Our Scholars

Abishek Mugunthan is a violinist and engineering student at the University of Virginia, where he is also a member of the Charlottesville Symphony. He is a graduate of Granby High School, where he served as orchestra leader and was actively involved in the school’s fine arts community. His musical highlights include winning both the Bay Youth Orchestras of Virginia Concerto Competition and the Governor’s School for the Arts Concerto Competition for the 2024–2025 season, performing as a soloist with both ensembles. Separately, his work with the Granby High School Orchestra was featured on WTKR News in 2023 and 2024. In the summer of 2024, Abishek attended the Brevard Music Center Summer Institute on a full scholarship thanks to an anonymous donor, where he performed with the Brevard Concert Orchestra. His additional training includes the Galeta Chamber Music Summer Camp and the Hampton Roads Chamber Music Summer Camp. Abishek currently studies violin with Dr. Daniel Sender and has previously studied with Vahn Armstrong, concertmaster emeritus of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra. He has participated in masterclasses and lessons with artists including Philippe Quint, Callum Smart, Colin Jacobsen, Grigory Kalinovsky, and Ara Gregorian. His orchestral experience includes multiple selections for the All-Virginia Orchestra and service as Principal Second Violin of the Senior Regional Orchestra. During high school, Abishek held leadership and outreach roles, including leading the NPS Strolling Silver Strings and mentoring younger musicians through Summer Fever Strings Camp. Abishek is generously being loaned a Douglas Cox violin through the Virtu Foundation.

Kait Anthes is an artist from Fredericksburg, Virginia. She intends to pursue a dual major in Computer Science (BA) and Media Studies with a minor in Studio Art. Kait is especially interested in graphic and web design, and she enjoys exploring how technology and visual art can work together creatively. Her artistic foundation comes from studio art, which continues to shape how she approaches digital design and media. Outside of art, Kait spends much of her time dancing with color guard, where movement influences the way she thinks about visual storytelling.

Phoenix Banks is a poet from Chesapeake, Virginia. She has always been fond of writing from a young age, but began exploring poetry more seriously throughout high school. She is currently majoring in English with the hope of pursuing creative writing as a career. Phoenix has been published in numerous publications, including the Virginia Black Review, Virginia Literary Review, and the Muse Writer’s Center’s Musings, and has served as the two-time Hampton Roads Youth Poet Laureate for the City of Chesapeake. Outside of creative writing, Phoenix is a staff writer for the Cavalier Daily and V Magazine at UVA. Her poetry focuses on the black experience, southern America, girlhood, identity, and the natural world.  Phoenix has a deep appreciation for music and incorporates this into her poetry through distinctive musicality, form, and rhythm. Phoenix is honored to be a part of the Miller Arts Scholars Program and is excited to learn more about writing and further hone her craft. 

Olivia Crane is a violinist from Annapolis, Maryland. She started learning violin in the Suzuki Method in second grade, studied with James Stern at the University of Maryland in high school, and now takes lessons with Daniel Sender at UVA. Olivia served as concertmistress of the Chesapeake Youth Symphony Orchestra, where she soloed Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1, and of her school Camerata, where she soloed Vivaldi’s Winter and Williams’s Theme from Schindler’s List. On Grounds, she plays in the Charlottesville Symphony Orchestra and in chamber music. Olivia also loves drawing and painting in the classical style and looks forward to combining these different art forms as a Miller Arts Scholar. She plans to study English and music.

Gwendolyn Darrow is a student and artist from Virginia Beach, pursuing a double major in Studio Art and Media Studies with a minor in Environmental Science. In her work, Gwen explores biodiversity, connections, and local community impacts. She enjoys experimenting with new media and techniques, principally studying printmaking. Before attending UVA, she graduated from the Visual and Performing Arts Academy at Salem High School. Her work has been exhibited at museums and art shows across the area. Outside of the arts, Gwen is a publicity chair for Virginia Riding, a member of Epsilon Eta, and is currently learning the sport of polo. She is honored to be a Miller Arts Scholar and is excited by the opportunities for creative growth and involvement that the program grants.

