I'm almost done with Ithaca College, and that means I only have one thing left to do before the big day - Showcase. As I've posted before on here, Ithaca takes the senior performance majors to NYC and rents a theatre for us to showcase ourselves in front of casting directors, agents, managers, and other industry professionals. Hopefully out of this, myself and many of my unbelievably talented classmates will jump start our careers. To learn more about my classmates, and the showcase itself, please visit The Ithaca Showcase Website. Any industry professionals you can forward that to, the class of 2012 would REALLY appreciate it.

I'm sitting on the bus now, sort of sitting back and reflecting on the next two-three weeks, and a little anxious at how daunting it all seems. Luckily I don't have to ride this bus and face it alone, I got on a bus in Binghamtom, and two of my lovely classmates were on it!

It's a bit scary knowing that tomorrow could help make my career. It won't break it, that I know, but absolutely could help give me a jump start into this crazy profession. After that I head back to Ithaca, graduate this weekend, pack up my house and take it all to my dad's in Allentown, drive back to Ithaca, collect two of my friends and drive to New London New Hampshire, then drop them off and head to Maine. In Maine I'll be helping my Mom move, and performing in Hackmatack Playhouse's production of Burt and Me. I then jump back in my car and head to Auburn NY to do Merry-Go-Round Playhouse's production of My Fair Lady, and then it's off to the races. I move to New York and I start my life. It's strange knowing that within the next year I'll be truly trying to be a successful actor. It's one thing to go to school for it and imagine it, but actually doing it is a completely different, scary story.

But for now, I sit on this bus and focus on tomorrow. I sit in the wonder of the talent of my classmates, and revel in the class of 2012. No matter what happens, I know that we are about to take the world by storm, we will make waves, and we will successfully reach the places we are destined to go. I love each and every member of the Ithaca College Theatre Arts Class of 2012 so much, and if you guys read this, I can't wait to make this journey alongside you.

Forever yours,

~ Ned Donovan
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My friend Chris is a certifiable genius.  He is a Music Composition major here at Ithaca College, though his work goes beyond just being a student.

As his website states, Chris began studying piano at the age of six, and began composing at the age of eight.  Eight.  At eight years old I was doing a lot of things, and most of them involved playing soccer, pretending to be a power ranger, and overall NOT COMPOSING MUSIC.  Sometime between the age of eight and eighteen, Chris got accepted to the program here at IC, a competitive one to be sure.  

From there Chris hit the ground running.  

During his time at IC he has scored several films, written music for two plays, released six albums (available on iTunes), two of which have benefited the Bravest Fund and Make-A-Wish Foundation.  How is someone that accomplished?

His junior year in college he spent time in Vienna studying Composition at the university of Vienna.  P.S. he's fluent in German.  He will be returning to that school to receive his Master's in Music Composition.

This past friday, Chris held his senior recital in Ford Hall here in the Whalen School of Music at Ithaca College.  It was one of the most movingly beautiful musical experiences I've been a part of.  Chris was kind enough to allow me to be the speaker in a orchestra/poetry presentation called "Elegies and Laments", but beyond that, just hearing the depth of his talent, and emotional connection was amazing.  He started with an electroacoustic piece made from the sounds of storms, followed by this spoken word piece.  Chris and I then ran around to the audience to hear his masterpiece, The Iris.  The Iris is this piece of music which is beautiful beyond compare.  I sat there, with tears streaming down my cheeks, just blown away by this piece of music.  A long-time member of the Ithaca music community behind me stated, "I've been here for a very, very long time, and that is the best damn piece of music I have ever heard coming out of this place."  After the intermission, we were treated to an SATB a'cappella chorale using the words of poetry written by Chris' grandparents.  Once again, as close to perfect as I've ever heard.  The whole concert ended with a double quartet, fighting each other in their melodies, rhythms, and ideas to create a constantly panning experience where the quartet on the left vs the quartet on the right so that even your ears were getting different musical experiences.  As the concert ended, the audience leapt to its feet, making Chris take far too many bows, and joined him for a reception afterwards.  It was probably the best concert I've seen at IC.

I don't really have a point to this post except to spout his praises, but really, for those of you who don't know Chris, head over to his website and listen to some of his works.  Head over to iTunes and buy one of his cds, they're amazing.  Most of all, just support his work, because someday he's going to be changing the face of music as we know it.

For more information on Chris, head over to his website at www.chrislarosa.com