Frances Elwood '23 < Back Did you hear about community chorus? Frances Elwood '23 Dec 9, 2022 Four times a year, in the Irvine Memorial Chapel, the Mercersburg Area Community Chorus & Orchestra performs. Last weekend, I was lucky enough to attend one of these performances, the Christmas Concert on Saturday evening. Though I arrived early, the chapel was already filled to the brim with all manner and type of people save one; in my cursory glance through the pews, I didn’t see any Mercersburg Academy students. I took note of this incongruity before grabbing one of the last available seats in the very back of the chapel. On stage, the ladies all wore the same shade of cranberry red with delicate strings of pearls and the men wore sharp black suits with bow ties. It seemed to me they were innumerable but according to the program there was a total of 103 singers. The professional orchestra added another 30 members to the ranks–this was a massive musical force on our doorstep, yet it seemed to me no students from the academy were taking advantage of it. As the instruments tuned one final time, the audience applauded in anticipation. Then the first song began, sharp and bright–the first movement of twelve in Gloria in D Major. Late-comers lingered in the aisles, as transfixed by the euphonious yet thunderous choral performance as the rest of the crowd but unable to find a seat to rest in. The soloists, Elisabeth Turchi and Leah Serr Gibson, were triumphant, as were Mat Levine, the associate conductor, and Jim Brinson, who played Fugue in G Minor by Bach. As the performance went on, I couldn’t help but wonder how I hadn’t heard about this concert before. Not that I'm particularly in the loop, but I would think for such a meticulously planned and semi-professional concert, there would have been more advertising to the student body. Additionally due to the fact that the entire institution was founded and is led by former Mercersburg music director, Richard Rotz. Later that night, after the concert had ended, I checked Mercersburg’s various instagram accounts; there was no mention of this concert anywhere, not on the official page nor the student activities page. And sure enough, there was no mention in the SAC events email either. If you wanted to find any information about this event, you had to go to the town’s Instagram page or scroll to that often neglected area of Veracross which lists out every event happening in tiny text. It seems to me that this chorus and the concerts it puts on are a staple of the wider Mercersburg community. According website of the Mercersburg Area Community Chorus, “...the Chorus has become an important part of the regional music scene,” and that choral members “come from throughout the tri-state area and the common bond is the simple joy of singing.” When I spoke to him, Rotz proudly disclosed to me that the chorus features “...members from at least 4 counties in Pennsylvania plus many from Maryland and West Virginia.” If we, as an academy want to further integrate ourselves with the Mercersburg community as a whole, it seems to me important that we take a greater part in the current, long-standing traditions of the community. The Community Chorus performances are not only polished musical events worthwhile to hear in their own right but also a way to connect with our neighbors and foster a greater sense of community. Sadly, the Mercersburg Community Chorus isn’t putting on another performance this year, but happily, they will be hosting two concerts in April on the 29th and the 30th at the chapel. If you can, I’d highly recommend marking it down on your calendars now so you can experience the brilliant music that I did. Previous Next

Maggie Coors ‘25 < Back Nailed it! Maggie Coors ‘25 Nov 13, 2023 In the past year, Barbara Gamboa ’26 has started her own manicure business on campus. She creates nail art for her friends and peers, and her services have become very popular lately. Sofia Martin ’26 got her nails done last winter by Gamboa. “I really loved them and they lasted a really long time! I can tell that Barbara knows what she is doing. She has all of the tools and materials that she needs to do whatever you ask for,” said Martin. Gamboa takes her business seriously. She taught herself the proper ways of doing nails to make them look professional and last for multiple weeks. “She adapts to people's schedules and the prices are reasonable,” Cyn Carter ’25 said. Her customers trust her to use good quality materials and to make their nails look nice. She is a committed nail artist now, but doing nails started as a fun, bonding activity for her. Gamboa says, “I mean, I have always done nails my whole life, not as a business but just painting me and my mom’s nails on the weekends to get prepared for school each