Elizabeth Fox is a first-year student at the University of Virginia, planning to double major in Vocal Performance and Finance. She has loved singing since childhood, beginning with her church choir and continuing through years of musical and choral performance. At UVA, she sings Soprano I in the University Singers and the Chamber Singers and studies classical voice with Brigid Eversole. She also sings with the youth choir at St. Paul’s Memorial Church in Charlottesville. Elizabeth is honored to be part of the Miller Arts community and to continue developing her voice at UVA.

Sikelia Pasquina is a dancer from Bethesda, Maryland. She has studied classical ballet since the age of four and has also trained in contemporary, modern, flamenco, and hip-hop at Maryland Youth Ballet. There, she performed leading roles in several ballet and contemporary productions, including the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker and Swanhilda in Coppélia. As an Echols Scholar at the University of Virginia, she plans to pursue a major in Biology and a minor in Dance. She has conducted research investigating the role dance may play in promoting synaptic plasticity and hopes to continue exploring interdisciplinary connections between the arts and sciences. Next year, she plans to dance as a Trainee with Charlottesville Ballet and looks forward to remaining an active member of both Rhapsody Ballet Ensemble and the UVA Dance Department. She is honored to be a Miller Arts Scholar and hopes to contribute meaningfully to the arts community at UVA.

Georgia Upson is a dancer and aspiring policy wonk from Denver, Colorado. She is majoring in politics and minoring in dance, and enjoys finding the connections between public policy and the arts. As a Child of Deaf Adult (CODA), Georgia is constantly exploring the role of accessibility and disability policy in dance, and looks forward to continuing her journey towards making dance more accessible.  Georgia attended Denver School of the Arts where she trained in ballet, modern, jazz, and contemporary and continued to develop her passion for expressing her political beliefs through her art. At UVA she continues her involvement with dance as a member of the Virginia Dance Committee, and with politics as a member of Kappa Omega Alpha. Georgia is honored to join the Miller Arts Scholars program and engage with other individuals who are passionate about the arts.

Jonathan Barnard is a prospective Drama and Politics double major from Springfield, VA and he is incredibly excited to join the Miller Arts Scholars cohort with a focus on drama! He has been doing theatre since his high school sophomore year and band since his fifth grade year, and has never looked back since. He enjoys long walks on the beach, boutique scented candles, and having a good laugh...One of his biggest interests academically is studying the intersection of politics and performance studies and creating spaces of community through performance. He can't wait to pursue interdisciplinary work with his fellow Miller Arts Scholars!

Sarita Baron is from Silver Spring, Maryland, and began playing the flute at 10 years old. In high school, she participated in her school’s wind ensemble and pit orchestra. Additionally, she was a member of the Montgomery County Senior Honors Band, Maryland Classical Youth Orchestra Senior Flute Choir, and principal flutist for the Potomac Valley Youth Philharmonic Orchestra. At UVA, she is continuing her studies under Dr. Kelly Sulick, and is part of the UVA wind ensemble and flute ensemble. Sarita is honored to be a Miller Arts Scholar and is excited to find community within the arts at UVA. 

Clark Beach is a composer, cross genre multi-instrumentalist, producer, and actor from Manhattan, NY. Currently, he his majoring in Economics while he makes music and performs with his band across grounds. Clark comes from a plethora of culture and ethnicities ranging from is family being a mix of Latino, Northern African, Southern American, and European heritage to his upbringing in the city. He started playing drums when he was 8-years-old and has been apart of countless bands while acting in multiple musicals, film projects, and plays (Rush, Buddy Rich, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and show toons was his personality). Then when COVID forced him to be in a small apartment with his family of 5, he found out the he needed to find musical alternatives instead of tapping away on his practice pad. So, he got serious about singing, guitar, and piano while he had a lot of free time. Then, he found songwriting and music producing/recording (making a rap song and video when he got his first microphone). Since then he has released multiple songs on Spotify, acted Off-Broadway, performed in competitions and festivals, and rehearsed and networked with professionals like Sam Hollander for songwriting and Wynton Marsalis for Jazz drums. Now that Clark is a Miller Arts Scholar, he plans to connect with others who love their craft just as obsessively as himself and take his music career to the next level by collaborating with other Miller Arts Scholars! 

