Reflections on a momentous academic year

Dear UNCSA Community,

What a year it has been!

When our Symphony Orchestra made its debut at Washington National Cathedral in D.C. this April, earning rave reviews, one critic affirmed what we all already know, that “UNCSA is among America’s great conservatories.” I couldn’t agree more.

UNCSA showed up in a big way in 2025-26, on stages, screens, and in studios across the country and around the world. From Edinburgh Fringe Festival performances in Scotland to Dance students touring internationally with Dance Theatre of Harlem our artists proved again and again that UNCSA talent belongs on the global stage.

This year also marked UNCSA’s 60th anniversary, commemorating when the school opened its doors as the nation’s first public arts conservatory, and our six decades of creativity, innovation, and pushing the arts forward. I cannot overstate what a unique and incredible proposition it was and still is that the State of North Carolina should not only support but take such pride in the nation’s only public arts conservatory training artists in dance, design & production, drama, filmmaking and music. I know you all share in the pride I have for this one-of-a-kind place.

The industry recognized that excellence once again, with the School of Drama ranked No. 3 by The Hollywood Reporter for the third consecutive year, the School of Filmmaking earning Top 10 U.S. film school honors and recognition among Variety’s top film programs in North America for the 11th straight year, and the School of Design & Production ranked among the Top 10 costume design programs in the world for the eighth consecutive year.

This year we also saw incredible support from the UNCSA community and beyond, including the largest single gift in UNCSA history: a transformational $10.1 million gift from Randy and Kamu Dishmon to establish the American Roots Music Institute. We also received a $5.3 million gift from Michael and Joy Rave to support expanded library programming and resources, along with a $1 million Dance scholarship gift from Broadway performer and alumna Caitlin Carter. During our biggest Days of Giving yet, more than 850 donors helped raise over $430,000 in support of UNCSA students and programs. Many of this year’s high-profile artistic collaborations and opportunities — including projects and partnerships with the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and Dance Theatre of Harlem — were also made possible through the leadership and support of the Thomas S. Kenan Institute for the Arts. We are deeply grateful for all of our supporters.

Another exciting milestone came just days ago, when we unveiled plans for Phase 2 of the Stevens Center renovation project. The next phase will fully transform the historic downtown venue into a world-class performance and learning space while preserving its legacy in the Triad arts community, with the Stevens Center reopening in 2029, 100 years after it first opened as the Carolina Theatre.

And one of the proudest moments of the year came in February, when UNCSA earned reaffirmation of accreditation for another 10 years with zero recommendations — a huge achievement that reflects the incredible work happening across our campus every day.

The momentum continues: we’re celebrating two Tony Award nominees among our alumni, Drama alumnus Joe Mantello (B.F.A. ’84) and Design & Production alumnus Paul Tazewell (B.F.A. ’86), announced last week. And we are so proud that Mary-Mitchell Campbell (H.S. Music '92) received the Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award for her unwavering dedication to advocacy work through the arts. These three are among dozens of UNCSA alumni who worked on and contributed to Tony-nominated productions this year. We are also thrilled to be welcoming back alumna and acclaimed casting director Tiffany Little Canfield (Drama ‘00) as keynote speaker for our 2026 Commencement this Saturday.

To our graduating students: I look forward to celebrating you on May 16. We are so proud of you and know that your creativity, talent, and voice will make our world a better place. Know that your UNCSA journey doesn’t end here. We are rooting for you in all that you do, and you are now part of an incredible alumni network that will support and sustain you. I hope you will remain connected and invested in this great institution and bring your experience back to help future artists.

To our returning students, faculty, and staff: take a moment to reflect on and celebrate everything you accomplished this year. Whether the summer months are filled with new creative work, travel, or rest (hopefully some of all three), I hope they are fulfilling for each of you and bring joy.

Sincerely,

Brian Cole

Chancellor