week. We would sit on the floor and give each other mani-pedis and then after lay in her bed and put on a movie until I had to go to sleep. This was a usual thing that we did, like our little Sunday routine.” “I really enjoy doing nails and it’s a fun way to be able to bond with people because I feel as though I’ve gotten closer with people due to having the opportunity to do their nails. I feel really lucky that people trust me with this and that I have made friends from this,” said Gamboa. “I will definitely be getting them done again in the future, I have so much fun talking with her and hanging out while she does my nails!” says Martin. “I feel like the best part about getting my nails done by her is that I just feel more comfortable,” says Carter. Nail art went from a fun weekend activity to a business idea when Barbara arrived at Mercersburg and realized that her creativity and skill were profitable. “What got me to do it as a business was coming to boarding school honestly. I had thought about it over [the] summer thinking that I would be able to do girls in my dorm's nails, but I didn’t automatically connect it to having my own business,” says Gamboa. She now has regular clients and tends to get very busy around dances and semi-formal school events. “I even trusted her to do my prom nails!” Carter exclaims. Her business is going very well so far and she plans to keep it running for her entire time at Mercersburg Academy. Gamboa says, “Honestly, I don’t know what I want to do with my business in the future. I think I would really enjoy continuing with nails. I do know for sure that I will continue with my little business at school though.” If you are looking to get your nails done on campus, Gamboa’s business is definitely worth checking out! Previous Next

Maggie Coors '25 < Back Art in the Big Apple Maggie Coors '25 Jan 24, 2025 Last weekend, AS: Studio Art embarked on the annual trip to New York City to engage in various media of art. The students on the trip included Xiomara Del Rosario, Renee Jin, Lilly Killinger, Yule Kwon, Katie Lee, Gaven McGuire, and Amon Yamamoto, all members of the Class of ’26. The trip was led, as always, by Director of Galleries and AS: Studio Art teacher Sydney Caretti joined by Assistant Director of Information Rainelle Dixon. On the trip, students viewed artwork and participated in educational experiences to learn about different artistic professions and pursuits. Caretti said, “The objective of visiting and experiencing New York City, as I once did, is to inspire and open up the dream paths and possibilities that a career in the arts can be.” The class took advantage of their short time in the city. Caretti said, “We hit the ground running in NYC, my favorite city in the world! We take in the Whitney Museum, galleries, Broadway, a working artist studio in the Bowery, performance art, musical art, live figure drawing, a flea market, views from the High Line and even higher on rooftops. We savor the sights, sounds and sometimes the smells of the city. And on this adventure, we connected with alums Ruby [Shang ’24], Ivy [Chan ’24] and Sihyeon [Bae ’24]!” It is incredibly important in an education in the arts to have hands-on experiences and to view as much diverse artwork as possible. Caretti said, “I hope the students take in all they can to help inform their creative process and output. Living the experience is more imprinting than hearing or imagining. One can more easily render what they actually see than what they, in a limited amount of experience and knowledge, can imagine. This experience informs them to better build creative avenues of expression that are original and personal to their experiences.” Similarly, Kwon said, “ The world is full of hope and that empathy is the most important part of making shareable artwork.” The group had an eventful return to Mercersburg when they got stuck in Harrisburg due to the recent snow storm. They were able to get back to campus the next day. Overall, the trip was a valuable learning and bonding experience for the seven students and their chaperones. Caretti stated, “This group became more cohesive as an organic unit. They learned to better communicate ideas and critique with comfort and shared experience. Artists who produce with limited exposure to other artists often stagnate or gas out of that bright light of inspiration.” Kwon summed the trip up perfectly: “ I found a new family in my fellow six artists in New York.” Previous Next

