Voice students and alum compete and take home award at the Patricia Crump Vocal Competition
In October, PSOA hosted the Patricia Crump Vocal Competition for the first time. Among the competition’s 11 finalists were current graduate students Alexandra Smith and Emily Bergeron and alum Kaisa Herrmann (BFA 2019, Music).
The competition honors Patricia Crump, founder of Supporters of Opera Singers (SOS), and celebrates young singers with strong ties to Wisconsin. According to Assistant Professor Aaron Agulay (Area Head, Voice & Opera), the organization has supported artists including alumni Kathryn Henry (BFA 2016, Music) and Lauren Decker (BFA 2012, Music), as well as new faculty member Alisa Jordheim. Agulay helped bring the competition to UWM.
Alexandra Smith was awarded the Encouragement Award, earning a cash prize and ongoing support from the foundation.
Alum paints rainbow crosswalks in Walker’s Point to celebrate inclusivity
UWM alum and popular street artist Jeremy Novy (BFA 2008, Art: Photography) returned to Milwaukee as the artist selected to design and paint rainbow crosswalks in Walker’s Point, honoring the neighborhood’s historical significance to the queer community. Novy’s design also includes koi fish, a familiar motif that the artist has become known for across Milwaukee.
In a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article written by Kelli Arseneau, the Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project’s Michail Takach emphasized the importance of the street art being a symbol of inclusivity. Milwaukee Major Cavalier Johnson echoed the sentiment.
“By bringing the rainbows home, we’re honoring the past while embracing a future where everyone — and I mean that when I say every single person, everybody, everyone, no matter who they are and no matter who they love —feels seen, feels valued and feels safe, right here in this neighborhood and in our city,” the mayor said.
Alum joins Milwaukee Rep Emerging Professional Residency
Peck School of the Arts theatre alum Connor Nekich (BFA 2023) has been selected for the Emerging Professional Residency at Milwaukee Repertory Theater, a highly competitive program that accepts only eight actors each year from more than 200 applicants. Nekich will understudy It’s a Wonderful Life Radio Play and the first regional production of McNeal, and will also appear on stage in the Rep’s 50th anniversary production of A Christmas Carol. Nekich previously studied under Lecturer Jeff Mosser, who directs the residency program.
UWM Chancellor and Dean of the College of the Arts and Architecture speak on ties to the community
UWM Chancellor Thomas Gibson and Dean of the College of the Arts and Architecture, Dr. Winifred Elysse Newman, spoke with WUWM’s David Lee about the relationship between the two schools that comprise the college and the greater Milwaukee community.
Since being appointed Chancellor, Gibson has been on a mission to explore all aspects of UWM. He shares the outcomes of his exploration in the Chancellor’s Report.
“The College of the Arts and Architecture is an exemplar of student success and retention,” Gibson shared. “Both of those schools are a model for retaining students, and I couldn’t be more proud of the work that’s happening there.”
H.M.S. Pinafore is a modern retelling set in Milwaukee, created in collaboration with students
The Peck School of the Arts Department of Theatre is teaming up with Milwaukee Opera Theatre to present a modern retelling of the Gilbert and Sullivan classic, H.M.S. Pinafore. Milwaukee Opera Theatre Artistic Director Jill Anna Ponasik is collaborating with UWM Lecturer Jeffrey Mosser to bring the production to life.
Originally set in the late 1870s, H.M.S. Pinafore explores timeless themes of love, status, and class. This new version reimagines the story in 2025 and relocates the action to Milwaukee, allowing the cast to connect the work directly to their own community.
“For me, the most exciting, delightful aspect of this adaptation is working on a team that includes Jeff Mosser, Dana Rochester, James Zager, and 17 UWM students to devise this together,” Ponasik said. “The collaborative spirit of the project is what gets me out of bed in the morning.”
That collaborative spirit extends directly to the student cast. As young adults living in the 21st century, their perspectives helped ground the adaptation in the realities of today.
“We were asking for their collaboration throughout the entire process,” explained Mosser. “This play wouldn’t have been the same without the collaboration of the actors and their contributions to the play itself”.
Larissa Beckmann
Among the student performers is senior Larissa E. Beckmann, who plays Cousin Hebe. She credits her time at PSOA with shaping her acting process and values how the Milwaukee setting resonates with her.
“I think Milwaukee is a place that I have really grown to love,” Beckmann stated. “To have Milwaukee be the forefront of this production is just so important to me. My time at PSOA has really shaped my process.”
Josh Thone
Senior Josh Thone, also appearing in the production, is preparing not only for H.M.S. Pinafore but for his final performance at UWM’s Mainstage Theatre. He has drawn on his own traits and experiences to shape his character in this new adaptation.
“Audiences will take away inspiration in their own sense of self,” Thone stated. “I want them to be able to sit down in the theatre and just be able to enjoy something that is both new and familiar.”
H.M.S. Pinafore runs Oct 8-12 at the UWM Mainstage Theatre. Tickets and more information are on the PSOA Events Calendar.
