Our Scholars

Cameron Gardner is a rising second year at the University of Virginia, and she is honored to be recognized as a Miller Arts Scholar in Drama! She is from Richmond, Virginia, and her experience with the performing arts began at the early age of five. Since then, she has explored a variety of artistic disciplines from learning several instruments (saxophone, piano, and ukelele), classical vocal training (performing in numerous operas), dance masterclasses (jazz, contemporary, musical theater), and extensive acting training. Over the years, her passion for the performing arts began to center around theater and musical theater. She is grateful to have performed in over forty theatrical productions on both a local, community, and professional level. Some of her past favorite roles include Matilda in Matilda, Irene Roth in Crazy for You,and Chiffon in Little Shop of Horrors. Cameron plans to major in Drama and Media Studies, with a minor in American Sign Language. She hopes to be able to combine her love for the performing arts with her knowledge of American Sign Language to make the arts more accessible for all. At UVA, she also looks forward to continuing to develop her craft, while getting to take part in the array of artistic opportunities that the University has to offer. Currently, she is involved in numerous clubs and opportunities such as UVA Drama’s mainstage productions, First Year Players, Student Council, First Year Council, and Hearts for the Homeless. Following her time at UVA, she hopes to pursue her lifelong passion of performance. She believes that theater and performance have the power to change and unite audiences across the world, and she hopes to be a part of such efforts. She is grateful to join such a supportive and resourceful community through the Miller Arts Scholars Program. She looks forward to taking advantage of all that the program has to offer!

Anika Kashyap is an actress from Glen Allen, Virginia. She started acting in high school and quickly fell in love with the craft, taking on parts that ranged from over-the-top characters like Carlotta in Phantom of the Opera to more nuanced roles, such as Irene in Badger. For the latter, she won the Best Actor Award at the District and Regional levels at the VHSL One-Act Competition. 

During her time at UVA, Anika has performed in New Works and Lab Series with Virginia Players, a group for which she currently serves as Co-Community Chair. She also played the lead character in Working Wishes, a short film which premiered at the Adrenaline Film Project Screening, earning second place for the Jury Selection Award. 

Anika views theater and storytelling more broadly as powerful tools for driving positive social change. Inspired by Stella Adler's belief that “theater is the art of telling the truth about life," she strives to tell authentic stories about underrepresented and marginalized groups in her work, fostering emotional connection and understanding that transcends societal differences. Anika is honored to be a Miller Arts Scholar and is excited to learn in a community of passionate artists!

Rachel Borowsky is a dancer and aspiring architect from Alexandria, Virginia. She is majoring in architecture and minoring in dance and enjoys combining her knowledge within the two fields to explore how the built environment can influence movement. While Rachel’s passion for architecture developed more recently, she has been dancing since she was three years old. At the age of ten, she joined a competitive dance team, further deepening her love for the art form. She is trained in several dance forms, including contemporary, lyrical, jazz, ballet, tap, and hip-hop. She has also won multiple regional and national titles, traveled and assisted with national dance conventions, and became an assistant dance teacher at her home studio. Currently, Rachel is heavily involved in the dance and architecture communities at UV A. She is a member of the Virginia Dance Company, Alpha Rho Chi, and the American Institute of Architecture Students and performs in the Drama Department’s Fall and Spring Dance Concerts. Rachel is honored to join the Miller Arts Scholars program and looks forward to being a part of a community that celebrates the arts in its many forms.

Will Conrad is a first-year student from Amesbury, Massachusetts pursuing Computer Science and Drama, finding the intersection of both to be deeply fascinating and full of potential. Outside of the classroom, Will has spent the past 7 years finding his home in the theatre working in lighting design, having been recognized for his designs at the competitive state level. Since coming to UVA, Will has found his family in student theatre groups like First Year Players and Virginia Players. Will hopes to pursue higher education in theatre production and is eager to work in professional theatre and explore the bleeding edge of theatre technology, with a dream to design a Broadway or off Broadway production. He is beyond honored to have been chosen to be a part of the Miller Arts Scholars community and is eager to learn from his peers and professors and grow as a theatrical artist.

