we're here because we're here
Arts
Music
The COVID-19 pandemic posed unique challenges for performance majors in the Bachelors of Music program. We're Here Because We're Here, a senior recital-turned-short film, is the culmination of my western classical voice studies at UC Santa Cruz. Along with preparing music by Handel, Schubert, Fauré, Finzi, and Sondheim, I facilitated multiple collaborations from a breadth of media—including dance, literature, and digital art—to gain greater perspective on this music, inform my interpretations, and challenge the limits of remote collaboration. Themes of connection through isolation, reconciliation on the state of the world, and meditation on the future emerged from both my independent and collaborative work. It was my goal to honor this music and my community at UC Santa Cruz, while providing an honest reflection on how the pandemic has touched me personally. In this vein, I hoped the audience could gain insight and clarity through this project.