Story by Payton Murphy ’27 (BFA Film)
New students share what they look forward to at PSOA
PSOA welcomed incoming and returning students by hosting their annual fall student welcome event, offering a fun afternoon filled with activities like live student performances, photo ops, a networking fair, and free pizza.
The fall welcome event gives incoming students the opportunity to see all that PSOA has to offer and helps them better transition into college life with ample chances to build connections with other students.
“I’m interested in meeting people who have the same interests as me,” said first year animation major Hailey David. “In my hometown there’s not a lot of opportunities for artists. In Milwaukee, there’s more opportunity for me to meet people and grow.”
Every Peck School of the Arts department was represented in the event’s activities. The networking fair hosted community arts organizations, showing how students can get involved with career-building opportunities during their time at UWM and what lies ahead for them after graduation.
“This is my first time studying in an actual city and even just going around the career fair, I see that there’s a lot to look forward to.” said Evan Goodson, who is studying for a graduate certificate in french horn performance.
Centering on a hands-on collaborative approach to learning, many first year students have already found their calling and have begun to build lifelong friendships. That makes the transition to college feel less stressful.
“Everybody has been super positive so far,” said Neeko Ward, a first-year musical theatre major. “It’s been a lot easier than I thought it would be to be honest. I really like the people I’m working with.”
Story by Payton Murphy ’27 (BFA, Film) | Video by Cameron Wise ’25 (BFA, Film)
Door County summer internships give PSOA theatre students professional experience
Several Peck School of the Arts theatre students spent their summer gaining hands-on professional experience in woodsy Door County, a striking contrast to UWM’s urban campus in Wisconsin’s biggest city.
Senior Gabriel Rodriguez interned at Door Shakespeare, a professional theatre company that draws talent from across the country. He served as an acting production intern and teaching artist for Camp Will, a youth performance workshop.
Gabriel Rodriguez
“I started by coming out a week before the other cast members to help the stage management team and the producing manager to set up for the season,” Rodriguez said. “Just getting to engage with the community like that is really lovely.”
Rodriguez applied his PSOA training on stage and behind the scenes, building connections with cast members and helping bring high-quality productions to life.
“I think the most rewarding thing was connecting with the community,” he said. “I’ve been recognized when I’m out in public. It means a lot when I hear someone say ‘Oh, I saw you in that play and you were amazing.’ It always feels great to have connected with a person through your art.”
Junior Sanaa Harper spent her summer at Northern Sky Theater, a professional theatre company nestled in Peninsula State Park. She auditioned for the paid summer position after learning about the opportunity from PSOA professor and dialect coach Raeleen McMillion.
Sanaa Harper
“I was nervous auditioning, but when I got more involved with the company, I started to recognize a lot of familiar faces, some of which are people who I knew as a kid that I got to reconnect with,” Harper said.
Harper balanced performing with backstage duties, from crew training and set building to quick changes and prop management.
“Besides being on stage, I also help run things off stage,” she said. “As an outdoor theatre, we need to quickly change a set. You have to flip a set, bring things on stage and off stage, handle props and quick changes, and so much more.”
Northern Sky Artistic Director Molly Rhode, impressed by PSOA students’ work in last fall’s Bright Star, collaborated with McMillion to identify candidates for the internship program. In addition to Harper, students Owen Foulds and Nathaniel Contreras also earned paid positions at Northern Sky this summer.
Rodriguez, Harper, and their peers returned to campus with valuable professional experience and new connections that will shape their theatre careers.
Payton Murphy ’27 (BFA Film)
AV Club features UWM alum and TikTok influencer’s Spooky Lake Month series
UWM alum Geo Rutherford (MFA 2021, Art) debuts the 2025 edition of her viral TikTok series “Spooky Lake Month.” Each day of October, Rutherford posts a new video about spooky lakes, historical events, a natural phenomenon, educating viewers on a subject that she coins, “haunted hydrology.”
TikTok creator and UWM alum Geo Rutherford reconnects with her alma mater for Artists Now! lecture
Geo Rutherford (MFA 2021, Art) is an artist, author, and TikTok creator with more than 1.8 million followers. She’s best known for her viral series Spooky Lake Month and for using her platform to share stories about the Great Lakes and environmental sustainability.
On October 15, Rutherford will engage with her alma mater as part of the Artists Now! Guest Lecture Series.
Rutherford’s artistic focus on lakes began during her graduate studies at UWM, where she was struck by the proximity of Lake Michigan. Originally from Boulder, Colorado, and Dexter, Michigan, she had never lived so close to one of the Great Lakes before.
“I was suddenly located within seven blocks of a Great Lake and in your master’s program you have to pick a topic to focus on,” Rutherford said. “I decided to go to Bradford Beach every day for 90 days, even if it was in the middle of a blizzard.”
Beaches of Great Lakes | Submitted by Geo Rutherford
Before graduate school, Rutherford spent five years teaching high school art. She credits her decision to pursue an MFA at UWM to a connection she made with Associate Professor Jessica Meuninck-Ganger (Area Head, Printmaking and Book Arts), who shared her background as a high school teacher. Though Rutherford initially worried she wouldn’t fit in, her teaching experience and bond with Meuninck-Ganger gave her confidence.
