New Conservatory students explore the art of collaboration

The art of the future is bound to require collaborative efforts. Fostering interaction among robust creative institutions can benefit students, which is why the freshman classes of the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music and Dance and the Kansas City Art Institute recently came together at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art for the second annual Freshman Convergence.

Freshman Convergence, a lecture and performance series, is an extension and fusion of the current KCAI Freshman Symposium and the UMKC Conservatory MUSE curriculum co-taught and designed by Mara Gibson, UMKC Conservatory Academy director; and Sarah Tyrrell, UMKC assistant teaching professor.

The goal is to introduce students to art outside their particular area of interest. The objective is to help students make connections between time periods and eras, schools of thought, traditions and techniques, and current trends in art, music and dance.

“In general, freshmen come in with a narrow scope,” Gibson said. “This convergence is about exposing the nearly 350 students to the larger art, music and dance stage. The convergence happens at a pinnacle of art in Kansas City, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.”

The freshmen listened to live music, a lecture and participated in an assignment requiring collaboration among students from each school. The event featured performances by Vox Luminese, Aurélien Boccard, and choreography by Kim Alvarez, Leah Korn and John Roberts.

“It’s important to expose all our students to different forms of art,” said Gary Abbott, UMKC assistant professor of dance. “There’s such a spirit here at the Nelson-Atkins. The junior and senior dance students choreographed their own program for the students. This was a great undertaking.”