Virginia Tech Students

Student Engagement Is at the Heart of Our Programming

The Moss Arts Center brings artists from around the world to your campus door, with performances, exhibitions, and experiences designed to enhance not only your Virginia Tech experience, but the ways you see the world.  We offer special opportunities to engage with professional artists and explore the creative process, including:

• workshops and master classes with visiting artists
• lectures and Q&As
• gallery tours and artist talks
• hands-on experiences
• community celebrations
• and much more

We also value student voices and feature student talent on our stages and in our galleries.

Creative Connections: Kieran Casey

Kieran Casey dreamed of becoming a composer when he came to Virginia Tech, but he also worried about the possible future career challenges he might face. His student experiences, particularly the connections he made with professional artists, convinced him that his dream was attainable and sustainable. Now a Virginia Tech graduate, he’s a working composer — with a particular passion for film scoring — and is exploring graduate school opportunities.

As a student, Casey took advantage of every opportunity he could find. He filled his calendar with Moss Arts Center events — innovative musical theatre productions and performances by the world’s leading orchestras and genre-defying string quartets — and connected with artists through master classes, workshops, question-and-answer sessions, and class visits hosted by the center. Ultimately, these interactions led to lasting relationships with artists who are now mentors and colleagues.

Casey attended a composition master class led by musician and composer Huang Ruo. Known for his inventive musical voice and diverse compositional works, Ruo was in Blacksburg for a performance of the Moss Arts Center co-commissioned music theatre work Book of Mountains and Seas. Casey shared a score he was working on with Ruo, who advised the aspiring composer about the importance of orchestrating his work and exploring the various voices of music. This input continues to inform Casey’s creative process.

The moments beyond the curtain calls and applause that happen in classrooms and rehearsal spaces are often the most impactful.

“These connections our students have with artists are so varied and sometimes so personal,” said Ruth Waalkes, associate provost for the arts and executive director of the Moss Arts Center. “To have someone talk to you directly about their own experiences and be able to relate to you one on one, someone who understands. That’s invaluable.”