Mina Dinesen is from Alexandria, Virginia, and is currently pursuing a double major in Studio Art (concentration in filmmaking) and Psychology. Her love for both subjects has informed her creative process, allowing her to combine the genres into artworks. Her works center around human consciousness, forming community, gender dynamics, and queerness. She often creates drawings, portraits, and videos for her personal friends and family, but has recently begun branching out to share her works with a larger audience. A set of commissioned art pieces by Mina can be viewed on UV A Grounds at Shannon Library inside Saxbys cafe. Outside of UVA, she has worked as an assistant art teacher for kids, and has spent a vast majority of her life thinking about and making as much art as possible. Mina is also involved in the theatre organization First Year Players at UV A. She looks forward to continuing making artworks for the Charlottesville community and beyond through the wonderful opportunities made available via the Miller Arts program.

Sophia Go is a pianist and violinist from Vienna, VA with plans to study neuroscience, music, and Spanish. She has embraced the full musical experience of playing two instruments. She was a violinist in the American Youth Philharmonic Orchestras for seven years, serving as Co-Concertmaster. Sophia has been a member of multiple chamber groups, both as a violinist in the AYPO Chamber Ensemble program and as a pianist in the National Symphony Orchestra Summer Music Institute and the NSO Youth Fellowship Chamber Program, with performances at the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage and the National Gallery of Art. Sophia started accompanying her younger sister at the age of nine and is active as a collaborative pianist at studio and Tea Time recitals. Along with private lessons with Professor Mayhood and Professor Sender, she loves the community she has found as a violinist in the Charlottesville Symphony. Sophia hopes to combine her two main interests by studying the relationship between music and the brain, specifically in those with neurodegenerative diseases. She looks forward to growing in her understanding of the healing properties of music and the arts through the interdisciplinary approach of the Miller Arts Scholars program.

Caitlyn Helzer is a Psychology Major and Prospective Drama Major at UVA, with a strong focus in Sound. Since their first semester at UVA, they've worked on a daily basis at UVA theaters helping to build the shows and maintain the theater venues. In addition to their technical work Caitlyn is a student sound designer, working on projects such as "As You Like It," the musical for Spring 2025. Coming from high school technical theater to UVA, then working with The Virginia Theater Festival the summer of 2024 Caitlyn is excited to see what will come next! So far, it looks like the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh Scotland and hopefully much more. Caitlyn is incredibly grateful for all the help and support they've received during their time at UVA and is doubly grateful to be able to learn from the many talented artists in the Miller's Arts Program.

Marlena James is from Dunwoody Georgia and has been involved in the arts for majority of her life. She began dancing at the age of two training in all styles including jazz, tap, lyrical, ballet, and modern. Further in her life, she joined the company of the Atlanta Jazz Theatre. There, she was involved in competitive dance for many years, where she placed in the top ten overalls several times. So far, she has been very involved in dance at the University of Virginia, taking part in the Virginia Dance Company and Virginia Dance Committee. She is looking into being a dance minor and is excited to be a Miller Arts Scholar.

Alicia Kesting-Kim is from Biarritz, France and she is planning on majoring in politics with a focus on foreign affairs and minoring in dance. Alicia has been a dancer her entire life and she explored different styles like ballet, hip-hop, modern jazz before finding her place through contemporary dance. In 2020 she auditioned and was selected by the French National Conservatory, a highly regarded art institute in France. After three years of training with amazing choreographers and professors she received a dance diploma. Since being at the University of Virginia, Alicia has been played an active role in the dance community. She is a choreographer and dancer for the University Dance Club and is a member of the Virginia Dance Committee. Alicia is honored to be a part of the Miller Arts Scholars and is excited to work with other artists.