Selena Feng ‘24 < Back A killer production Selena Feng ‘24 Feb 14, 2023 Heathers is a dark-humor musical about Westerburg (OH) High students in 1989 and covers heavy topics including suicide, bodyshaming, murder, bullying, school violence, and sexual assault. Before stepping into the Burgin Center, I had the 1988 movie and the 2014 cast recording in mind. Stony Batter’s Heathers was not identical, but nonetheless, it was amazing and hilarious. There were a few changes to make the show more appropriate for the audience. Most changes were necessary, as the humor was suited for the ‘80s, and would’ve joked about inappropriate topics. The language in iconic songs like “Candy Store” were PG’ed, which is understandable, but it was sad not being able to hear some of the most famous lines. My favorite part was how the actors superbly represented the characters. Tyerra Rooffener ’23 sang Veronica’s lines beautifully. Grace Chi ’25’s voice conveyed the crazed passion of JD. Keri-Ann Dennis ’25’s Heather McNamara perfectly characterized Heather’s personality and confidence throughout the first act with just her strut and her sass. All the Heathers heathered fashionably in heels, a very impressive feat. Kali Tembo ’23 and Margaux D’Arabian ’25 embodied Kurt and Ram’s toxically masculine energy splendidly through their saunters and chortles. The entire ensemble came together so well for “My Dead Gay Son,” and the matching suit pieces were spectacular. It was surprising by how clearly the audience enjoyed Heathers . All around me, I heard the sadness after William Tutt ’25’s betrayal during “Big Fun”; I heard the support for Rooffener’s rapping; I heard the cheers when the summer in ’83 was revealed; I heard the “oohs” when a character was dissed. The fight scenes, the lighting, the live music, the set, the cues, the singing, the choreography, and the acting all took so much practice and planning from Stony Batter, and it deserved its standing ovation. Previous Next

Pema Namdol ‘27 < Back Focusing student art at Sips & Nibbles Pema Namdol ‘27 Dec 13, 2024 On December 8, 2024, the Burgin Center for the Arts hosted another installment of “Sips and Nibbles” to showcase a variety of student art in different mediums. The feature works included pieces from every student in each fall visual arts class. Sydney Caretti, Mercersburg’s Director of Galleries, said, “These are our artists, our artists that we live with, we work with, we play with, and we eat with!” She explained that it is important to highlight artists within our community to make sure they have a place to showcase their work. Some students featured were Abby Kendall ‘25 and Kaodi Nzeribe ‘28 who showcased their photography. Their photos left Yule Kwon '26, one of Mercersburg’s noted student photographers, impressed by the quality of the work. “These two pieces capture something that I can’t capture. The shadows are so soft which is very hard to do and it brings the image to another level,” he said. He mentioned the difficulty of taking outdoor photos, commending Kendall’s technique. Among the many stunning pieces was a painting by Jiwon Chung ’28. The painting depicted a scene from her middle school prom, a watershed moment in her life. "I had been at that school for eight years so my last few days were very meaningful to me," Chung explained. Her piece used vibrant colors to convey emotion, reflecting the ways that art and memory are intricately intertwined. “Art can tell you a narrative without actually speaking,” said Philipp Hoyer ‘26. His piece featured a house behind the Burgin Center for the Arts. “What's so interesting about photography is being able to capture the small details we walk across every day that we aren’t conscious of,” he added. Both Chung’s and Hoyer’s pieces conveyed personal stories and invited viewers to shift their perspectives on their environment. Sips and Nibbles brought many students to view their peers' work. Bauhinia Chen ‘26 commented on Carrie Yang ‘27’s drawing: “I really liked how she was so skillful in her shading, her technique, and her rendering,” Chen commented. The exhibit served to display the talents of students within the Mercersburg community. Caretti said, “Hopefully this will serve to inspire other student artists because we are all artists.” She noted the upcoming Nancy Horton Heefner Exhibit, which will bring together the work of student artists, academy children, and Mercersburg community members. Previous Next

