Fades to blue with Brandeis logo in white on top, and white text reads:
“Brandeis University Creative Arts”
Title: “Celebrating the Class of 2021”
Transition to Charles McClendon in front of a blue background, dressed in regalia.
McClendon speaks:
Welcome. My name is Charles McClendon, and I'm the Head of the Division of Creative Arts at Brandeis University. It is my pleasure to welcome you to this joyous occasion to celebrate the graduation of a truly remarkable group of students, majoring in the division of creative arts, which comprises the Departments of Fine Arts, Music, and Theater Arts respectively. Joining us as well today for the first time, our students in the program of Film, Television, and Interactive Media. The creative arts comprise the heart and soul of a liberal arts education, and our students participate in and study artistic creativity as a vital aspect of the human condition in order to become engaged citizens who are prepared to contribute to a complex multi-cultural society. We will be able to see and hear some examples of this creativity and engagement through some pre-recorded student performances and examples of student work that will be interspersed among the readings of the names of the students according to their department or program.
By the way, just before this ceremony began, you may have seen the slideshow of students in the creative arts performing, practicing, and making merry. If you missed any or all of it, the slideshow will be shown again at the end of this event along with an original jazz composition by Robert Nieske, a faculty member of the Department of Music and performed by the Brandeis Jazz Ensemble. This has been a very difficult year for everyone to say the least. But it has made working in the inherently collaborative nature of the creative arts especially challenging. But you made it through with amazing persistence, dexterity, and aplomb. Congratulations to you all. I also want to take a moment for us to recognize the essential contributions, the love, and support provided by the families of the students we honor today. I ask you to join me in a round of applause for the family members of these remarkable students.
McClendon applauds, then continues:
Now to the business at hand, please feel free to use the chat mode to express your enthusiasm for individual graduating students. But if you wish to unmute and give a shout-out, please do so very briefly. I can assure you that we will also have time at the end of this ceremony to express our appreciation together with rousing applause. Without further ado, I am pleased to introduce Professor Alice Kelikian, chair of the program of film, television and interactive media, who will first introduce a short student film and then read the names of students graduating in the program. Alice.
Transitions to Alice Kelikian in front of a large bookshelf, dressed in regalia.
Kelikian speaks:
Thank you, Charles. I chair the program and film and television, interactive media, which I'll refer to events forward as FTIM. Our program epitomizes the concept of study and studio that Leonard Bernstein first introduced to this university. In that vein, I want to begin today’s celebration by introducing the seniors who received the Margaret Scheinman Prize and Film awards generously endowed by a member of the class of '84 to honor his mother, a dedicated cinephile. Casey Schreier in the Short Film category. Mendel Weintraub in the screenplay category. Yao Wen, whose sci-fi video “Character-design Inc.” I'm delighted to present to you now.
Student film begins:
Aerial view of a city glowing with neon lights and advertisements. Music plays in the background. Voice-over in Mandarin speaks, subtitles read: “Welcome to Character-design Inc. Implanting the perfect character for you and your loved ones.”
Transition to the Character-design Inc. reception area. The receptionist is standing at a desk, behind her is a wall with white text in Mandarin, and below that in English, it reads: “Character-Design Inc.”
Transition back to the aerial view of the city. Music intensifies.
Transition to a woman sitting in the driver’s seat of a car. A robotic voice from her car console speaks:
“Welcome back, Ann.”
Transition back to the receptionist with an eerie smile.
Transition to a lab room. A woman dressed in a patient gown has a technological apparatus covering her eyes. A man with a clipboard speaks. “Miss Lee, I’m now implanting the 10-years ‘Sport-Lover’ character for you. We will send an agent to wake you up when your service is expired.”
The man holds a card up to the woman and says, “This is the wake-up card. It will wake you up from the character.”
Transition back to Ann in her car. She is shuffling a ‘wake-up’ card in her hand. The car console says, “Please see WU for your next mission.”
Transition to title screen, it reads: “Character-design Inc. Directed and written by Yao Wen.” Car engine starts, and the car console continues, “Heading to Character-design incorporated.”
Transition back to Character-design Inc. reception area. Ann walks up to the desk and waves her hand over a glowing cube. A virtual voice speaks, “Welcome back, Agent Ann.”
The receptionist says to Ann, “WU is waiting for you at the operation room.”
