VPA finds new audience for Day of Giving support

The College of Visual and Performing Arts at Purdue University Fort Wayne took part of its Day of Giving appeal on the road this year with the idea that this unique approach may become an annual event. From 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., 14 students, graduates, and faculty members provided music for customers outside the Firefly Coffee House, 3523 North Anthony Blvd.

It was a new way to raise Day of Giving recognition—and funds—and provide the artists a forum to introduce their considerable talent to a new audience.

“Performing in public is always challenging and usually quite fun,” said John O’Connell, dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts. “We are hoping people are impressed with our performers and motivated to give some money in their honor.”

It was an eclectic group that participated, from Hailee Richmond singing ballads like Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams,” to Olivia Albertson singing show tunes from “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” and “Little Women.” Allyn Beifus, B.A. ’18, played jazz and classical keyboard music leading into lunch.

The audience grew to about 20 people over the noon hour, listening to Jonathan Young play for opera singers Trinity Gonzales, Brendan Caffee, and Andrew Strimpel, who displayed big voices and bigger skills.

“I thought it was a great opportunity to help out my college, and obviously as outreach,” Gonzales said. “It was a way that I could hopefully reach more people and show what our program has.”

Spencer Saunders, VPA administrative and marketing assistant, came up with the idea for the event, which took about a month to coordinate, according to Molly Papier, director of the Community Arts Academy and assistant to the dean for community relations.