Maddie Mamoudis '27 < Back “Graduation Ball”: one last dance concert Maddie Mamoudis '27 May 16, 2025 On Saturday, May 11, Mercersburg presented the Spring Dance Concert in the Simon Theatre. The concert showcased many months (if not a full year) of training, rehearsals, and creative collaboration in a lineup of 26 different dance pieces, with a wide range of genres including ballet, jazz, tap, modern/contemporary, and hip-hop. “We really prepared for this concert all year long,” said Kelsey Rupp, Director of Dance. “If you're in the recreational track, you rehearse five days a week; if you're in pre-professional [dance], you rehearse six. We take classes and rehearse daily to prepare for the concert.” The intensity of the schedule revealed the dedication of the dancers, many of whom had to balance academics with demanding rehearsal hours. This concert’s choreography was a collaborative effort, with contributions from Rupp, adjunct instructors, visiting guest artists, and the students themselves. Despite months of hard work, the road to performance wasn’t without obstacles. “I think the biggest challenge we always face is time,” said Rupp. “I wish we could include even more people from the community. And then we had a couple of injuries this year, too.” Despite the challenges, the dancers delivered a skilled and entertaining show. One of the highlights for Rupp was the opening number, “Graduation Ball,” a comedic ballet that featured every dancer in the concert. “It’s a silly, tongue-in-cheek piece,” she said. “With half the cast being seniors, it felt right.” Another standout was “The Category Is: Dance or Die,” a bold and energetic jazz piece set to Lady Gaga’s “Abracadabra,” performed by the Level B dancers. “They are just killing it,” Rupp noted. For many performers, the concert held deep emotional significance. Elizabeth Orders ’25 reflected, “Since this is my last dance concert, I just wanted to make it super memorable.” Her favorite piece was a duet she choreographed and performed with fellow dancer and captain, Caroline Hobbs '26. “It was really meaningful to us. It was fun to perform, and it helped us grow as friends.” Mika Martinez-Arocho ’25 shared a similar sentiment. “Since it was my last concert, I wanted to put in as much effort and energy as I could.” Mika’s favorite pieces were “Headlock” and “K-Boom,” both of which had audience members hopping. Ellie Sapp ’25 explained her emotions about the show. “Our bodies eventually get super tired,” she said, regarding the intense preparation. “My goal was not to cry during everyone’s senior solo and to keep up my energy and have a good spirit.” For that reason, her favorite piece was a playful one. “I liked ‘Graduation Ball’ the most, because I’m dressed like a little sailor boy,” she laughed. While veterans enjoyed their turn in the spotlight, the concert also showcased upcoming talent. Ninth-grader Becca Robinson ’28 participated in the year’s final performance with confidence. “I want to perform well and have a good time while doing it,” she said. As the concert closed, Rupp reflected on the experience. “I hoped to give the community a moment to relax and be entertained while also celebrating our seniors,” she said. Previous Next

Sophie Mielke '25 < Back Down the rabbit hole Sophie Mielke '25 May 10, 2024 For this year’s Spring Scenes, the Stony Batter Players performed Alice in Wonderland , adapted and directed by Matt Maurer. The familiar story follows Alice, a young girl who follows a rabbit down a rabbit hole. When she emerges from the hole, she finds herself in Wonderland, a place full of strange creatures, talking flowers, and a queen obsessed with croquet and decapitation. The Friday night show was performed in the Boys Garden to give the audience the Wonderland experience. “I really wanted something that was going to work outside,” said Maurer. Unfortunately on Saturday, it rained, causing the play to be moved to the Hale Studio Theatre. “We had such great weather all along that we hadn’t really rehearsed it in the Hale. Everybody figured it out. Everybody just realized we had less space, and nobody got hurt,” said Maurer. Grace Beard ’25, played the ever-grinning Cheshire Cat: “I think it was definitely more playful than outside because you could hear the laughter…we could tell that the reaction of the audience was positive.” She was grateful that it rained on the last day as opposed to the opening night. “Everyone kinda let their guard down a little bit,” said Beard. Another challenge the group faced was the large swarm of honeybees that took up residence in the Boys Garden during rehearsals. While looking for a hive, the swarm settled on a branch right above the cast. Will Dupuis, the Technology Department Systems Administrator, who is also a beekeeper, was able to remove around 40,000 bees from the garden. The bees removed weighed several pounds. “It ended up being nothing, but at the time it freaked us out. That was a temporary setback,” said Maurer. Maurer and the cast worked hard to produce a play that would entertain and amuse their audience. Tech crew was essential in making the props for the actors; then it became the actors’ job to bring them to life. “Some of the ideas were mine; some of the ideas were theirs [the cast],” said Maurer. “A lot of the action, in this version, is described in the narration, which helps.” The main props used were blocks painted like chess pieces. The cast maneuvered these blocks