by Mariana Barillas
(Video interviews: Catherine McGovern and Philip Reynolds)
Musical theater senior and philosophy minor Anthony Graf loves the University because he didn’t have to choose between his love for theater and philosophy.
“They understand that in order to be an artist, you have to be a fully formed person,” said Anthony. “They allow us to explore our other passions and what defines us outside the work we do in these (performance) spaces.”
Another draw is that the University is among the select few in the Newman Guide Recommended Colleges.
Anthony sees art as philosophy in action, complementary expressions, and explorations of what it means to be human. He also approaches his senior recital as a chance to showcase who he’s become – thanks to his Catholic University experience.
Called to a Higher Purpose
In our classes and shows at the University, he explains, we receive invaluable direction from our instructors. Now, he’s taking center stage crafting his own program.
“This is what I want to put into the world…this represents me,” said Anthony, as he practiced in a classroom in the Benjamin T. Rome School of Performing Arts.
He sings one of his selections, “Saturn Returns” from Adam Guettel’s Myths and Hymns, a Greek mythology-inspired song cycle that explores humanity’s yearning for purpose and the divine. As he sings about Icarus and Pegasus soaring to new heights, Anthony reflects on how far he’s come.
“This community has called me higher…the people here have made me realize that I am capable of so much good,” he said. Highlights for him have been the small class sizes, involvement with Campus Ministry, and the Cornerstone Program.
Small-Town Feel, Big-Time Opportunities
The small town feel – with big-time opportunities in Washington DC’s diverse art and culture scene – makes the University the place to be, Anthony said.
“It’s a big enough community that you’re constantly meeting new people, and it’s small enough that you can walk around and recognize people on a daily basis,” he says. “You feel like you’re part of something bigger than yourself, but it’s not something that’s so big that it can become foreign.”
