Drama alumna Alex Hairston (right) in "Summer: The Donna Summer Musical."

Grammy-award winning alumnus Richard O'Neill.

Display by Visual Arts alumnus Connor Matz as part of his work as visual director at Saks' flagship store.

Alumnus Owen Broder (saxophone) performing with his band, American Roots Project.

High School Alumni Stories

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High School Alumni Stories

Graduates from the UNCSA High School program have gone on to do great things and leave their mark on a variety of industries. Alumni from programs in Dance, Drama, Music and Visual Arts have performed on Broadway, danced with world-renowned companies, worked with major art and fashion brands, earned top industry awards and found many remarkable ways to make their impact.

"Euphoria" star Hunter Schafer: a rising talent in "Hunger Games" prequel

Known around the world as a model, actress, artist and activist, alumna Hunter Schafer breaks down barriers and pushes the boundaries of her artistry.

Matthew Murphy shooting Phantom of the Opera

Matthew Murphy uses his dance skill set to create outstanding Broadway photography

In the past decade and a half, Matthew Murphy (H.S. Dance '03) has photographed some of the biggest shows on Broadway. From the signature "Hamilton" logo to "Moulin Rouge! The Musical," "MJ: The Musical," "Hadestown" and many others -- you've seen his work, whether you know it or not.

Alumna Rebecca Nelson draws parallels between studies in music and mathematics

Rebecca "Bex" Nelson sees mathematics in everything. And more than four years removed from her days in the high school program, the 2017 graduate can still point to the essay she wrote her junior year when she came to realize and appreciate the ubiquitousness of the discipline.

Violist Richard O'Neill's passion for music has powered a globe-spanning career

Violist Richard O'Neill has nurtured a love of music that has spanned decades and continents, connecting him with his own personal history, other musicians and entire countries in unexpected and meaningful ways.

In collaborative venture, Owen Broder finds new ways to support his love of jazz

Alumnus Owen Broder has had a prolific and varied career as a saxophonist and jazz musician. One of his most recent ventures is Live From Our Living Rooms, an innovative and rapid response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on musicians and artists.

When one door closes, another opens for alumna Alex Hairston

School of Drama alumna Alex Hairston was on the first national tour of "Summer: The Donna Summer Musical" before pivoting her career during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sadie Cornette Cook's artistic growth lands her at Yale

Visual Arts student Sadie Cornette Cook (HS '16) says UNCSA gave her portfolio the edge over applicants to Yale and other art schools.

Dance alumna defines her own artistic success as a television producer

High school dance alumna Rebecca Soldinger has found a home in television, working as a producer for the Emmy Award-winning "Rachael Ray" talk show.

Connor Matz fuses fashion and art as Visual Director at Saks

Visual arts alumnus Connor Matz blends together his love of fashion and art as the visual director for Saks Fifth Avenue's flagship store in Manhattan.

Pickle Profile: Elizabet Puksto

Elizabet Puksto graduated from the High School Visual Arts and undergraduate Scene Design programs. Now, she does varied projects in film, commercial, music video and theater.

Gillian Murphy thrives as principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre

Gillian Murphy, principal ballerina with the American Ballet Theatre studied at UNCSA and won the Princess Grace Award and appeared as a guest artist all over the world.

Pickle Profile: Anna Wood

Drama alumna Anna Wood reflects on her formative UNCSA years. Catch her as Captain Maya Dobbins on CBS' "The Code."

Alumna Suri Bieler runs largest prop house on East Coast

As the owner of Eclectic/Encore Props, D&P alumna Suri Bieler provides set decorators, set dressers, production designers and props directors the pieces to create the world in which our favorite characters live and work.

Elizabeth Lail uses UNCSA training to adapt to a variety of starring roles

School of Drama alumna Elizabeth Lail has had roles as Beck in Netflix's thriller "You," on the HBO reboot of "Gossip Girl," as Princess Anna on "Once Upon A Time" and in multiple films, including the upcoming "Mack & Rita," in which she co-stars with Diane Keaton.

ABT Soloist Blaine Hoven brings his love of ballet full circle

As a soloist for American Ballet Theatre, Blaine Hoven has performed on stages across the country and around the world. Before joining ABT in 2003, he was a student in the School of Dance's High School Ballet program.

The accidental producer: how a Tony-winning alum found his dream career

The accidental producer: How a Tony-winning alumnus found his dream career

Twenty years after graduating from UNCSA's High School Drama Program, Orin Wolf is moving to New York City for the second time. But this time, he's packing a Tony Award.

A life in dance comes full circle for Cheryl Carty

Cheryl Carty believes that dance education changes lives. From being supported by her childhood dance teachers to studying at UNCSA, she says that learning dance is the way that she discovered herself.

Visual Arts alumnus makes health an art form

Justus Harris turns medical data into art. The 2008 alumnus of the High School Visual Arts Program has taken his passion for visual art and sculpture and transformed it into a new way to visualize health information.

Dave Thomas Brown steps into Broadway dream role

Drama alumnus Dave Thomas Brown steals the show in a variety of roles, leading him to Broadway success. Most recently, he appears as Elder Price in "The Book of Mormon."

Drama alumna uses art as a tool for healing

High School Drama alumna's weekly Free Expression Sessions invite students to explore how creative expression can relieve stress and foster self-reflection and community.

Paloma Garcia-Lee's unconventional UNCSA path leads to Broadway success

Paloma Garcia-Lee dances her way through major Broadway productions with skills she acquired in the School of Drama and the School of Dance.

Emmy Award-winning alumna Katreese Barnes on SNL decade and her career after UNCSA

If you don't know School of Music alumna Katreese Barnes by name, after more than 20 years in the music industry, you probably have heard a piece of music she has collaborated on.

Music grad's nonprofit showcases her passion for the arts

Inspired by her previous volunteer experiences, Mary-Mitchell Campbell founded ASTEP to support children in the arts.

New York City Ballet keeps UNCSA Dance alumna on her toes

Dancing for the New York City Ballet Company is right where UNCSA ballet alumna Claire Kretzschmar (HS '10) belongs. She has a busy performance schedule ahead of her as a member of the New York City Ballet's corps de ballet.

Entrepreneur creates path for former dancers to rediscover the dancer within

After a successful career in the pharmaceutical industry, Jules ('78 HS) found her experiences returning to dance humiliating. Passionate about helping other former dancers return to the studio, she founded The Dancer's Workout.

Laura Jackson's chromatic path to conducting

From high school violin student to music director of the Reno Philharmonic, Laura Jackson tells how UNCSA laid the foundation for interpreting orchestral works of genius.

Becca Stevens mixes classical & jazz into her art-infused life

Jazz vocalist, composer, songwriter and collaborator Becca Stevens (HS '02) came to the University of North Carolina School of the Arts her junior year of high school to study classical guitar. Her time at UNCSA changed her life's trajectory.

Saxophonist alumnus plays in The Late Show with Stephen Colbert house band

For UNCSA Music alumnus Eddie Barbash (HS '07), working on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is an everyday reality.

Songwriter and guitarist promotes music through work at Lincoln Center

Greensboro, North Carolina is more than 8,000 miles from Liuzhou, China. But when Justin Poindexter (HS '01, BM '06) has a guitar in his hands, the two worlds are only a song away.

John Michael Schert becomes a Visiting Artist and Social Entrepreneur in Chicago

Even in a tailored suit and loafers, John Michael Schert ('00) can pull off a mean arabesque in his whirlwind career as a professional ballet dancer, executive director and co-founder of an award-winning contemporary dance company.