Transition back to the man with the clipboard, WU. He leaves the room with a collection of discs. WU and Ann bump into each other on the stairs. Their belongings fall and he picks them up. He hands a disc to Ann. WU says, “Here’s this week’s clients with expiring characters. They all bought a character for their family members. Please wake them up as soon as possible.”
Transition back to the reception area. WU and Ann see an angry woman yelling at the receptionist. They watch the situation from a distance. The woman yells, “How dare you wake my son up at this period of time? He needs to pass the college entrance exam this year!”
WU says to Ann, “More and more clients resist to wake up now. You need to be careful during missions.” Ann replies, “I will.” WU continues, “So the black coat is trending this year?”
Ann gives him a puzzled look. Then they look back at the angry woman, she yells, “He is used to living with the convenience. You can’t take it from him!” A security guard appears to take the angry woman away.
Ann says to WU, “How does the front desk survive all these years?” WU replies, “They implied the 10-years ‘Dedicated-Worker’ in her for free.”
Ann returns to her car and inserts a disc into the console. The console speaks, “Scanning. Service Type: Purchased for Others. Unknown client name. Incomplete contact number. Incomplete date of birth. Address: 41 Walnut St.”
Music plays in the background. The console continues, “Heading to 41 Walnut St.”
Transition to top-down view of the city streets.
Transition to Ann at her destination. She taps a computer screen on the door and says, “Good evening! The community service center sent me to check your air-purification system.” The door opens and Ann enters.
Transition to Ann walking into a room. There is a dining table and family pictures on the wall. Ann stops to look at one. Then a voice from another room speaks, “In here.”
Ann enters a home office room with an old man in a wheelchair. She says, “Good evening! We’ve detected the disfunction of the air-purification system in this house. It would be extremely bad for your health.”
The old man replies, “Are you sure? I don’t feel any differences. Air in my house is still…” Ann shows the old man a wake-up card, counts down from three, and snaps her fingers. The old man gives her a puzzled stare. Ann shakes the card, then puts it away. She says, “Sorry, there must be some mistakes.”
The old man says, “Ten years just passed in a blink! Time flies!” Ann says, “Hello, sir. Now I have successfully woke you up from the character implanted into you ten years ago. Since there are missing information in your profile. Could you please help me to record your name, age, and the type of character you had?”
The old man swats a device out of Ann’s hands and says, “I spent all my money on this! If you are done, just leave!” Ann bends down to retrieve her device, and she sees child’s drawings on the wall. Then she says, “So you purchased the character for yourself?” The old man replies, “That’s none of your damn business!”
Ann subtly nods then says, “Such an interesting painting over there.” The old man replies, “I have a talented son, so what?” Ann leans over his desk and says, “Your profile says the client purchased the character of his family. Who is it?” A voice from another room speaks, “Dad!”
WU enters the home. He continues, “I’m home. I will make you bone broth for dinner.” Ann tries to leave the home office to see who entered, but the old man stops her and says, “Wait until my son goes into the kitchen. He doesn’t know anything about this. I don’t want him to bump into you.”
Ann replies, “I am not gonna leave until I complete my mission. It is my duty to wake up clients from expiring characters.” The old man replies, “Please don’t go out! I need his ‘good-kid’ character! He’d never come home to take care of me without this character. Just give me a few more months! I only got a few more months. I’m getting sicker, and I need him.” From another room, WU says, “Dad, where are you?” The old man says to Ann, “Please don’t wake him up. Just for a few more months.”
Ann leaves and returns to her car. She inserts the disc into the console again. The console displays a message asking if she would like to delete the profile. A man and his young boy walk by the car. Ann overhears the boy say, “Dad, when I have enough money, I will buy you a character that lets you buy me toys everyday.”
Ann sits in her car and thinks. Music plays in the background. Then she puts a phone to her ear and says, “I am outside you house. I need to talk with you about a client. Can you come out for a second?”
WU enters the passenger seat and says, “What’s wrong? I was just about to cook for…” Ann shows WU a wake-up card, counts down from three, and snaps her fingers. WU replies: “Are you waking me up?” Ann displays a puzzled look.
WU looks at the disc and says, “Oh gosh, I gave you the wrong disc. This is the red one. It only has profiles of unimplemented clients.” Ann sits for a short moment of confusion then WU continues, “Okay, I’m gonna head back. My dad needs to eat on time.”