Caoilainn Bischoff is a dancer from Darien, Connecticut, majoring in Interdisciplinary Health Studies (Echols IMP) and minoring in Dance on a pre-PA track. She is passionate about exploring intersections between biology and dance and how impulses may inform movement and kinesthetic awareness. She began her journey with dance at the Lynn Academy of Irish Dance, and later discovered her passion for ballet and other contemporary forms at age 13. In high school, she trained in ballet, contemporary, modern, jazz, and pointe at the Ballet School of Stamford, participating extensively in community performances, full-length ballets, and contemporary works.  As a member of the University Dance Club and the Virginia Dance Committee at UVA, she has continued pursuing various styles and is interested in improvisation situated within choreographed contexts. Additionally, she performs in the Fall and Spring Dance Concerts. She is extremely honored to be a part of the Miller Arts program, and looks forward to interdisciplinary collaboration in the future! 

Rosemary Cavalier is a visual artist and filmmaker from Winchester, Virginia. She is a second year at the University of Virginia studying History and Studio Art with a minor in Public Humanities. She is interested in design, all forms of visual art, film production, and documentary work. Rosemary engages with the arts at UVA through Fralin Docents, the Virginia Film Festival/Adrenaline Film Project, and independent productions and engagements. She loves experimenting, combining mediums, and combining an interest in historical and archival research with art to bridge the disciplines and create meaning as her work progresses. Rosemary is honored to join the Miller Arts Scholars community and to connect with next year's cohort!

Yi Cheng is an artist from Beijing, currently pursuing a double major in Studio Art and Commerce at the University of Virginia. Her work emphasizes the exploration of complex human emotions in relation to growth and change, utilizing color and nature symbolism. Yi is particularly focused on investigating her identity through multi-medium self-portraits, aiming to leverage her artistic skills for impactful real-world projects. Additionally, with a strong background in graphic design and data analysis, she possesses a unique skill set that enables her to effectively integrate creative and analytical approaches in her work.

 Iresha is from Richmond, Virginia and is currently pursuing a degree in Media Studies and Politics with a minor in Creative Writing. From the earliest age, she has had an appreciation for writing about anything and everything. Alongside writing, she extends her narratives across mediums such as filmmaking, theatre, and music. After attending Northwestern’s Film/Video high school summer program, she knew she wanted to further pursue screenwriting and film production at UVA. Iresha also enjoys drumming and exploring different forms of media in her free time. As a Miller Arts Scholar, she hopes to continue experimenting with her narratives and exploring different genres.

Isabella DeMark is from Purcellville, Virginia, and is currently pursuing a double major in Studio Art (concentration in painting) and Global Sustainability. Isabella wishes to combine her passion in both areas to explore and inspire meaningful impact at the intersection of humanity and nature. Drawing people, birds, and natural forms, she strives to capture fleeting gestures and quiet stories that reflect resilience and vulnerability. Her work embraces experimentation with unconventional mediums, so far using tree trunk slabs, leaves, resin, wall spackle, and monotyping, to create unique, tactile surfaces that challenge traditional boundaries. Through this process, I seek to deepen awareness of our interconnectedness and foster dialogue about environmental and social sustainability. As a Miller Arts Scholar, she is committed to using art as a tool for research, reflection, and positive change.

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!

I am from Rice, Virginia, and am currently a 2nd-year Studio Art major, and am involved with Education at UVA and the greater Charlottesville area. I have a background in drawing and DIY, and I often draw back on these skills within my practice. My work has recently been about my experiences growing up in the South and its subsequent connections with nature. I engage with my relationships with the south through depicting decay and the things that emerge from it, often using nature and aspects of my identity to explore these relationships. Besides my involvement with UVA, I am also interested in sewing and fashion, working towards creating my own clothing collection. 

