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Eugene Lew reflects on a year without live performances
Eugene Lew in his music studio

Eugene Lew, lecturer and director of Sound and Music Technology in the Department of Music. (Image: OMNIA)

Eugene Lew reflects on a year without live performances

During the pandemic, the lecturer and director of Sound and Music Technology in the Department of Music switched from organizing live performance events to collaborative online technology.

Susan Ahlborn

Ballerina Emily Davis is ‘on her toes’
Ballerina Emily Davis completed her Penn degree while dancing with the Pennsylvania Ballet.

May graduate Emily Davis earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from the College of Liberal and Professional Studies while working full-time as a ballerina with the Pennsylvania Ballet and volunteering to conduct research at CHOP and community service with Philadelphia nonprofits. (Image: Arian Molina Soca)

Ballerina Emily Davis is ‘on her toes’

May graduate Emily Davis earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from the College of Liberal and Professional Studies while working full-time as a ballerina with the Pennsylvania Ballet and volunteering to conduct research at CHOP and community service with Philadelphia nonprofits.

Louisa Shepard

Students’ spring shows go virtual
Three dancers wearing masks performing in an outdoor parking area.

Still from the virtual performance of Penn Dance Company’s spring show, “Premiere.” (Image: The Pennsylvania Gazette)

Students’ spring shows go virtual

COVID-19 restrictions have forced nearly all student shows to go virtual this year, and they are cropping up throughout this month and next as Facebook livestreams, Zooms, and YouTube posts.

The Pennsylvania Gazette

Penn Glee Club becomes fully gender inclusive after 159 years of all-male singers
14 students standing on the steps of College Hall

The Penn Glee Club and Penn Sirens have decided to merge, meaning that for the first time since its founding 159 years ago, the Glee Club will include singers of all genders and will perform repertoire for soprano and alto voices, in addition to tenor and bass, and for all four voice parts. 

Penn Glee Club becomes fully gender inclusive after 159 years of all-male singers

The Penn Glee Club and Penn Sirens are merging, meaning that for the first time since its founding 159 years ago, the Glee Club will include singers of all genders and will perform repertoire for soprano and alto voices, in addition to tenor and bass, and for all four voice parts.

Louisa Shepard , Louisa Shepard

The show must go on, even amid a pandemic 
student dancing outside on the Weave Bridge

The show must go on, even amid a pandemic 

Amid pandemic restrictions, student performing arts groups continued to find innovative ways this fall to create new theater, dance, comedy, a capella, and instrumental productions to share on virtual platforms.

Louisa Shepard

An improv class that enriches the mind and soul, even remotely
A person facing the camera shrugging with arms wide open. Another person is standing to the right, and two others are in the background.

Much like in traditional improv, participants in the Penn Memory Center’s Cognitive Comedy play off of each other, running scenes or throwing each other imaginary balls of varying sizes, for example. Though some facets changed as the sessions went virtual, the program remains well-loved and well-attended. (Pre-pandemic image: Terrance Casey)

An improv class that enriches the mind and soul, even remotely

The Penn Memory Center’s Cognitive Comedy program gives people with memory impairments and their caregivers a no-pressure space to think creatively, socialize, and be part of a community.

Michele W. Berger

Penn performers keep creating during pandemic
Mosaic of students singing together via Zoom call

Penn Dischord.

Penn performers keep creating during pandemic

During the pandemic, the student Performing Arts Council has been working with the Platt Student Performing Arts House to encourage and support the hundreds of Penn performers, finding ways to promote their work on social media.

Louisa Shepard