WU leaves the car and walks back to his front door where the old man is wheeling himself out. WU says, “Dad! What are you doing out in the bad air? Let’s go back.”
Transition to aerial view of the city. Robotic voice over speaks, “You got a new mission.”
Transition to credits:
Director/producer - Yao Wen
Director of photography - Patrick Zhou
Production Design - Yao Wen
Editing/special effects - Yao Wen Music composition - Norman Luo
End of student film.
Transition back to Alice Kelikian.
Kelikian speaks:
Thank you. I am honored to introduce to you the 11th Graduating Class of FTIM at Brandeis University. But first, I also want to thank the families. To the students we will miss you. Please stay in touch with your professors, don't become strangers. Congratulations and Godspeed. I present the members of the class of 2021 in Film.
Samuel Isaac Ades, Bachelor of Arts Cum Laude, with majors in FTIM, Politics and History.
Isabel Banda, Bachelor of Arts Cum Laude, with majors in FTIM, Sociology and International and Global Studies.
Alexander Evans Bender, Bachelor of Arts, Cum Laude, with majors in FTIM and Economics in a minor in business.
Charles Ellison Blumberg with a Bachelor of Arts in FTIM.
Qiyu Chen, Bachelor of Arts, Cum Laude, with majors in Film, Television, and Interactive Media and Mathematics.
Kwesi Jones, Bachelor of Arts, Summa Cum Laude, with majors in FTIM in African and African American Studies with highest honors. He is awarded the W.E.B. Du Bois Award for academic achievement in African and African American studies. The Doris Brewer Cohen Endowment Award, and he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa.
Sophie Madeline Lee, Bachelor of Arts Cum Laude with high honors in FTIM, and minors in Theater Arts and English.
Michael K. Leung, Bachelor of Science Cum Laude with majors in FTIM and Computer Science and a minor in East Asian Studies.
Chenhong Lu, Bachelor of Arts with majors in FTIM and Psychology and a minor in English.
Rachel Kaitlyn McAllister, with a Bachelor of Arts in FTIM and a minor in Economics.
Emily Miriam Pollack, Bachelor of Arts Cum Laude with two majors, FTIM in English and a minor in Theater Arts, and elected to Phi Beta Kappa.
Richard Solomon Selznick, with a Bachelor of Arts in FTIM, a minor in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies, and a member of the Brandeis Swim Team.
Weiran Shang, Bachelor of Arts Summa Cum Laude with highest honors in FTIM, and a minor in Creative Writing.
Anderson Stinson III, Bachelor of Arts Magna Cum Laude, with a major in FTIM with high honors and Theater Arts with high honors. He is a recipient of the Roy K. Stevens' class of 68 Prize in Theater Arts.
Yuechen Ta, Bachelor of Arts Magna Cum Laude, with majors in FTIM and Business, and a minor in Theater Arts.
Julia Ellen Vinyard, Bachelor of Arts Cum Laude with a major in FTIM, and in English with honors and a minor in Economics.
Carl Cactus Warmuth, Bachelor of Arts Magna Cum Laude with highest honors in FTIM, and a minor in English.
Mendel Nissim Weintraub, Bachelor of Arts Summa Cum Laude, with a majors in FTIM with highest honors, in Creative Writing with highest honors, and a minor in English. He is a recipient of the Margaret Scheinman Prize in Film Screenwriting, and he has also been elected to Phi Beta Kappa.
Yao Wen, whose film we just saw, Bachelor of Arts Magna Cum Laude, with majors in FTIM and Studio Art and she is the winner of The Celia Epstein Barron Award in Fine Arts and also a recipient of the Margaret Scheinman Prize in Film Production.
Seth Isaac Wulf, Bachelor of Arts Summa Cum Laude, with majors in Film, Television and Interactive Media, and also American Studies with high honors. His minor is in Theater Arts.
Justin Anthony Cates who received a Bachelor of Arts in Critical Theory and Media Studies, but was my advisee and almost an FTIM major.
Claire M. Ogden, Bachelor of Arts Summa Cum Laude in Media, Culture, and Communication, and Anthropology with highest honors. She is the winner of the Betty and Harry S. Shapiro Endowed Award in Anthropology.
Again, Godspeed. Thank you very much. Congratulations.
Transition to Susan Lichtman.