Charlotte Halford is a Global Public Health major and Dance minor from Charleston, SC. She began practicing ballet, jazz, and tap at a young age. Later, she transitioned to training in mostly ballet and contemporary dance forms at Dance Conservatory of Charleston. Charlotte attended summer intensives in high school at Carolina Ballet and Nashville Ballet. At UVA, she is a member of Virginia Dance Committee and has participated in the Spring and Fall Dance Program Concerts since her Spring semester of first year. Charlotte is honored to join the Miller Arts Scholar community.

I am a music major, more specifically a composer and arranger. I believe that music, and art as a whole, has an amazing power to better people’s lives and I want to tap into that power to improve the Charlottesville community. Whether it’s to bring awareness to issues, raise money for charity, or just simply to entertain people after a long, hard day, the people of Charlottesville deserve to have quality, local art in their lives. I look forward to combining music with other artistic disciplines to further better the lives of those in Charlottesville. In my free time, I like to drum, play videogames, and watch movies.

Kanade Honda is from Chiba, Japan, and is pursuing a double major in Music and Chemistry. She began playing piano at the age of three and received solfege and perfect pitch training at Ichionkai Music School in Tokyo until the age of nine. She was also selected to play in the public master class of Eugene Pridonoff, a professor in University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. During elementary school, she frequently accompanied choir groups on piano, which led to an opportunity to perform in a choir competition. Kanade had the opportunity to play at the Esplanade in Singapore as part of a piano recital. In high school, she was an active member of Vivace, a volunteer group dedicated to performing music in hospitals and nursing homes. At UVA, she continues her piano studies under Professor John Mayhood and is also part of the Chamber Ensemble, where she enjoys playing in piano trios and quartets. As a Miller Arts Scholar, Kanade is excited to collaborate with and be inspired by fellow artists and musicians.

Beck Jewell is a poet from Leesburg, Virginia. He is planning to double major in WGS and Media Studies, to examine how different representations of minority groups in popular media both create and confront biases. Beck’s artistic focus is in creative writing, particularly poetry, theatre, and the blurred area between the two. He believes that some feelings are too complex to be named through conventional methods. There are times when the only way to identify the human experience is through the bizarre. Thus, he is especially interested in the surreal, the dreamlike, and the liminal as tools for conveying specific, highly personal emotions. In short, he aims to make sense out of nonsense. As a queer artist, Beck’s writing centers on themes of identity, transformation, and bodily autonomy. He is looking forward to collaborating with other Miller Arts Scholars on multimedia explorations of madness and representation.

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!

Daniel Kilmartin is a second year Drama and English major and psychology minor from Fredericksburg, VA. He's been dillydallying in the theatre for most of his life and has loved every moment. When he's not on stage, he's usually writing stories, music, or music stories. He has tried many times to perform a backflip, only unsuccessfully.

Haley Kim is a second-year student from Fairfax, Virginia, pursuing a B.S. in Commerce at McIntire along with a second major in Music. Haley has loved singing for as long as she can remember, participating in ensembles such as District Choir, All-State Chorus, and National Children’s Choir throughout middle and high schools. Her passion for the arts also spans to musical theatre and dance. Haley has performed in numerous musicals, some of her favorites being Cry-Baby (Wanda), Spongebob (Pearl Krabs), and Catch Me If You Can (Brenda Strong). At UVA, Haley is a member of Hoos in Treble acapella, and contributes in her role as assistant music director. She is also involved in First Year Players, having been a cast member, on the technical team, and artistic staff as choreographer over the past three semesters. She has sung in University Singers, and is now in the cast of UVA Drama’s Mainstage production, Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 (Helene). Haley is honored to be recognized as a Miller Arts Scholar and is grateful to be part of such a welcoming and supportive arts community at UVA!