to create settings such as the rabbit hole. “It was a process to learn how to act the characters,” says Margaux d’Arabian ’25, who played the Mouse, the Duchess, and the King of Hearts—her most memorable moment in the show perhaps being the Duchess’ horrible lullaby. Beard ’25 agreed. “One of the harder parts was trying to figure out different directions I could take the character.” Since the story is older and minor characters often have short, nonsensical lines, a lot of interpretation fell onto the actors. “I tried to really amplify the attitude of the character,” said Beard. The play was received well by the community. It was an enjoyable way to close out Stony Batter’s performances for the year, with laughter and a little bit of madness. Previous Next

Corbin Kelly '24 < Back Corbin's special review on Heather Corbin Kelly '24 Feb 14, 2023 Perhaps it was just my location in the audience being in the front row, but there were many times when it felt as if I couldn’t hear any of the performers over all the other noise of the performances. It just seemed as though the mics weren’t able to project the actors’ voices over all the things going on. The accompanying music was phenomenal. It is impressive to be able to have an orchestra pit perform live, and it really elevated the entire experience in a way a CD can’t replicate. When the spotlights weren’t blinding me every time they swung our way (again, probably my fault for choosing the front row), the set design and costumes were amazing. I found myself laughing at the visual gags just as much as anything. The performers committed to each of their roles, sticking every joke with a wave of laughter. There was so much going on during each scene that you could find something to laugh at just by watching the background characters throw snarky eye rolls at one another. It kept the performance entertaining the whole way through with very few sluggish moments. I will say I was not prepared for the stepladder scene or to watch Keri-Ann Denis ’25’s character popping pills on stage. I truly didn’t expect to be cackling one scene and then become anxious the next. It was hard to tell when the jokes were no longer jokes. I wasn’t really sure when we were allowed to leave at the end. Maybe it was just the night I went on, but there was an awkward moment after the lights came on when we all had to sit back down and watch gift bags being given out to some of the cast and tech crew. I appreciate celebrating people that helped in the production, but it seemed like they didn’t even know what was going on. Previous Next

Elliott Stein '23 < Back Film club is thinking of ending things Elliott Stein '23 Oct 7, 2022 Film Club's very first meeting of the year saw large student turnout, with a good number of new students and devoted leaders. The club is dedicated to watching and reviewing movies, so on September 24 the club met for the first time this year to watch I’m Thinking of Ending Things, directed by Charlie Kaufman. The movie is a psychological thriller filled with twists and turns. By the end of the movie, the audience is left with a sense of awe and confusion. Kaufman never offers any sense of closure and has stated in many interviews that he never intends to, setting it up so everyone has a different interpretation of the film after watching it. The audience follows three main characters, Isla, a middle aged woman, and her new boyfriend, Jake, as they go in the midst of a snow storm to meet Jake's parents who still live on his childhood farm. In between scenes of Jake and Isla going through Jake’s childhood home, the camera mirrors the story of a high school janitor as he gets into his car, drives to school, and watches a movie of a young couple played also by Jake and Isla. During dinner with Jake’s parents, wrinkles in story begin to emerge shedding questions on how Isla and Jake met, how Jake’s dog has disappeared, and why Isla’s art suddenly begins appearing on the walls. The most horrifying element comes in when time starts to warp. Jake’s mother and father age rapidly until eventually they are found lying on their death beds in just the span of a few minutes. After departing from the confusing, eerie dinner, Jake and Isla decide to leave per Islas request. They stop for ice cream at a local stand. A young female worker covered in rashes warns Isla to leave as soon as possible. Isla is immediately shaken but after questioning Jake once, decides to forget about it. The film slows as Jake takes them both to his old high school, where they encounter the janitor referenced earlier in the film. The movie suddenly turns into a sort of ballet. A different version of Jake and Isla dance through the high school’s freshly mopped halls to classical music in a passionate, romantic embrace. The janitor