BM Cello Performance, Film Music minor), who currently spends her time working for Pacific Symphony in addition to her work as a freelance musician. She shared with us how her experience at Chapman shaped and contributed to the development of her career in

Opera Chapman Receives Prestigious National Awards for 2024–2025 Productions Productions of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Fright Night!, From the Towers of the Moon, and Il sogno di Scipione earn top honors in major national competitions.

December 10, 2025 by Sydney Paik | CoPA News

Congratulations to Opera Chapman for its outstanding achievements in prestigious national competitions across the United States. These honors not only highlight the strength of the program, but also affirm, as Opera Chapman Director Marc Callahan notes, “the care, imagination, and discipline that went into each production—and the collaborative spirit that runs through the Conservatory and

Recent CoPA Graduate Ariya Selvakumar Assists with Center Theatre Group’s Production of American Idiot Ariya Selvakumar's experiences and education at Chapman University have prepared her for diverse career opportunities, from projection design to performance.

November 3, 2025 by Jessie Levasheff | CoPA News

Ariya Selvakumar (BA Theatre, Psychology minor), a Chapman University College of Performing Arts (CoPA) graduate in the class of 2024, continues to display Chapman’s values as she pursues her passions in the performing arts. Recently, Ariya had the opportunity to apprentice and assist with the projection design for Center Theatre Group’s production of Green Day’s

CoPA Alumna Kavita Rao’s Multifaceted Career in the Arts Dancer, choreographer, educator, and entrepreneur, Kavita Rao credits Chapman’s community and curriculum for helping her navigate the ever-changing arts industry.

October 21, 2025 by Zoe Braggs | CoPA News

Alumna Kavita Rao (‘05) studied Dance and Communications with a PR emphasis and continues to use the skills she learned at Chapman University in her career as a professional dancer, choreographer, educator, artistic director, and business owner today. Kavita has experienced many professional evolutions throughout her career. After graduating from Chapman in 2005, she used

Celebrating Faculty Excellence: Music Professor Dr. Nicholas Terry and His Ensembles Receive Prestigious Awards From award-winning projects to new music releases, CoPA faculty continue to make their mark on a national level.

October 20, 2025 by Sydney Paik | CoPA News

The College of Performing Arts is proud to celebrate the recent achievements of Music professor and Director of Percussion Studies Dr. Nicholas Terry, whose leadership in music continues to shine on local and national stages. Brightwork Ensemble, a musical project that Dr. Terry helped establish 12 years ago, is a regular performer at Monk Space,