Lichtman speaks:
Hi, I am Susan Lichtman and I am co-chair of the Studio Half of the Department of Fine Arts. Our senior studio arts majors and minors all take a full year course called Senior Studio. This year, we were thrilled to allow our students to work with masks and distance in person in the beautiful Epstein studios on campus. This course usually culminates with a large exhibition and during a normal commencement weekend, you would be able to see all the seniors' work in the Dreitzer Gallery of the Spingold Theater. This year however, our exhibition is virtual. There is a link in chat to a web page where you can see one work per each senior, major and minor.
I just would like, you class of ‘21 artists; I'd just like to say, you have so much amazing work. You've been so productive. Please share more of your own work with your families. Maybe some of you have already unpacked this year's paintings and sculptures, prints and photos. Maybe you've shown them your videos. Hopefully these things will have found a new home with new admirers. Very proud of you all for all the work you've done. I'll now hand things over to my co-chair in Art History, Peter Kalb.
Transition to Peter Kalb in front of a large bookshelf, dressed in regalia.
Kalb speaks:
Hello. I'm Peter Kalb. I am from the history side of the Fine Arts department, I'm co-chair with Susan and I'm delighted to be able to congratulate you all and to read the names of the graduates in art history and we have some IIMs as well, independent majors. The recipients for the Bachelors of Arts in Art History are:
Austin Minh Au, with a Bachelor of Arts in Art History.
Sarah Fern Halpern with a Bachelor of Arts in Art History and Business.
Huiyan Hao, a Bachelor of Arts in Art History, Economics, and International and Global Studies.
Qiang Hu with a Bachelor of Arts Magna Cum Laude in Art History and in Philosophy. Qiang is also the recipient of the Rosalind W. Levine Prize in Fine Arts.
Joseph Alexandre Michel Roupinian Marceau graduating with Bachelor of Arts Magna Cum Laude in Art History and Classical Studies. Joseph is the recipient of the Rosalind W. Levine Prize in Fine Arts and the Esther Goldman Prize for Excellence in Classical Art, Archaeology, and Ancient History.
Abigail Phyllis Goodman Miranker with a Bachelor of Arts Magna Cum Laude in Art History and Latin American and Latino Studies with high honors in Art History.
Our recipient for an independent interdisciplinary degree is Andreas George Manos, with a Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Studies. Andreas is the recipient of the Herbert and Sandra Fisher class of 1956 Award for Exceptional Achievement in the Creative Arts
Congratulations to the graduates. I will hand this back to Susan to name the recipients of the Bachelors of Arts in Studio Art.
Transition to Susan Lichtman.
Lichtman speaks:
Emma Penina Belkin, Bachelor of Arts Magna Cum Laude. Majors in Studio Art and Psychology
Brian Frankel, Bachelor of Arts with majors in Studio Art and Sociology.
Zoe L. Gale, Bachelor of Arts Cum Laude, majors in Studio Art with honors and another major in Environmental Studies. She's a minor in Art History and she won the Poses Institute prize for dedication to the Arts.
Anna Beatriz Wai-Yan Ginsberg, Bachelor of Arts Summa Cum laude. Majors in Studio Art with high honors and Environmental Studies, and she's the winner of the Mitchell Siporin Memorial prize.
Mary Freya Kagan-Garcia, Bachelor of Arts Cum Laude with majors in Studio Art and Anthropology.
Sarah Renee Lavin, Bachelor of Arts Cum Laude. Majors in Studio Art with honors, and another major in psychology. She's also been awarded the Poses Institute prize for dedication to the Arts.
Yuhan Li, Bachelor of Arts Magna Cum Laude. Majors in Studio Art and International and Global Studies. She's the winner of the Deborah Josepha Cohen '62 Endowed Fine Arts Award.
Gabrielle Sophia Loeff, Bachelor of Arts Cum Laude with majors in Studio Art and Business.
John Lurie Lombardi, Bachelor of Arts Cum Laude. Majors in Studio Art and Business, and he's been awarded the Herbert and Sandra Fisher Award for exceptional achievement in the Creative Arts.
Noah Leeman McNerney, Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art. He's won the Deborah Josepha Cohen '62 Endowed Fine Arts Award.
Joseph Baruch Nissenbaum, Bachelor of Science Cum Laude with majors in Studio Art and Computer Science. Also minors in Business, Hispanic studies, and Mathematics, and he’s won the Deborah Josepha Cohen Endowed Fine Arts Award.
