At the 35th annual Lawrence International Cabaret that will be presented this weekend, several international students will be representing their home cultures. This year’s show includes fundraising activities for victims of the earthquakes and tsunami in Japan.
Senior Maki Miura, a native of Tochigi, Japan, has a deep connection to the recent disaster. Her family’s house is still standing, but has suffered much damage. Miura will be involved in Cabaret in several ways. She is part of a chorus that will sing two Japanese pop songs whose titles translate to “Beyond the Starry Sky” and “Winding Road.” This music was chosen for a reason, said Miura.
“We heard the news say that the cities that were affected didn’t have electricity for days and weeks, but the people could look up to the sky and it was so beautiful because there were no lights,” she commented. “‘Winding Road’ is more of an encouragement for everyone. Even though the path is winding, there is still light at the end. It’s for both people back home and here, so that they know we are trying our best and hopefully they can stand up and support us.”
Miura will also be performing with a Japanese hip-hop dance group — and after Sunday’s performance, her photography will be on display outside a buffet dinner that will be served at the Warch Campus Center. The pictures are a part of an independent study from last term.
“I called a lot of different students, staff and community members, from different regions into the studio in their dress or whatever they wanted to present themselves as, and we took pictures,” she said. “I got 19 cultures or countries.”
Art and music were important parts of Miura’s childhood. She will graduate in June with a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology with minors in studio art and music.
“Originally, when I was applying to college, I wanted to do music therapy, and I applied to a couple of schools for a music therapy major, but my mom thought it would be good to establish the basics of psychology first,” recalled Miura. “So I looked into schools that didn’t necessarily have music therapy courses but had good music and good psychology, and Lawrence was the best.”
She added the studio art minor last year. Art is significant to Miura’s family; her older brother is an artist and her older sister is studying at an art school. Miura chose a concentration in photography because she wanted the experience of working with black and white photography in a dark room.
Miura has played violin since age five, and has been taking lessons at Lawrence with Associate Professor of Music and Teacher of Violin Samantha George. Miura gave a solo recital in the fall and has also played in chamber groups and the LSO.
As for the future, Miura hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in child clinical psychology. She will continue to enjoy music and art and hopes to integrate them into her career.
Check out Miura’s photography, singing and dancing in Cabaret this weekend, either Saturday at 6:30 p.m. or Sunday at 3 p.m. Tickets can be purchased through the Lawrence Box Office in the Music-Drama Center.
Miura’s photography, singing, and dancing in Cabaret this weekend, either on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. or Sunday at 3 pm. Tickets can be purchased through the Lawrence Box Office in the Music-Drama Center.