Lauren Kim is from Leesburg, VA, and she is planning on double majoring in Music with a performance concentration and Psychology. Lauren has been playing the piano since she was 6 years old, and she has been involved in choir since fifth grade. Some of her most notable piano achievements include her first-place wins in three international competitions which allowed her to perform at Carnegie Hall on three occasions, her first-place win in the Maryland State Gertrude Brown Concerto Competition, subsequently allowing her to play with the Washington Conservatory Orchestra, and her performance at the Newseum for the Human Rights First event awarding the Beacon Prize. Additionally, Lauren attended the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music Summer Piano Academy, an unforgettable experience that sparked her love and passion for music. In choir, Lauren was selected to be in All-County Chorus, All-District Chorus, and VMEA Senior Honors Choir and is currently in UVA’s choirs, U-Singers and Chamber Singers. Lauren is thrilled to be a Miller Arts Scholar, and she is looking forward to connecting with other artists to fuel her passion for music.

Taylor Ledbetter grew up in Fort Worth, Texas, and began playing flute at 11 years old. Through high school, she participated as the first chair flute in her school’s wind ensemble and symphony orchestra, and was involved in pit orchestra, women’s jazz band on alto saxophone, and marching band. Taylor competed in the UIL Solo and Ensemble and the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) all-state competitions, resulting in her being the principal flute in the district band and receiving superior rankings at the state solo competition in her junior and senior years. She also was in the Fort Worth Youth Orchestra and performed alongside the Fort Worth Symphony in Bass Hall during her senior year. Taylor is continuing her studies at UVA under Dr. Kelly Sulick and is in the Charlottesville Symphony and Cavalier Symphony Orchestra on flute/piccolo. As of now, she plans on studying Music, English, and Law. Taylor is thrilled to be a part of the Miller Arts Scholars program and is excited to continue exploring music opportunities at UVA and have a community that shares her passion.

Cai Luzak is a current undergraduate from Virginia Beach, VA who plans to major in English with a concentration in literary prose. Before college, he was heavily involved in the local theatre scene in his hometown, performing in several professional, community, and school-sponsored productions. His love for writing started in high school through a shared interest in reading classic literature, plays, and screenplays. At UVA, Cai is an active member of several theatre and performance CIOs as well as the UVA Drama Department. Cai mostly works in the short story format; his writings often dealing with archetypal characters in familiar situations undergoing changes through a subversion of common tropes. His personal view is that art is where we turn to when wondering if anyone else has felt what we're feeling. Through the Miller Arts Scholars Program, Cai hopes to connect with other like-minded individuals who share his passion for the arts. He is infinitely grateful for everyone who has helped him to where he is today.

Eliott Renenger is a cellist and bassist from Mclean, Virginia. He plans to study Economics, Statistics, and Music. He is interested in making classical music more accessible and using music to positively influence others lives. Eliott began playing the cello at the age of thirteen. Despite the late start, he quickly developed a love for the instrument. He joined 9th Street Chamber Ensemble, was a participant of Eastern Music Festival, and played a masterclass for noted American soloist Julian Schwartz. At UVA, Eliott is involved in the cello studio where he takes lessons from Professor Adam Carter, various chamber ensembles, and the Charlottesville Symphony. He has had the opportunity to play masterclasses for Aeolus Quartet, the resident quartet at Julliard, and Laszlo Polus, the principal cellist of the Hungarian State Opera. Eliott is excited to learn with and from students in diverse artistic disciplines and is honored to be a member of the Miller Arts community.

Julia Shuttleworth is from Palm Harbor, Florida, studying Public Policy and Drama, with a particular interest in comedy and playwriting. She’s been involved in theatre since elementary school, but credits her particular interest in comedy writing to the time she illicitly snuck into a taping of the Conan O’Brien show at twelve years old. In the drama department, Julia’s written plays for the 2025 New Works festival as well as the fall 2024 Lab Series production, which she also directed. Outside the department, she serves as Vice President for The Incident Sketch and Video Comedy, writes for various satirical publications, and does stand-up around Charlottesville. She’s also participated in the UVA theatre scene as an actor, with credits in Spectrum Theatre’s Carrie, Alice By Heart, and Fun Home, as well as the 2024 New Works festival. Julia is honored and excited to be part of such an amazing program and hopes to use this opportunity to challenge herself as a writer with the help of the incredible peers and faculty that are a part of it.

