First of all, congratulations on joining the Loyola family! The next four years of your life will be full of amazing opportunities to grow and learn, and we’re so excited to be a part of that process. We at the Department of Fine and Performing Arts (DFPA) can’t wait to welcome you all to campus!
During your time at Loyola you’ll become familiar with all the processes for classes and auditions, but to help you transition now, the following is a list of important information you’ll want to look over as you prepare to register for classes and the coming fall semester.
A full list of next year’s events–including all mainstage and second stage theatre performances, music concerts, dance performances, and arts exhibitions–is available online.
Classes
The DFPA consists of four areas: dance, music, theatre, and fine arts. We also have a musical theatre minor. Within these four areas are more specific areas of focus.
DANCE
Students can major or minor in dance at Loyola. Non-majors are also encouraged to participate in dance classes, but non-majors enrolling in Level II classes or above are required to participate in a placement session on August 24th. A variety of classes ranges from ballet to modern to world dance.
MUSIC
We offer a general music major along with specialized majors in sacred music or jazz studies. Students can join various ensembles or take applied music lessons (which require a special application process). Students interested in ensembles should register for the appropriate class at orientation. Placement auditions for ensembles will take place the first week of classes.
Students interested in theatre have the opportunity to take more traditional classes on acting, management, technical design, and theatre history. Students also receive credit for participating in the various mainstage and second stage productions throughout the year, whether they act or work on technical crews. Auditions are open to all Loyola students.
Theatre majors/minors are also invited to a special freshmen convocation August 27th.
FINE ARTSFine Arts includes six different majors/minors: art history, ceramics, drawing & painting, photography, studio art, and visual communication. We also offer a certificate in graphic design. Many of these classes require 100-level prerequisites regardless of prior experience. Be sure you’re enrolled in the correct class before you finalize your schedule!
All of our classes for the upcoming semester are located on LOCUS, where you’ll register for classes at orientation. As many of the classes count for the arts core, the classes tend to fill up quickly. We do try to give preference to majors and minors, so if you can’t get in a class, you can e-mail the director of your program to be placed on a waiting list:
DANCE: Sandra Kaufmann
MUSIC: Charles Jurgensmeier, S.J.
THEATRE: Mark E. Lococo
VISUAL ARTS: Nicole Ferentz
Auditions/Internships
Students do not need to be majors or minors in an arts area to audition for Loyola productions and classes. For more information on upcoming auditions for theatre productions, music classes, and dance placements, carefully read this flier.
Throughout the year, various companies in Chicago offer audition and internship opportunities that we post to this blog. We also post opportunities for visual arts majors to get involved in the Chicago arts scene.
Clubs
While arts clubs aren’t directly connected to the DFPA, there are several student groups on campus that relate to the arts. We have the LUC Dance Company, the Loyola Dance Team, Clay Club, Photography Club, the improv group 45 Kings, and three a cappella groups (Loyolacappella, Aca’fellas, and The Silhouettes). You can find more information about these groups at the student organization fair in the fall.