Quayshaun Owens-Figueroa, Bachelor of Arts. Majors in Studio Art with highest honors, Multimedia Arts and Culture as well.
Yao Wen, Bachelor of Arts Magna Cum Laude. Majors in Studio Art and FTIM. Prizes: she won the Celia Epstein Barron Award in Fine Arts and the Margaret Scheinman Prize in Film Production for her fabulous film that we just saw.
Yuchen Xu, Bachelor of Science Cum Laude with majors in Studio Art and Computer Science.
Carolyn Dong Juan Brazil, Bachelor of Arts Magna Cum Laude with majors in Art History and Studio Art.
Marissa Lucille Small, Bachelor of Arts with majors in Art History and Studio Art and Biology and Society.
Xiao Wei, Bachelor of Arts Magna Cum Laude with majors in Art History, Studio Art and Economics, and a minor in Mathematics. She's won the Paul Caine Memorial Award and the Herbert and Sandra Fisher Award for exceptional achievement in the Creative Arts.
Congratulations to you all and please do keep in touch. We will now move on to the music department or Theatre Arts.
Transition to Mark Berger in front of a piano.
Berger speaks:
Hello, everyone. I'm Mark Berger, Associate Professor of the Practice in the music department and violist of the Lydian string quartet. I'm very happy to introduce our musical interlude featuring two of our talented students: Freshman cellist Nick Liu, and graduating senior pianist and music major Aaron Newitt, who is also this year's recipient of the Phyllis and Lee Coffey award in music. Nick and Aaron work together in this semester's chamber music class and will now perform the beautiful lyrical Andante third movement of Sergei Rachmaninoff Cello Sonata, Op. 19. Enjoy.
Transition to Liu and Newitt performing from the stage of Slosberg Recital Hall.
Transition to Karen Desmond in front of a bookshelf, dressed in regalia.
Desmond speaks:
Hello everyone. I'm Karen Desmond, Associate Professor of Music and Chair of the Department of Music. I'm delighted to be able to read the names of the recipients of the undergraduate degrees in music.
Rina Abigail Cohen, Bachelor of Arts in Music and Minor in Psychology. Congratulations, Rina.
Eliana Mae Ellenberger, Bachelor of Science, Cum Laude, Majors in Music with honors and Neuroscience with high honors and a Minor in Medieval and Renaissance Studies. Congratulations, Eliana.
David Joseph Girardin, Bachelor of Arts, Summa Cum Laude, with highest honors in Music, a Minor in Business. David is the recipient of the Reiner Prize in Music Composition and the Herbert and Sandra Fisher class of 1956 Award for Exceptional Achievement in the Creative Arts. Congratulations, David.
Charlee Nadine Gordon, Bachelor of Arts, Cum Laude, Majors in Music and Psychology. Charlee is the recipient of the David A Greene, MD class of '71 Memorial Prize in Music. Congratulations, Charlee.
Neeti S. Kulkarni, Bachelor of Arts, Summa Cum Laude, Majors in Music with highest honors, and Economics with high honors, Minor in French and Francophone studies. Neeti is the recipient of the Rosalie L Warren Award in Music, and the Sidney S Cohen Award in Economics. Congratulations, Neeti.
Aaron Luke Newitt, Bachelor of Arts, Summa Cum Laude, Majors in Music with highest honors and Hispanic studies. Aaron is the recipient of the Phyllis and Lee Coffey Award in Music. Jane’s Essay Prize in Latin American Studies, the Eli D. and Mollie Goodstein Prize in Spanish, and the Dorothy Blumenfeld Moyer Memorial Award. Congratulations, Aaron.
Adam Ray Rifkin, Bachelor of Arts, Cum Laude, Majors in Music and Psychology, and a Minor in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies. Congratulations, Adam.
Leah Ray Sagan-Dworsky, Bachelor of Arts, Summa Cum Laude, Majors in Music with highest honors, and the Italian Studies with high honors. Minors In Creativity the Arts and Social Transformation, and African and African-American studies. Leah is the recipient of the Herbert and Sandra Fisher 1956 Award for Exceptional Achievement in the Creative Arts and The Turock Family Prize in Italian Studies. Congratulations, Leah.
