Learning from the Masters

At Dana Hall, teachers and advisors provide students with the tools and insight to bring their artistic talents to life. This week, the School hosted two masterclasses for music and theater students.

On Sunday, April 10, the School of Music welcomed pianist Evren Orzel to Beveridge Hall. The Wellesley Chambers Players musician performed Debussy’s “Preludes Book II” and Schumann’s “Kreisleriana.” After, he held a masterclass for Music School students B. Miao ’25 and J. Lin ’26. Miao played Chopin’s “Ballade No. 3” and Lin played Mendelssohn’s “Rondo Capriccioso.”

Local acting company Liars & Believers, which includes producer Georgia Lyman ’95, visited Dana Hall on Monday, April 11, to perform “Yellow Bird Chase,” sponsored by the Lucy R. Sprague ’84 Performing Arts Fund. Company director Jason Slavick returned on Thursday, April 14, to hold a masterclass with Advanced Acting students E. Cao ’24, K. Chen ’24, A. Herrera ’22, C. Kuang ’24 and K. Sibley ’24. Slavick worked with them on “To Hold the Mirror Up to Nature,” exploring how devised theater is created.

“Allowing students to experience unique styles of performance and then to go deeper with professionals into how those productions were created is a wonderful glimpse into how art is created outside of the classroom,” said Daniel Morris, director of Theater.