I am an international student from Auckland, New Zealand, intending to major in Studio Art and Art History. I am interested in working in painting, sculpture and installation; mainly how these three can potentially intersect in my practice. I took IB Higher Level Visual Art, scoring a 7, which inspired me to pursue art academically at a tertiary institute. I was also awarded a large grant from my high school’s Trust Board Art Award, the recognition of which further convinced me that I could find my place in the art world. I strive to be constantly learning, admiring, and changing as an artist— I am honoured to have a place in the Miller Arts Scholars that will allow me to better my practice and self amongst these distinguished artists.

Clare is an artist in the College of Arts and Sciences from Little Silver, New Jersey. Since childhood, she has loved engaging with studio art and experimenting with a range of traditional media. Specializing in oil paint, Clare enjoys crafting detail-oriented landscapes, portraits, and still lifes. After coming to UVA, Clare began experimenting with digital media, exploring the fields of graphic design and animation. She is interested in examining the intersection between art and technology, bridging these fields through research and collaboration. She is also passionate about promoting creative engagement and advancing accessibility within the art world. Her involvement as an Early Visions student mentor through the Fralin Museum of Art has cultivated her passion for arts education and working with children. In her free time, Clare enjoys hiking, spending time with friends, designing layouts for V Mag, and playing volleyball.

Autumn Hong is an instrumentalist, composer, and conductor from Chicago. She is a double major in Music and History with a minor in Korean. She started her musical journey on clarinet, but quickly was interested in expanding skills to saxophone, bassoon, and flute. Autumn was a drum major in high school which led her to her passion for conducting. At UVA, she conducts the Cavalier Symphony Orchestra and continues her drum major career in the Cavalier Marching Band. Expanding in different types of music, she also conducted the opera All is Apathetic in Love and War with renowned composer, Nathan Felix. Autumn is interested in more than just music; her enthusiasm in different disciplines, such as history, philosophy, visual arts, psychology, and other social sciences, often bleed into her original compositions. With such a deep interest in learning from different spheres, Autumn is ecstatic to be a part of the Miller Arts Scholar community!

Riley is from Briarcliff Manor, New York and is currently pursuing a degree in both English and Media Studies. She has always loved reading and began honing in on writing during her high school years. She fell in love with literary fiction by reading authors such as Sally Rooney, Jamaica Kincaid, and Carmen Maria Machado. In her undergraduate studies, she has become dedicated to writing short stories and one day hopes to publish a short story collection. Riley has also experimented with other forms of creative writing through UVA courses, including creative nonfiction and screenwriting. In addition to creative writing, Riley has been interested in drama for a very long time. Growing up right outside of and attending high school in New York City, she had a lot of exposure to live dramatic performances, often attending Broadway productions with her mother. At the University of Virginia, Riley has pursued this love of drama through stage managing and has stage managed multiple shows for various dramatic organizations on grounds. Riley is excited to continue her artistic pursuits in her remaining years at UVA and to be a part of the Miller Arts Scholar community.

Abby Milne is a director, producer, and playwright from Palo Alto, California majoring in Drama and English. Abby’s early productions premiered in their neighbor's driveway when, at the ripe old age of eight, Abby recruited other kids on the cul-de-sac to act in original plays that earned rave audience reviews from Abby’s mom. They stuck with theatre for lack of a better idea, performing in straight plays and musicals throughout middle and high school. At the University of Virginia, Abby holds leadership roles in Spectrum Theatre, First Year Players, and Virginia Players, writes for the Arts and Entertainment desk of the Cavalier Daily, and is active in the UVA Drama Department. Abby directed Fun Home with Spectrum Theatre in 2023, an experience that reaffirmed their passion for engaging with intimate, thematically challenging dramatic material. Their writing credits include (Un)Deadline (Overcranked Film Festival), Karens (UVA Drama New Works Festival), Angel of the Waters (Woodside Priory School), and The Waiting Room (Blank Theatre Young Playwrights Festival). When they’re not making theatre, Abby enjoys creative hobbies like juggling, collaging, and graphic design. After graduation, Abby hopes to work in arts administration and eventually pursue graduate studies. They are honored to join the Miller Arts Scholars and look forward to learning from students in a variety of artistic disciplines.

