The 2021 USD Arts Festival

This new showcase gives talented student a powerful voice

Mei Flory / Assistant Arts and Culture Editor / The USD Vista

As September ends, it’s time to look forward to some exciting events happening right on campus. Aside from the Torero sports games, Halloween festivities and special Student Life Pavilion (SLP) dinners, the USD arts departments are introducing a brand new event: the USD Homecoming Arts Festival.  

The Arts Festival will be located in the Camino/Founders Courtyard on Saturday, Oct. 16 from 9 a.m.  to 12 p.m.  This event will occur toward the end of the USD Homecoming and Family Week, which will take place from Tuesday, Oct. 12 through Sunday, Oct. 17. 

What makes the Arts Festival so special is how the collaborative event features creative work from USD students across  various arts departments. 

Students majoring in music, theater, visual arts, architecture and art history, communication studies and english all get the chance to share their work to the public. Over a hundred students across all classes are participating, which will make this a must-see event.

A huge component of this event is the Music Department. From the Choral Scholars to the Pep Band and Concert Choir, each and every music organization is preparing to give their best performance at the Arts festival.  

Dr. Emilie Amrein, DMA, conducts both the USD Concert Choir and Choral Scholars. In addition to that, she is also the Department Chair for Music and Director of Choral activities. For Dr. Amrein, this event is incredibly important to the arts departments at USD who doesn’t always receive the attention it deserves.

“The purpose of the Arts Festival is to celebrate our return to Camino and the Sacred Heart Halls, which are what the Dean is calling the new Arts District,” Dr. Amrein explained. 

She also hopes this event will “increase visibility for the arts on campus and build a narrative around USD as a creative campus.”

Donovan Alcones, a USD junior and music major, is also excited about performing on campus for students and faculty alike. 

He’s looking forward to seeing what other creatives from different departments chose to perform, especially since some students have spent their whole lives honing their skills. 

“Music is important to me because it’s a creative outlet. It’s important that we emphasize the arts here at USD because art is for everyone, no matter what your major is. Art, whether it be performance, graphic, visual, etc. is essential to who we are as human beings; ‘survival is insufficient,’” Alcones clarified. Alcones hopes the Arts Festival will encourage more students to attend other arts-related events. 

Alcones elaborated, “I also hope that the emphasis of art at USD will encourage people to join the USD Pep Band and/or Drumline. Bands and Drumlines are often one of the prides of a university, but we don’t have that just yet…That would be a great opportunity for musicians to show some USD pride!”

Equally as important as showcasing talent is the fact that for several music and arts students, this is their first major in-person event on campus — and they get to actively participate in it. 

USD freshman, Emily Mendel, has never experienced anything like the Arts Festival. This year will be her first time attending a major USD music event, and she will be performing as part of the drum line, pep band and wind ensemble. 

“I am most excited to hear the other ensembles perform! Outside of band, I haven’t been able to explore other parts of the department yet, so it’ll be the perfect time to do so,” Mendel said. 

Mendel’s experience in the music program at USD also encouraged her to participate in the Arts Festival.

“So far it’s been great. All of the students and professors that I’ve met have been so kind and welcoming, and I can tell that the department works hard to provide its students with a great experience” Mendel noted. “Music is such a huge part of my life, so I’m glad that I found this community.”

In addition to the music and theater department performances, english and communication studies majors will share their creative writing, such as poetry, prose and other artistic forms of literature. 

Visual arts students will also get the chance to showcase their major art projects in a public space for everyone to admire. 

Attending the Arts Festival not only brings an abundance of positive attention to the arts departments, but it also allows the USD community to support their fellow Toreros. 

Come to the Camino/Founders Courtyard on Oct. 16 to share some school spirit and appreciate the arts.