Abigail Lee is a second-year student at the University of Virginia majoring in Neuroscience and minoring in Dance. Originally from Williamsburg, Virginia, she trained at the Institute for Dance and the York County School of the Arts, developing a strong foundation in ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, and contemporary dance alongside performance and choreographic experience. At UVA, Abigail performs in Drama Department productions and is an active member of the University Dance Club.  Her interdisciplinary interests explore the intersection of dance and neuroscience, particularly how movement and embodied expression relate to cognition, emotional processing, and neurological health. In addition to her artistic work, Abigail conducts undergraduate research at the University of Virginia School of Medicine studying metabolic processes in glioblastoma. She is also a certified Emergency Medical Technician and a founding member of the service-focused student organization The For Good Project. Abigail is honored to be a Miller Arts Scholar and is grateful to be part of a collaborative artistic community. 

Gabriel Mayor-Mora is from Richmond, Virginia and is majoring in Studio Art (concentration in film). He has made several short films that often range from frightening to the absurd. He has been working with the Filmmaker's Society of UVA to run the Virginia Student Film Festival. Outside of film, Gabriel enjoys writing poetry and playing soccer.

Olive Monahan is from Fredericksburg, Virginia, currently pursuing a Computer Science major with a Studio Art minor. They started drawing in elementary school, and began to pursue art professionally in high school, where they won several ribbons from the Virginia State Fair and monetary prizes from other competitions. Now, Olive is passionate about oil painting and charcoal, two mediums that compose the majority of their work. In their subject matter, Olive appreciates exploring people, movie scenes, and characters. Outside of studio art, Olive is also heavily involved in the Washington Literary Society & Debating Union and WXTJ Student Radio.

Eva Simpson is an undergraduate studying mathematics and linguistics, with plans to minor in creative writing. She primarily writes short fiction but hopes to explore longer works and poetry in the future. Her work often falls within literary fiction and horror, and she is particularly drawn to short fiction by writers such as J.D. Salinger and Joy Williams, along with more experimental prose from authors like James Joyce and William Faulkner. Through the Miller Arts Scholars program, she hopes to become more involved in the arts community at UVA.

Ashley Xiao is a current second year from Richmond, Virginia majoring in architecture and minoring in studio art and landscape architecture. Since childhood, she has been involved with the arts through painting, music, and dance. In high school, she began to take studio art more seriously by submitting to art competitions and experimenting with painting as a medium for self expression and discovery. After coming to UVA, Ashley began experimenting with sculpture and digital art, combining her passion for art and architecture to develop an interdisciplinary artistic practice grounded in identity and intersectionality. She is interested in exploring the intersections between the built environment, culture, and queerness through creating mixed media pieces sourced from recycled and found materials. In her free time, Ashley enjoys playing guitar, making jewelry, and graphic design. Ashley is honored to join the Miller Arts Scholar community and collaborate with a group of young creatives!

Claire Youn is a violinist from Portland, OR, currently pursuing a double major in Physics and Music at UVA. She began her violin studies at age five and studied under Daniel Sender and Hae-Jin Kim. A former Second Violin Principal of PYP and Co-Concertmaster of Camerata PYP, she has performed in the NAfME All-National Honors Orchestra and was the Assistant Concertmaster for the NAfME All-Northwest Orchestra. Her awards include the Monday Musical Club Scholarship Award, Eugene Symphony Young Artist Competition, and most recently the Charlottesville Symphony’s Concerto Competition. She has also attended summer programs such as the National Symphony Orchestra Summer Music Institute, the Interlochen Arts Academy’s Violin Intensive Camp, and the National Orchestral Institute + Festival. Claire is thrilled to be a part of the Miller Arts Scholars Program and is excited to collaborate with fellow artists and deepen her artistic knowledge. 

Samman Akbarzada is an Afghan refugee and the author of two books "Life is a Movie," her debut novel, and "A Glimmer in the Dark," a collection of poetry. Her words capture the suffering, heartbreak, gratitude, and redemption that mark a life lived on the blade of conflict with love and empathy as her constant guiding light, aspiring to foster empathy and understanding among readers.