Elizabeth Moore is a biology major and a dance minor on the pre medical track in the class of 2026. She began dancing when she was three years old in her home town of Roanoke Virginia. As Elizabeth got older she started competing at regional and national competitions as well as performing at a variety of community events with Valley Dance Productions and then eventually with Divine Dance Center. Throughout her training Elizabeth has studied many styles of dance including; ballet, jazz, modern, tap and pointe. Since being at the University of Virginia, Elizabeth has been an active member of the dance community. She is on the executive board for Virginia Dance Committee, performs in the annual fall and spring dance concerts, and is a member and choreographer for The University Dance Club. Elizabeth is very excited to be apart of The Miller Arts Scholars and is excited for opportunities to work with other artists on grounds!

From Virginia Beach, Lucas Piette discovered his passion for blending the worlds of art and technology. He went to two high schools: spending half his day at a Math and Science program and the rest at the Governor’s School for the Arts where he concentrated in visual arts. Pursuing a double major in Computer Science and Studio Art at UVA, he explores the intersection of analytical and creative thought through graphics, new media, and cinematography. His artistic journey has been marked by experimentation with diverse mediums, from fiber arts to animation, culminating in a focus on the expression of liminality and ambience in film and music. Outside of academics, Lucas is the social chair and a student DJ at WXTJ student radio and an active member of the Washington Society.

Helen is a Studio Art and Psychology major in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Virginia. Helen has loved the arts since childhood. She finds great joy in teaching herself new creative skills such as piano, guitar, knitting, crochet, sewing, drawing, painting, and more. During high school, Helen’s love for art gradually shifted from a personal hobby to something she wanted to pursue in college and beyond. If she had to choose, her medium of choice would be oil painting, but she loves to experiment with other media. In her free time, Helen loves to go on sunrise hikes, drink black tea while reading a good book, upcycle clothes, and spend time with her friends and family.

Lilla Woodard is a Hungarian-American actor and playwright currently living in Arlington, Virginia. She grew up overseas in Bahrain, Lithuania, India, Switzerland, Germany, and Brunei, performing in theater productions across four different continents. In Arlington, she had the honor of working with Signature Theater on their flagship high school education program Signature in the Schools, and she received the Andrew A. Isen Young Artist Gift for her dedication and contribution to the program. Since coming to UVA, Lilla has performed in a range of productions across grounds, including the 2023 UVA Drama mainstage show, Everybody. She has a passion for experimental film and theater, and her dream is to use theater to bring people closer together across borders, facilitating cultural exchanges and highlighting marginalized groups.

Ben Berry is a jazz pianist and multi-instrumentalist from Boulder, Colorado. His passion for jazz was ignited after discovering the expressive and creative freedom of improvisational music. Inspired by the likes of J. Dilla, Ben has incorporated his jazz and gospel background into his own musical compositions and productions. During his high school years spent at the American School in London, he traveled Europe with his school’s jazz band and was selected to play in various jazz festivals. At UVA, he is a pianist of both the jazz ensemble and small group quintet. He continues to pursue both his jazz and musical production passions. He is thrilled to be part of the Miller Arts Scholar program and looks forward to working alongside other creatives while self-producing a full length project.