“My life is truly where it is today because I decided to attend Peck School of the Arts instead of getting my master’s degree anywhere else,” Rutherford said. “After overcoming my imposter syndrome, everything shifted. I feel like without that shift I wouldn’t be where I am right now.”
Her TikTok career began unexpectedly during the pandemic, when a video of one of her graduate projects gained wide attention. From there, she began creating content about the Great Lakes, building a devoted audience. In October 2020, she launched what would become her most popular series, Spooky Lake Month.
“On October first of 2020 I jokingly said that we were going to do a Spooky Lake Month because there’s a lot of weird lakes on Earth and it just performed very well,” Rutherford said. “The series gets even better every year. I have a whole career focused on spooky lakes now, which is hilarious because this was kind of an accident.”
Rutherford will give her Artist Now! lecture on October 15 at 7:30 p.m. The free, virtual series invites practicing artists from around the world to share their work and insights.
Learn more about Rutherford’s lecture and many others on the Artists Now! webpage.
Payton Murphy ’27 (BFA Film)
UWM alum takes role at the New York Times as a video production coordinator
UWM alum Thomas Trudeau (BFA 2012, Film) joined the New York Times as a video production coordinator. Trudeau’s new position entails facilitating video production and managing NYT’s video equipment and production studios.
In a warm welcome from NYT’s Solana Pyne and Andrew Wilcox published online, executives highlighted Trudeau’s industry experience, past projects, and education.
To read the full announcement, visit the New York Times.
UWM Dance Chair Daniel Burkholder featured in MKE Lifestyle
Daniel Burkholder (Associate Professor and Chair, Dance), was profiled in MKE Lifestyle by John Schneider. The article explores Burkholder’s lifelong relationship with dance, from his first classes as a child in Michigan to his current role leading UWM’s dance program and performing professionally.
He describes the three practices dancers need—physical workouts, somatic practices, and dance itself—and how he balances those disciplines in his daily life.
“Every day I’m trying to do something to activate my ‘dance body,’” Burkholder said. “Sometimes it’s more of a workout, sometimes more dance, sometimes more meditative, but I’m trying to be IN my body, moving my body, expressing my body every single day.”
Alum Anwar Floyd-Pruitt remembered in Milwaukee Magazine
Milwaukee Magazine reports the passing of interdisciplinary artist and UWM Peck School of the Arts alum Anwar Floyd-Pruitt ’16, who died September 9 after a long battle with cancer. Floyd-Pruitt earned Art BFA from UWM, specializing in sculpture, before later earning an MFA from UW-Madison.
He served as artist in residence at Saint Kate – The Arts Hotel in 2024, and his studio was based at House of RAD in Milwaukee.
MOWA executive director Laurie Winters described his absence as leaving “an immeasurable void” and praised his ability to make “those around him feel seen, inspired and deeply valued.”
Broadway World reviews play staring alum Ashley Oviedo
Ashley Oviedo (BFA 2020, Theatre) stars in Sanctuary City at Next Act Theatre, a play exploring the experiences of young immigrants in post-9/11 America. Oviedo plays G, one of two teenagers navigating impossible choices in a country they call home.
Broadway World reviewer Kelsey Lawyer praised her performance: “Her vulnerability and intensity are off the charts,” noting the chemistry between Oviedo and co-star King Hang. The production runs through October 5, 2025, and highlights Oviedo’s talent and depth as a performer.
Community printmaking nonprofit with strong PSOA ties featured on TMJ4
UWM alum Julia Scheckel (BFA 2020, Art: Printmaking and Book Arts) is one of the leaders of Anchor Press, Paper, and Print (AP3), a nonprofit providing the community with access to space, equipment, and workshops to explore the art of printmaking.
In a “What’s Brewing” segment presented by NBC TMJ4’s Steph Brown, Scheckel talks about AP3, its goals, and its work in the community. She also gives a shoutout to AP3 Emerging Printmaker Resident, Ellie Hogan (BFA 2025, Art: Printmaking & Book Arts, Painting & Drawing).
“AP3 is a non-profit, community-centered, fully equipped printmaking studio,” Scheckel told TMJ4. “We do workshops for anyone who wants to learn how to do printmaking. We’re fully equipped; we’ve got it all.”
Watch the full segment on TMJ4 or learn more about AP3 on their website.
UWM alum and lecturer brings classical guitar from Singapore to Wisconsin
Kevin Loh (MM 2025, Classical Guitar; Graduate Certificate 2025), an alum and now classical guitar lecturer, was recently featured in a PBS Wisconsin interview highlighting his global career and unique perspective on the art of classical guitar.
Originally from Singapore, Loh has studied internationally and first met Professor René Izquierdo at a competition in Germany at age 15. The encounter that eventually brought him to Milwaukee to study under Izquierdo’s mentorship.
“I knew from the very first time that I heard him play that he was going to be one of the greatest guitarists of our time,” Izquierdo said.