enters the scene in the gym attempting to fight off Jake in order to protect Isla, and the screen goes black as the janitor kills Jake. The film leaves the audience confused, full of questions, and with a slight headache. By examining the details viewers could piece together multiple possible storylines, the most popular among the group that the janitor was actually Jake many, many years in the future. Jake (the janitor, in this scenario) suffered from schizophrenia and loneliness made up the romance to give him something to live for before he died. The film was an interesting first watch for the club. It invited students to ponder and piece together their own storyline, starting many debates about Kaufman’s craft and his intentions. Previous Next

Rachel Zhang ‘28 < Back From canvas to campus Rachel Zhang ‘28 Oct 11, 2024 As seniors at Mercersburg Academy engage in the college application process, art students face unique challenges and opportunities. The Mercersburg News interviewed six seniors applying to college for six different art forms: Lucia Gamble ’25, a photographer; Stella Johnson ’25, a dancer; Alfred Ma ‘25, a euphonium player; Anne Sehon ‘25, a graphic designer; Syd Watts ‘25, a stage manager; and Maddie Weiss ‘25, an actor. They shared their experiences applying to college in the arts and offered insights on the journey. Weiss emphasized the importance of early involvement. “Something I wish I did was get involved sooner,” she reflected. “I think that limited my opportunities.” By starting early, students can build a robust portfolio and gain essential experience in their craft. Ma concurred, “[M]ost students… don't have to record other [music] pieces or have to do paintings. We do a lot more stuff, and with that obviously comes stress.” Weiss described the varied process of applying to arts colleges. “Typically, the process includes an interview where you introduce yourself to them, answering a couple of questions, such as ‘Who are you?’ and ‘Why do you want to pursue the craft?’” Concerning the audition Weiss said, “You usually bring in two monologues. They're usually contrasting, one is dramatic and then the other is comedic, or any modern/contemporary monologue and then a classical monologue.” There is also the extra step of submitting an art portfolio. Watts explained, “Basically what a portfolio is, is another application on top of everything else. So some schools require you to write another essay or an interview.” How exactly should one build a strong portfolio? For Gamble, it has not been as stressful because she not only prepared her applications early, but she is also very confident in her artwork. “I've been doing a lot of different art styles for a few years, so my portfolio is quite vast. I haven't found it as stressful as other people,” she said. Another crucial aspect of a successful application is guidance from college counselors and teachers. Weiss said, “Mr. Hulse… [has] been very helpful…. Before he came to Mercersburg, he worked at a performing arts school as a college counselor in Orange County, so he had a lot of experience with aspiring performers and drama students.” However, not all college counselors are experts, so students must turn to teachers. Watts said, “The reason I was able to get through my basic college applications was because of [my college counselor’s] help, but the portfolio I kind of have to do on my own. So, basically, I have to ask my art teachers… for their help with my portfolio because the college counselors don't have a lot of experience with that.” Johnson also pointed out, “The college counselors are a little bit less equipped to help arts students when they don't know much about the art form [students] are applying for, so it is difficult to give feedback on the actual arts pieces of the applications.” She added, “But that is why we also have arts teachers and other support systems.” The same experience also applied to Sehon. She mentioned arts teacher Sydney Caretti as a helpful resource. The journeys of Gamble, and Johnson, Ma, Sehon, Watts, and Weiss illustrate the dedication required to pursue the arts in college and continue doing something they are passionate about. As Watts said, “It's a lot of added stress, but in my opinion, it's so worth it because you get to do what you love.” Previous Next