Congratulations to all of our undergraduate recipients in music. The faculty are extremely proud of the music and the writings on music that you’ve created this year. Now, Emily Frye will read the graduate recipients.
Transition to Emily Frye in front of the fireplace, dressed in regalia.
Frye speaks:
I'm Emily Frye, Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Graduate Studies. I am thrilled to read the names of the recipients of Masters and Doctorate degrees in Musicology, and music composition and theory.
Hannah Bernadette Serafino, Master of Arts in Musicology. Hannah's thesis is entitled: “A Reception History of La Traviata in England in 1856.”
Drew Michael Daniels-Rosenberg, Master of Fine Arts in Musicology. Drew's thesis is entitled: “I am the Light of the World, the legacy of Reverend Gary Davis' musical life.”
James Christopher Hazelwood-Dale, Master of Fine Arts in Musicology. James will be continuing on in our PhD program.
Zen Tadashi Kuriyama, Master of Fine Arts in Musicology. Zen will be continuing on in our PhD program as well.
Thomas David Little, Master of Fine Arts in Music Composition and Theory. Thomas’s thesis is entitled: “Breaks and Structured Time: Acts I and II.”
Now for the PhD recipients. Jacques Pierre Dupuis, Doctor of Philosophy in Musicology. Jacques's dissertation is entitled: “Melodrama, Liederspiel and Revolution, Robert Schumann's Domestication of Theater after 1848.” Jacques is the recipient of the Herbert and Sandra Fisher '56 Award for Exceptional Ability in the Creative Arts.
Gleb Kanasevich, Doctor of Philosophy in Music Composition and Theory. Gleb's dissertation is entitled: “After the Genesis: Formation of Identity Through Self-Borrowing and Alternative Musical Forms,” and an original composition entitled: "Found Objects.”
Todd Kitchen, Doctor of Philosophy in Music Composition and Theory. Todd's dissertation is entitled: "Time to Hear: Perforation and Perfection in Klaus Lang’s, "der dunne wal," and a set of original composition entitled: "Soprasymmetry I and II for Chamber Ensembles and Soprano.”
Congratulations to all of our masters and PhD recipients. We are so proud of all of you. Next up to introduce our next student performance here is Adjunct Associate Professor of the Practice of Theater Arts, Nancy Armstrong.
Transition to Nancy Armstrong.
Armstrong speaks:
It is with such joy, delight and honor that I introduce Casey Schryer, who will sing for her class, "Our Time," from Stephen Sondheim's Merrily We Roll Along. To all our graduates, I wish you much success and fulfillment with everything you seek to do. Congratulations.
Transition to Casey Schryer performing from a room in her home.
Schryer sings:
“Something is stirring, shifting ground. It's just begun.
Edges are blurring, all around
And yesterday is done.
Feel the flow, hear what's happening.
We're what's happening.
Don't you know, we're the movers and we're the shapers.
We're the names in tomorrow's papers.
Up to us man, to show ‘em.
It's our time
Breathe it in.
Worlds to change, and worlds to win.
Our turn, coming through.
Me and you man, me and you.
Feel how it quivers, on the brink
Everything.
Gives you the shivers, makes you think
There's so much stuff to sing.
And you and me, we'll be singing it like the birds.
Me with music and you the words
Tell 'em things they don't know.
Up to us pal, to show ‘em.
Our time, breathe it in.
Worlds to change, and worlds to win.
Our turn, we're what's new.
Me and you pal, me and you.
Feel the flow.
Hear what's happening.
We're what's happening.
Long ago, all we had was that funny feeling
Saying someday we'd send them reeling.
Now it looks like we can.
Someday just began.
It's our heads on the block.
Give us room, and start the clock.
Our time, coming through
Me and you pal, me and you.
Me and you.
Me and you.
Me and you.
Me and you.”
Transition to Cameron Anderson.
Anderson speaks:
I’m Associate Professor Cameron Anderson, and I am honored and delighted to present the graduating seniors of 2021 in Theater Arts.
Casey Jacqueline Bachman, Bachelor of Arts Summa Cum Laude, with majors in Theater Arts, with high honors in History. Casey is also the recipient of the Theater Arts Outstanding Student Collaborator Award.
Geraldine Marie Alexandrine Bogard, Bachelor of Arts, majors in Theater Arts and Education Studies with a minor in Business. She is a recipient of the Theater Arts Outstanding Student Collaborator Award.
