MC senior Brianna Bakoledis ’21 excels both on and off the stage
April 8, 2021
Through classes, performances and employment, Maryville College senior Brianna Bakoledis ’21,is utilizing the many resources that MC’s Fine Arts Division – as well as the world-class performing arts center on campus, the Clayton Center for the Arts – has available, in order to prepare her for life after college.
Bakoledis is a vocal music education major with teacher licensure from Clarkesville, Ga., and she hopes to pursue a career as a music teacher. She will be completing her student teaching at Heritage Middle School and Heritage High School in the fall of 2021. She said that her love for music comes from growing up in a family that loved music in its many varieties.
“Watching how happy music made my parents – and witnessing how much they loved music – really inspired me. Music is a large part of my life, and some of my most influential experiences came from my music classrooms,” Bakoledis said. “I always felt understood and like I belonged when I was in music and choir. That is something that I hope my future students will feel in my classroom. I want my students to have a space where they can be themselves and express themselves through music.”
Bakoledis decided to come to Maryville College because she felt an overwhelming sense of community from the moment that she arrived on campus, and she was excited about the prospect of being part of the College’s Fine Arts Division.
During her career at MC, Bakoledis has been involved in many activities. She recently presented a senior recital titled “Noteworthy,” and she has participated in two Maryville College Theatre Department productions: “9 to 5” and “Sturdy as a Rock: Our Bicentennial Story.”She is a member of the Maryville College Concert Choir, the MC Jazz Band, small ensembles Off Kilter and the Lassies, and she has served as a Maryville College Chancel Choir Scholar at New Providence Presbyterian Church in Maryville. Bakoledis is currently the choir manager for the Fine Arts Division, and since September 2017, she has served as the departmental music office assistant. While several of these roles have given her the opportunity to perform on stage, she also has gained hands-on experience at the Clayton Center for the Arts.
“We take great pride in providing opportunities for MC students to connect to the Clayton Center through our many performance offerings and partnership with the Fine Arts Division; however, the Center is more than just a great place to see a show,” said Blake Smith, the general manager of the Clayton Center for the Arts. “We are excited to also provide hands-on experiences for Fine Arts and other students across campus. Through our work study and internship programs, students are exposed to much of the behind-the-scenes work that goes on, contributing their hard work and talents each and every year. We could not do what we do without students. We are very proud of the fact that so many of our former work study students have taken the experience they have gained at the Center and are putting it to work, literally, across the performing arts industry.”
As a music office assistant, Bakoledis is tasked with helping the Fine Arts Manager, Deborah Boling, with scheduling, student and faculty communication, and various creative projects, such as being the stage manager for music events. She said that these skills have given her valuable experience with administrative tasks and working behind the scenes.
“Maryville College has provided me with an incredibly well-rounded education and a multitude of opportunities that have given me unique musical experiences,” Bakoledis said. “Before coming here, I always felt torn between different interests and pressure to pick one thing. However, during my time at MC, I’ve learned that it’s OK to have multiple interests. I’ve been able to not only do music but also photography, design projects, and explore other creative outlets and interests. As my time here comes to an end, I hope to leave behind a sense of encouragement to branch out and try new opportunities even if they seem scary at first.”
Written by Grant Agnew ’22, Communications Assistant