An old, frail man is sitting in a chair. His feeble figure, clothed in blue, is bent over in a position of pain and despair, awaiting his death. The room around him is empty and bleak, save for a small fire in the corner. Two months after painting “At Eternity’s Gate”, also known as “Sorrowing Old Man” (1890), Vincent van Gogh was found dead. The dying old man depicted in the painting was an unsettling reflection of Van Gogh’s final months, in which he spent most of his time isolated in the Saint-Remy asylum. However, the tragic and untimely end of Vincent van Gogh’s life was not a unique case of an isolated artist’s mania and illness. Mental health issues have been prevalent in the artist community for centuries, with some of the most prominent cases being documented in the 18th century by Francisco Goya and William Hogarth through their artwork.  While being an artist does not guarantee mania or mental instability, external factors such as financial stability and public opinion as well as internal factors like personality and lifestyle play a large part in contributing to mental health issues.

If you think that baseball players have other worldly reaction times, then you probably only watch the Olympics for gymnastics. Although in truth I didn’t realize that Table tennis was an event in the olympics until I was sitting in a waiting room one summer. But it is mesmerizing.

In an era where individuals can simply tap to find music, live performances have transformed into an overlooked experience. With the quick access to social media and various streaming platforms, it’s easy for people to forget their emotions when watching an in-person performance. While listening to a song through headphones is convenient and simple, it will never reach the emotional energy of hearing the same song performed in real time. Live performances hold a special value – a value that connects people, commends artists, and reminds us of how music brings joy and light to the world.

Imagine sitting in a grand concert hall, filled with the subtle whispers of anticipating audience members. On stage are the members of the orchestra, dressed in concert black, tuning their instruments. Then, the hall quiets down to silence moments before the conductor proudly walks on stage.

In this blog post written by Student Committee Co-President, Dylan Joseph discusses what AI art is, the implications of it, and the effects on the music industry.

My name is Dylan, and I am the president of Mementos Music Group.

My difficulty learning Cello forced me to reflect on my relationship with music over the years, and helped me realize my frustration wasn’t really about the Cello itself, but about how I quantified my progress and purpose. At this point, the purpose I had for playing Cello changed; it was now about helping people enjoy the environment they are in. Whether you’re a musician or somebody with a deep passion for a subject, I hope this post can make it clear why you should continue to pursue something.