Lauren Komer, Bachelor of Arts Summa Cum Laude with highest honors in Theater Arts. She is the recipient of the Herbert and Sandra Fisher '56 Award for Exceptional Achievement in Creative Arts, and the Harold and Mimi Steinberg Prize for Best Original Play.
Renata Jane Leighton, Bachelor of Arts Summa Cum Laude, majors in Theater Arts with highest honors in Environmental Studies, and a minor in Creativity, the Arts and Social Transformation. She is the recipient of the Herbert and Sandra Fisher '56 Award for Exceptional Achievement in the Creative Arts, and the Harold and Mimi Steinberg Prize for Best Original Play.
Shannon Dorothy Livingstone, Bachelor of Arts in Theater Arts, and a minor in Business.
Amy Elizabeth Ollove, Bachelor of Arts Summa Cum Laude with highest honors in Theater Arts and a minor in Psychology. She is the recipient of the John Edward-Hill Memorial Prize and the Herbert and Sandra Fisher ’56 Award for Exceptional Achievement in the Creative Arts.
Blake Ashley Rosen, Bachelor of Arts in Theater Arts with a minor in Creative Writing.
Nathan Maxwell Rtishchev, Bachelor of Arts Cum Laude, with majors in Theater Arts, with highest honors in Russian Studies. Nathan is the recipient of the Harold and Mimi Steinberg Prize for Best Original Play, and the Dr. Eberhard Frey Prize.
Casey Schryer, Bachelor of Arts Magna Cum Laude with majors in Theater Arts and Anthropology, and a minor in Classical Studies. Casey is a recipient of the Margaret Scheinman Prize in Film Production.
Anderson Stinson III, Bachelor of Arts Magna Cum Laude, with majors in Theater Arts with high honors, and in Film, Television, and Interactive Media with high honors. Anderson is the recipient of the Roy K, Stevens ’68 Prize in Theater Arts.
Eliana Lily Weiss, Bachelor of Arts Magna Cum Laude in Theater Arts.
Lin Xinbei, Bachelor of Arts Magna Cum Laude, majors in Theater Arts with high honors in Anthropology. Xinbei is the recipient of the Theater Arts Outstanding Student Collaborator Award.
On behalf of the faculty, we are so proud of this group of wonderful, intelligent, beautiful, amazing artists. Congratulations. I will now pass it back to Charles for some closing remarks.
Transitions to Charles McClendon in front of a blue background, dressed in regalia.
McClendon speaks:
Thank you, Cameron. What an amazing group of students. I ask my colleagues to unmute
themselves and let us have a rousing round of applause for this remarkable, remarkable group.
McClendon and other professors applaud and cheer. McClendon continues:
You make us proud indeed. We are honored and privileged to have had the opportunity to work with each and every one of you. We look forward to learning about your many future accomplishments. Please do stay in touch. We will miss you. To conclude these proceedings, it seems only fitting that we hear and if you wish sing along to the Brandeis Alma mater, as performed by the Brandeis Chamber Singers, university chorus, and alumni under the direction of Professor Robert Duff, followed again by the slideshow of our wonderful students. Congratulations to the Class of 2021.
Transition to a slide with the Brandeis University Logo. Screen text says “Commencement 2021”, “Alma Mater”, “Performed by the Brandeis Chamber Singers, University Chorus, and Alumni”, “Robert Duff, Conductor.”
Opens to a sweeping view on the Louis Brandeis statue with a springtime campus in foreground surrounded by twenty of the The Brandeis Chamber Singers on Zoom who can be heard singing:
“To thee, Alma Mater.
We'll always be true.”
Singing continues, but the inner video is replaced by more choir singers in the center singing in-person, wearing masks and social distancing. Camera moves towards the right showing more students singing on the right side before zooming in on two of the students and then moving back left.
Music continues:
“All hail to thy standard
the white and the blue.”
Shot zooms out to show the Chamber singers from above. Camera moves around to show other students. Singing:
“Proclaiming thy future,
recalling thy past
our hopes spring from
memories eternally cast.
With sorrows we'll leave thee,
new worlds to create.”
Transitions to an aerial view to show all of the masked, in-person singers, with the zoom singers still framing the inner video.
“May deeds of thy children
make thee forever great.
May deeds of thy children
make thee forever great.”