Alex Burijon was introduced to music as a baby swaddled on his dad's keyboard, but as soon as he could walk, he began to dance to Fantasia and Star Wars. He took up piano and violin lessons early, pursuing violin until his senior year of high school, after which he began to study ukulele, electric bass, and acoustic guitar (along with a COVID-19 drum hobby). He began to sing in church and school choirs as soon as they would let him in, and since then he has been unable to stop singing. This led to becoming involved with vocal coaches and opportunities for many features in violin and voice, namely the soprano part of the "Benedictus" from Schubert's Mass No. 2 in G Major and the soprano solo "The Marvelous Work" from Haydn's The Creation. He briefly joined a District Choir of Richmond, his hometown, that extremely inspired him to pursue performance. Outside of school, Alex performed in musicals such as Newsies, Matilda, and Into the Woods, Jr., culminating in his performance as the "Learn Your Lessons Well" soloist of Godspell. Since coming to UVA, he joined the all-gender a cappella group Harmonious Hoos, first arranging for them and then serving as a Music Director. He also tap-danced his way into the theater scene as Oscar Shaprio in Curtains and Nostradamus in Something Rotten with First Year Players, later serving as a vocal director for Hello Dolly and as a Diversity and Inclusion Co-Chair for 2022-2023. Alex is honored and beyond excited at this opportunity to further grow his relationships within the UVA Arts community, and he cannot wait for what the future holds!

Zoe Edelman is a computer science and studio art double major from Dover, Delaware.  As a child, she began her artistic endeavors drawing suns in the corner of her paper and weirdly proportioned people.  From there, Zoe took various classes in things like drawing, pottery making, and collaging while also participating in summer camps to fuel her artistic drive.  Now at UVA, Zoe aims to focus on new media as she has aspirations to become a user experience/user interface designer to bring more creativity to the way we view the internet.  Outside of studio art, Zoe is an active member of the Charlottesville Symphony Orchestra as a bassoonist and contrabassoonist, the WXTJ house show committee, the club swim team, and the club fencing team.  She is thrilled to be a part of the Miller Arts Scholars program and develop her artistic pursuits and mediums.

Rachel Guo is an intended economics/creative writing double major with minors in drama and studio art. Prior to coming to UVA, her writing has earned two silver medals for Flash Fiction from the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Outside of creative writing, she’s also involved in a number of other activities, with involvement in numerous student films, as well as First Year Players. She has also studied film acting at Stonestreet Studios. Rachel is also involved in music, having taken lessons in classical piano since the age of six, and continuing them at UVA. She hopes to combine her artistic interests with larger portfolio projects. Rachel is honored to be a part of the Miller Arts Program, and is excited to continue her creative endeavors in this community!

Mary Hall is a Ridley and Echols Scholar pursuing majors in African American and African Studies as well as Drama. Originally from Greensboro, NC before relocating to Richmond, VA, she has always had a passion for performing, due in large part to her family doing the same all of her life. She started performing in theatre productions in 2015 as a part of her middle school’s production of Beauty and the Beast, Jr. and has never looked back since. Her favorite credits since then are playing Humpty Dumpty in Shrek the Musical (2019) and Diana Morales in Spectrum Theatre’s production of A Chorus Line. Other UVA involvements include acting in UVA Drama’s Overcranked! short films, the Direct to You! Festival, WXTJ Student Radio, and most recently Flux Poetry and Spoken Word. She’s excited to delve deeper into her Drama major and combine it with her AAS major in order to research more of the Black theatre world, and is immensely grateful that she’s able to do so as a Miller Arts Scholar.

Arianna Jobst is from Wayne, New Jersey and is pursuing a double major in Media Studies and English, with an intended concentration of Literary Prose. She’s always loved writing– filling marble notebooks with novels since elementary school. She loves writing in all forms: prose, poetry, screenwriting, playwriting, etc and always has a notebook on her to write down any ideas she might get in the moment. Prior to coming to the University of Virginia, she received awards for her academic writing prior, had her pieces selected to be performed, and had pieces printed in school publications. Arianna has thrown herself into creative writing at UVA– taking workshop classes with the English department as well as being part of several literary clubs. Additionally, any pursuits outside of literary clubs ultimately just connect back to her writing: whether that be stand-up comedy, improv, filmmaking, film editing, hosting a radio show, or satire journalism, everything in her life comes back to influence her writing. Arianna is extremely grateful for the opportunity to be part of an amazing community of Scholars, and is honored to be a Miller Arts Scholar.

