Spotlight on PennWest's Artistic Community

Lights. Camera. Action! Today, we dive into the vibrant world of music and theatre.We’ll explore the creative journeys of our talented students, faculty and alumni, who bring the campus to life with their performances and productions. From captivating musicals and thought-provoking plays to innovative music technology, we celebrate the arts in all their forms. Our three guests today will show how they discovered their artistic path and harness the power of artistic expression.Matt Poirier, a 2014 PennWest commercial music technology graduate, earned a Grammy for his engineering on "Rectangles and Circumstance" by Caroline Shaw and Sō Percussion. His journey, marked by dedication and persistence, led him from Miner Street Recordings to freelance work across multiple studios, including classical recordings at Princeton.Next, we have Dr. J.P. Staszel, an associate professor at PennWest, where he directs departmental productions and teaches theatre history, dramatic literature, acting and communication. JP has trained with several renowned theatre companies and artists including Pilobolus, Inlet Dance Theatre and the North American Cultural Laboratory.Finally, we have M.J. Jerdan, a sophomore animation major from our Edinboro campus. M.J. has been involved in theatre since age 7, performing in 26 shows, including Radium Girls, Peter and the Starcatcher and Mamma Mia. M.J. has also directed, designed costumes and led workshops.