Alice Yoo '27 < Back Behind the scenes with William Tutt Alice Yoo '27 May 10, 2024 William Thayer Tutt ’25 is famous on campus for his participation in the Stony Batter Players. He is best known for his passion for acting, participating in most Mercersburg's theatrical productions over the past two years. Tutt said, “With Clue , I feel like my best skills are seen there, but I had the most fun during The Importance of Being Earnest .” Tutt attributed his passion for acting to “the sense of community you are able to build” and “improving and creating my own spin on things.” Since his youth, Tutt was exposed to various movie and theatrical performances, especially with his sister, who is one of his “biggest acting inspirations,” along with “Jim Carry, Danny DeVito, Raul Julia, and Robin Williams.” Tutt explained, “For the longest time, I loved movies, but none of them really pushed me out onto the stage until I saw my sister act as a tree in The Wizard of Oz . I never really thought of acting, then I saw her as a tree and joined theater, falling in love with it.” Despite “falling in love” with acting, he faced some challenges as a person with dyslexia, ADHD, and dysgraphia. Tutt remarked, “These give me a hard time reading, writing, and paying attention.” These were also the reasons why his least favorite part of acting “would be having to memorize lines as a dyslexic.” However, he is always striving to grow both as a student and an actor. Kelly Dowling, Arts Department Head, said, “What's great about William is that in his career here he has always taken the note! He is definitely most comfortable being a comedic goofball exploring physical comedy, but I'm so impressed by how he challenges himself to express more dramatic and tender moments.” Dowling added an example from the recent musical, Ride the Cyclone , “where his character cried after singing about his lost love. He really went there and it was a very touching moment that we hope took the audience by surprise.” Jessica Doubell, Burgin Center Director of Operations, said, “It has been fun to watch William grow the last few years as an actor and as a human being. He has worked with two strong directors and when he has been given feedback about a performance, he listens with intent and works hard to take that critique and grow from it.” With his “great sense of timing,” according to Doubell, and the “challenges he gives to himself,” according to Dowling, Tutt has spreads positivity on campus and to members of the community. Not only does he show a great passion for acting, but he also makes the people around him joyful. Doubell added, “He is himself no matter where he is and who he is with. He makes the people around him feel safe to be themselves, which I personally think is an important trait in any human. He allows for honesty of human emotion and never makes you feel bad about it. I love it when we have a speaker because I always know at least one student will ask a question, and that student is always William.” Previous Next

Celia Kerf ‘25 < Back Tae is going way… to Art School! Celia Kerf ‘25 Sep 29, 2023 Dean Tae ‘24 is in the process of applying to art school for architecture. The Advanced Studies Studio Arts class he took his junior year allowed him to fully immerse himself in the arts and related work. The feedback Tae received from his seven peers in the class and the conversations they engaged in challenged him to continuously find ways to improve his work. “Art, especially painting, is a recollection of my memory. I try to capture the moment I’m in, and express it in different ways: texture, composition, color, and even the subjects,” Tae said. This process requires a lot of thought and attention to detail which challenges Tae to find deeper meaning within his work. Architecture always has a purpose but often leaves room for the viewer’s interpretation. “All structures of a building are placed in a way that they harmonize to hold up the whole, and it is the viewers’ job to render the purpose and the meaning of it,” Tae states. Before his sophomore year at Mercersburg, Tae had never painted, and he only took Painting I to fulfill his art credit requirements. Art teacher Sydney Carretti pushed Tae to take Painting II and later take Advanced Studies Studio Arts. Although Tae was unsure at first, he discovered his love for art through these classes and realized that art would forever be a part of his life. He expressed his gratitude by acknowledging Caretti and the significant impact she had on him, saying, “[Ms.] Caretti nurtured my inherent passion for art and challenged me to become a better artist. She guided me through a very transformative moment, and I am truly grateful for everything she has done for me. All wouldn’t have been possible without her guidance!” Over the summer, Tae attended the Summer Architecture Program at Columbia University and diligently worked on his portfolio. He is still developing and polishing his pieces as he is determined to put his best foot forward. Tae is now looking to pursue a career in art and architecture and is applying to various fine art schools that offer studio space and encourage collaboration. This includes Cooper Union, Cornell, Pratt, RISD, Syracuse, and Tufts, among many others. Previous Next