I’ve been drawn to the arts since before I can remember. Starting off creating jovial work for friends in elementary school, eventually I was making pieces for school offices, charity auctions, and community murals at a young age. I grew a small art business and began assistant teaching my school’s introduction classes all before graduating high school. Experiencing the joy of teaching and connecting through art is something that continues to impact me and my artistic goals to this day. I’m now studying environmental science and studio art with a concentration in new media. My hope is to find the intersection of both disciplines and forge a new realm of public education and engagement. I’m very passionate about combining science and art, ultimately viewing the pursuit of my degrees as the study of both humanity and the world around us. At the beginning of my second year, I began exploring the world of music and formed a local band called behindthesun. Becoming a singer/songwriter and performer unlocked a newfound confidence in my voice, both literally and figuratively. I’m excited to continue discovering new, creative experiences and community through the art of sound. In my visual work, I delve into a range of disciplines and techniques, usually with an experimental attitude. Film photography, print making, acrylic and oil painting, some sculpture, drawing, collaging, and digital art to name a few! I’m increasingly interested in the research process and the ethics of material use in my projects. The themes of my work often involve the questioning of reality, personal identity, memory, metaphysical investigation, social/political issues, and curiosity about the boundaries of comfort/acceptability. I’m ecstatic to be a Miller Arts Scholar and to have a role in shaping and growing this community of imaginative, critical thinkers and creators.

Emily is a Computer Science and Studio Art major. She has always loved creating and viewing art. As a child, she took drawing and painting classes. In her free time, she enjoys painting landscapes with acrylic paint. Emily has explored different art forms at the University of Virginia from New Media to Cinematography to Performance Art. She has a penchant for technology and wants to explore new and unconventional art forms. Her work tends to focus on race, identity, and time. Emily hopes to incorporate the different senses into her work, creating a 4-D experience for audience members. Outside of Studio Art, Emily is a member of alpha Kappa Delta Phi, enjoys playing the piano, and cooking. Emily is so excited and honored to be a Miller Arts Scholar. She is inspired by the talented individuals in the arts scholar community and hopes to learn from them.

Helen (Holly) Teti is a singer and songwriter from Princeton, New Jersey. Her songwriting is heavily inspired by 70s folk and modern indie musicians such as Joni Mitchell and Phoebe Bridgers. Her debut EP “In A Hazy Green Light” was released to streaming on April 1, 2022. In addition to making her own music, she is a student of Art History and involved in student theater on grounds through Shakespeare on the Lawn. She is also an Alto in the University Singers and Chamber Singers. Outside of the arts, Holly is an Advisor on the UVA Honor committee and a volunteer ski instructor. 

Amanda Yo grew up in McLean, Virginia and began playing flute at the age of ten. Beginning with involvement in area band, she expanded to become actively involved in her high school band and orchestra, marching band, and flute choir. Outside of school she was involved in music in a variety of ways, including playing at her church, with the combined GMU flute choir, Virginia Music Educators Association (VMEA), Mid-Atlantic Flute Convention, and attending PIMF. She has competed and placed at districts, senior regional orchestra, and VA-All State levels on flute and piccolo. At UVA, Amanda currently studies under Dr. Kelly Sulick and plays with the Charlottesville Symphony Orchestra. She continues to compete, and has done so at the 3rd Annual UVA Flute forum placing as one of three winners as well as placing as an alternate at the Mid-Atlantic Flute Convention Collegiate Competition. Music has grown to become an integral part of her life and expression. She hopes to expand her experience and knowledge, in the form of ensembles, genres and other instruments. Currently, she intends to pursue degrees in music and physics. Amanda is excited and honored to be a part of the Millers Arts Scholars program. She hopes to grow, be inspired further, and actively be involved in the community.