She plans to major in psychology and serve as a trauma-focused therapist for refugee women, while pursuing her love for creative writing as well. Driven by a profound desire to bring hearts closer through her art, Samman seeks to amplify the voices of under-served communities. She serves as an interpreter for the International Rescue Committee and is actively engaged with C'ville Tulips, a program dedicated to empowering refugee women through literacy. Additionally, she tutors girls in Afghanistan online through a non-profit organization. 

She believes fervently in the transformative power of art and poetry to dissolve barriers, dismantle walls, and unite humanity. Samman aspires her work to serves as a testament to the beauty of shared experiences and the profound connections forged through storytelling. Through poetry, she invites us to transcend differences, embrace vulnerability, and celebrate the inherent beauty of our shared humanity.

Armen Boghosian is a second-year student from Alexandria, Virginia, studying economics and data science. He began private violin lessons at the age of six, influenced by his Great Uncles, Miran Kojian and Varujan Kojian, who both studied violin under Jascha Heifetz. In 2014, Armen began instruction under then National Symphony Orchestra first violinist Linda Schroeder. Throughout middle school and high school, he participated in the Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association Annual District X Orchestra each year. He was also involved in a men's chorus in early high school, showcasing his broad skills in music. 

As a high school junior, he led the Washington Metropolitan Youth Orchestra as concertmaster. In 2021, he began studying under "Pershing's Own" U.S. Army Strings violinist Jordan Hendy. He thrived on learning more challenging solo pieces such as Symphonie Espagnole by Édouard Lalo. He was featured to perform the piece accompanied by the Washington Metropolitan Youth Orchestra and also played it along with Csárdás, by Vittorio Monti, at his final recital. At UVA, Armen enjoys being a member of the Charlottesville Symphony Orchestra as well as the Daniel Sender Violin Studio, where he is continuing to learn violin at a high level. Music has been a constant part of his life, and he holds deep appreciation for the arts. Armen is honored to be a part of the Miller Arts community and is looking forward to collaborating with fellow musicians in a meaningful way.

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.

Parker Chapman is a photographer from Roanoke, VA, majoring in Neuroscience and minoring in Studio Art. Parker was intrigued with photography at a young age and began photographing weddings in high school. Now he has a passion for 35mm film photography and is learning large format film photography. By combining his passion for the outdoors, he enjoys photographing landscapes, rock climbing, and running events. Now he is photographing for UVA Club Running, UVA Climbing, and his many other outdoor adventures. Parker is also a pre- medical student and enjoys volunteering at a local rescue squad each week. He is honored to be a Miller Arts Scholar and is excited to connect with fellow artists!

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.

Naomi Diener is a dancer from Harrisonburg, Virginia, majoring in Youth and Social Innovation with a minor in Dance. She is passionate about integrating her interests in child development and dance and hopes to collaborate with artists in different fields to provide children opportunities to explore the arts. She has been dancing since she was three years old, with a primary focus on ballet, and she joined the company for Rockingham Ballet Theater at the age of 12. Her love of dance continued to grow through training at dance intensives at her local studio and James Madison University, as well as performing in several full-length ballets.

She has explored a new side of dance here at UVA through choreographing and performing with the University Dance Club and Rhapsody Ballet Ensemble, along with performing in the Dance Department's concerts. Additionally, she discovered a passion for a new medium of dance through filmmaking and has created two films for UVA's Dance Program's concerts. Naomi is honored to become a Miller Arts Scholar and hopes to collaborate with other artists to grow in new and meaningful ways. 

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.