Transitions to sweeping view of the Louis Brandeis statue in the foreground with trees and the Shapiro Campus Center in the background.
Fades to black.
Series of slides appear with white background and text in Brandeis blue, each with a header on top reading “Brandeis University”, "Brandeis Chamber Singers, University Chorus and Alumni."
Transitions to first slide: Conductor- Robert Duff
Transitions to next slide with the heading “Soprano” and the names spanned across two columns:
Transitions to next slide with the heading “Alto” and the names spanned across two columns:
Transitions to the next slide divided into two columns. First column with heading “Tenor” with names under it:
Second column with heading “Bass” with names under it:
Transitions to the next slide with text that reads: “Filmed and Produced by Brandeis Media Technology Services with special thanks to Brandeis Maker Lab”.
Transitions to the next slide with bold and enlarged text reading “Congratulations Class of 2021!!!”.
Fades to black.
Music performed by the Brandeis Jazz Ensemble begins to play. Transition to slideshow of images from various creative arts events at Brandeis. The first of which features Music student Adam Rifkin, class of 2021, performing in the trombone section of the Brandeis Jazz Ensemble.
Next is a photo of Fine Arts students Sarah Halpern and Natalie Landaverde posing in front of a tall tree by a pond. Next is a photo of Theater Arts student Amy Ollove, class of 2021. The next portrait is of Aaron Newitt, class of 2021, playing the piano with his hands reflected in the instrument’s glossy finish.
Next is another photo of Theater Arts student Amy Ollove dressed in character as an older woman on stage during a theater performance. The next portrait is of FTIM student Carl Cactus Warmuth, posed in front of yellow flowers. This is followed by an image of a string quartet rehearsal with Music students Amy Clark, class of 2019; Tracy Cui, class of 2021; Ellie Kleiman, class of 2021; and Neeti Kulkarni, class of 2021.
The next portrait is of Theater Arts student Casey Bachman, class of 2021. The next image features the Brandeis Chamber Singers in performance on the stage of the Slosberg Recital Hall. This is followed by a photo Theater Arts student Eliana Weiss, class of 2021; who is comically posed in a stack of car tires. The next photo is a collage featuring students from Fafali: Music and Dance from Ghana performing percussion instruments on Zoom. Images of the members of the Dagbe Cultural Centre are on top of the students’ Zoom windows.
The next photo is of a quartet of Theater Arts students, prominently featuring Geraldine Bogard, class of 2021. This is followed by an image of Gleb Kanasevich, PhD class of 2021, performing with Creative Arts Award Recipient Tony Arnold. Next is another photo Amy Ollove, class of 2021, performing on stage in cabaret attire.
The next image features The Brandeis-Wellesley Orchestra performing in Slosberg Recital Hall. This is followed by a portrait of FTIM student Yuechen Ta posed with a peaceful pond in the background. The subsequent image is of a Zoom call with Theater Arts students Nate Rtischev, Casey Bachman, and Renata Leighton; all class of 2021. Each student is dressed up and performing a humorous pose. Next is a photo of the Brandeis Improv collective performing in Slosberg Recital Hall with stylized lighting shining on the organ pipes.
The next photo is of Theater Arts student Casey Schryer, class of 2021, performing in a theater production. The next image is a three by three panel of Zoom windows featuring the members of the Brandeis Wind Ensemble from their Fall 2020 Virtual Performance. This is followed by Theater Arts student Renata Leighton, class of 2021, performing in costume on stage. The subsequent image features a Musicology class in session. Students present are Zen Kuriyama, MFA 2021; James Heazlewood-Dale, MFA 2021; Drew Daniels-Rosenberg, MFA 2021; and PhD students Christina Dioguardi, Daniel Delgado Diaz, Eric Hollander, and Jaques Dupuis.
The next photo is from a theater production, featuring Anderson Stinson III, class of 2021. This is followed by a portrait of FTIM student Richard Selznick posed in front of a piano. The next image is from another theater production featuring Renata Leighton, class of 2021. The subsequent photo is of Eliana Weiss sitting cross-legged on stage. Next is a portrait of FTIM student Alex Bender.
This is followed by a photo from a theater production featuring Geraldine Bogard, class of 2021. Several students are shown in motion on stage, with dark purple lighting in the background.
The slideshow loops until the music comes to a close.
Fades to black.