Mira Costa’s hidden arts talent
On March 15, 2023, the US Bureau of Economic Analysis and the National Endowment for the Arts reported the $1 Trillion Arts and Culture Industry sector contribution to the US economy in 2021. Not only was that a 13 percent increase over the previous year, but an amount greater than several industries such as construction, agriculture, mining, or transportation and warehousing.
The arts and culture sectors represented more than $1 trillion of the US economy in 2021 and accounted for a record portion of country’s overall economic value, per new data from the government.
MiraCosta College’s Arts programs are often under-reported because of our major successes in STEM programs, new 4-year degree programs, and transfer statistics. Highlighting ways the college is educating and providing work experiences for students in this major industry sector seems long overdue.
Our award-winning Theatre Department just ended a week-long run in March of the contemporary production of The Addams Family, directed by Tracy Williams. We continue to draw younger crowds to live theater with the April 28 opening night of She Kills Monsters a comedic romp into the world of fantasy role-playing games, directed by Shaun Heard. The department again boasts finalists in the recent Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival: actors Tommy Tran and Angelica Dulen, dancer Ryan Hartley, and MiraCostans Bryon Anderson, Dominque Torres, and Zair Oros formed the entire sound team for one of the main events at the festival.
Oceanside Jazz Festival showcases MiraCosta College’s seven-time DownBeat Magazine award-winning Jazz Collective and Jazz Soloist, and multiple big band winner MOJO along with MiraCosta jazz faculty and alums. The bands will perform music by renowned composers, including works by guest musicians directed by Steve Torok.
May features the final performance of the school year by the Frequency Vocal Jazz Ensemble will feature selected soloists and small groups performing contemporary and classic jazz repertoire, primarily student-arranged and directed by Matt Falker.
The MiraCosta College Symphony Orchestra (MCCSO) accompanied the winners of the San Diego City Branch 2023 Music Teachers’ Association of California Concerto Competition (MTACCC). Three soloists were featured along with a performance of Alan Hovhaness’ iconic work, Symphony No. 2, Op. 132, “Mysterious Mountain.” The MCCSO continues its spring collaboration with the MTACCC with a performance of Dimitri Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5 in D minor Op. 57. The director of both performances is Branden Muresan.
The Spring 2023 Dance Concert premieres May 18 with a four-day run showcasing works inspired by the human experience and choreographed by the MiraCosta Dance Department faculty.
Once a month, in the Little Theatre Room 3601, presents free-to-the-public international masterpiece films.
The Kruglak Art Gallery offers a diverse range of exhibitions: For the capstone project in the Museum Studies Program, students will develop, research, curate, publicize and install objects of material culture on loan from Dr. Sheryl Miller, May 4 through 17. A Desert Echoes exhibition featured works created in response to the desert environment of the Anza Borrego Desert. And, this year’s Annual Student Art Exhibit, titled Visions Revealed is an all-media, juried student art awards show the first two weeks in May.
All of these impactful programs, and unique collaborations, were top-of-mind in the transformation of the Oceanside Campus with Measure MM funds. On February 27 the campus celebrated the groundbreaking for the new Media Arts Complex.
The new facility will support certificate and degree programs in Art History, Digital Photography, Museum Studies, Studio Arts, and Media Arts technologies including Graphic Design and Digital Media. Demand for professionals in these fields continues to grow. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 94,500 arts and design openings each year will come from growth and replacement needs.
The 10,471 square feet Media Art Complex combined with MiraCosta’s Performing Arts Building, and state-of-the-art Music Building, and 430-seat Concert Hall completes over 65,000 square feet of classroom and studio space for a total of on campus devoted to the Arts and Culture related education.
I look forward to seeing you at one of our upcoming, amazing performances and/or exhibits.