Gwyneth Fahy is thrilled to be a member of the Miller Arts Scholar program here at the University of Virginia. She is currently a nursing major with a drama minor. Gwyneth began dancing at the age of three and soon became very involved in musical theatre. She began her theatre career as Gretl in The Sound of Music and has not looked back since. Here at UVA, she is involved with As You Like It and teaches at the children theater company daily. Not only is Gwyneth a teaching artist for their after-school program but also a choreographer for their conservatory productions. She is beyond grateful for her involvement at DMR and loves nothing more than sharing her passion of the arts with younger generations. She has goals of professional performing and is looking forward to greater experience and collaboration with other passionate artists here in 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.

Carson Harter is from Oakton, Virginia. Carson is currently an undergraduate student in the College of Arts & Science, hoping to double major in Drama and Commerce. All his life, Carson has had a deep passion for theatre, and everything that it encompasses. Having spent time in every niche of theatre, from producer to actor to designer, he has yet to find a part of theatre that he does not love.

At UVA, Carson has become a member of many theatre communities around Grounds, including acting in the Drama Department and First Year Player shows, assistant stage managing for First Year Players, and being a costume tech with Spectrum Theatre. At heart, Carson is a lover of all things arts. He is honored to be a Miller Arts Scholar, and is excited to explore all things art here at UVA!

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.

Kate Hovey is from Woodbridge, Virginia, and is hoping to double major in Drama and Computer Science. She has been acting since elementary school, and decided very early on that it was something she wanted to pursue in college. She is a graduate of the Prince William County Center for the Fine and Performing Arts specialty program, and the Virginia Summer Residential Governor’s School, both in theatre concentrations. Besides acting, Kate is interested in directing and artistic design for the world of theatre. At UVA, she is involved with Shakespeare on the Lawn and has performed in the New Works Festival. Kate is incredibly excited to work with artists from all disciplines and share her passion for the arts through the Miller Arts Scholars 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.

Sarah Jun is from Gainesville, Virginia, and plans to double major in nursing and studio art. She has always loved to draw since she was very young. Her interest in art grew when her older brother gave her a Zentangle drawing kit in elementary school. From there on, she has grown in her interest in pen and ink drawing. She currently draws funny doodles, drawing inspiration from the things around her. Sarah hopes to explore more about this idea of humor within art and how it affects the audience, especially in illustrations and cartoons.

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.

Niamh Kierans is a singer-songwriter from Marshall, Virginia majoring in English and Medieval Studies. Having spent her early childhood as part of a Foreign Service family, Niamh wrote her first song about the difficulties of frequent moving. Once firmly established in Virginia at the age of eight, she began to study voice and guitar. Since then, she has written, co-produced, and released two full-length albums and two double A-side records. Outside of songwriting, Niamh has participated in choir since the fourth grade, performing in all-county and all-district choruses. She is now a member of the UVA University Singers, Chamber Singers, and the a cappella group Hoos in Treble, in which she serves as assistant music director. Niamh is excited to be among so many talented artists within the Miller Arts Community and greatly looks forward to learning all she can from the program.

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.

Born and raised in Virginia Beach, VA, Riley LeBlanc plans to double major in English and Studio Art with a concentration in cinematography. She hopes to pursue screenwriting after college and has plans to explore filmmaking while at UVA. Having been a dancer her whole life, she's always had a love for the arts and the arts community, but her true passion is writing, which she explores through writing short stories and reading extensively. At Virginia, she continues to perfect her craft with creative/fiction writing classes and contributes to the arts community as a dancer in Rhapsody Ballet Ensemble. She's honored to be a part of the Miller Arts Scholars Program and is looking forward to learning from her fellow classmates.

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.

Xingchen is an astrophotographer and cinematographer pursuing an Echols interdisciplinary major and a minor in Film. Having spent his childhood between San Marino, California, and Beijing, China, Xingchen has long held an interest in cultural diaspora, globalism, and the notion of nostalgia. This interest guides his gaze upward to what transcends all humanity — the stars, nebulae, and galaxies. Nostalgia has also endowed him with the ability to perceive the intricacies of the world, which he hopes to use to break down cultural barriers and foster mutual understanding. He believes that beyond nostalgia and the barriers of time and space, it is art that connects us all. He is immensely honored and grateful to be a member of the Miller Arts program, and is eager to collaborate with his fellow distinguished artists.

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.

Elizabeth Mayhood is from Charlottesville, Virginia, where she began playing flute at 11 years old. In high school, she participated in the wind ensemble and pit orchestra on flute and piccolo. In her marching band, she was the piccolo section leader and woodwind hornline captain during her senior year. She participated in All-Districts and All-State bands, and she won the Charlottesville Band James W. Simmons Solo Competition in 2023. At UVA, she is continuing her studies under Dr. Kelly Sulick and plays in the Charlottesville Symphony, Cavalier Marching Band, UVA Flute Ensemble, and Basketball Band. Elizabeth is thrilled to be an Arts Scholar, and she is hoping to increase her experience in music and the arts in general.

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.

Leo Robinson is a drama major from Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He has been passionate about theatrical design and production since middle school, when he fell in love with the process of bringing performances to life.  He's fascinated by how design brings a lively spirit to a playscript and how production management helps to fulfill this creative vision. In his pursuit of a career in stage management, Leo has been part of productions on and off grounds, including Playmakers Repertory Company's Summer Youth Conservatory, Shakespeare on the Lawn, and the most recently, the UVA Drama Department's 2025 New Works Festival. Leo has always loved being in the theatre and looks forward to learning more about production management innovations. He is honored to be a Miller Arts Scholar and can't wait to see what the future holds!

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.

Georgina Stewart is a Drama major at the University of Virginia with a focus on acting and design. She is interested in how performance and stagecraft work together to create meaningful experiences. Georgina has worked on several productions, both on stage and behind the scenes, where she has focused her skills in bringing unique characters and stories to life. As a Miller Arts Scholar, she hopes to continue to explore performance and design and her creative process. She looks forward to collaborating with peers and faculty to deepen her understanding of the theatre arts.

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.

Jack Wolff is an actor from Fairfax, Virginia. During his time in theatre, he has performed in over 20 shows ranging from both large-scale musicals to shorter one-acts. He has always loved theatre as a form of expression and a place to feel safe in this hectic world. Favorite credits include: Christopher (The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime), Jack (Into the Woods), and Doug (Gutenberg The Musical). Jack has received previous accreditations in high school such as winning the award for Lead Male Actor in a Play (Cappies NCA) and 2nd place medal in humorous duo (State VHSL). At UVA Jack plans to continue his love of drama through a major in the program, and has already participated in multiple theatre groups including: The Whethermen improv, First Year Players, and UVA’s mainstage show. Jack is thrilled to be a part of the Miller Arts community and looks forward to working with his peers to grow and learn.

Molly Simpson is a second year singer and songwriter from Chesapeake, Virginia. After a childhood of writing songs in her backyard and performing in musicals and ballets, her music career officially began in 2020 with her attendance of the Governor’s School for the Arts in the musical theater department. Her artistic exploration was supported by intensive classes, lessons, and performances in singing, dancing, and acting as well as other unique opportunities, including soloing with the Virginia Symphony and singing alongside Kristin Chenoweth and Renee Fleming. In 2022, Molly began performing local acoustic shows with her younger brother, Josh, in which her passion for music began to truly flourish. She learned how to play guitar and her songwriting career began to grow. She released her debut single “Fool” in August of 2025, and hopes to release her debut EP by the end of this semester. In her first two years at UVA, she has explored different genres and styles and made lasting friendships as a member of the Virginia Sil’hooettes and the lead singer of a student band, Dropout. She plans to declare the Echols Interdisciplinary Major combining music, media studies, and commerce. Outside of the arts, she serves as Vice President of Community Engagement for the Echols Scholars Program, an Echols Ambassador, a Madison House volunteer, and an intern with Starr Hill Presents and Crozet Pizza. Molly is honored to join the Miller Arts Scholars community and looks forward to meeting and collaborating with talented artists from a variety of disciplines and backgrounds.