Mahan Haghighatian
Arts Scholar
Pentathalon Semester 1
As an experiential component of College Park Arts Scholars, I attended a selection of five art events during my first semester. These events ranged in art mediums and each sparked dialogue among my peers.
Salon de la Vie
September 16, 2025
Live on youtube
#presentation
I have always been eager to learn more about the acclaimed artists of our time, and Salon de la was a very good opportunity for me to get to know Lena Horne, an American actress, singer, dancer, and civil rights activist. I learned about the struggles that Horne went through as an African-American woman and how she overcame them to become one of the most celebrated artists of the 20th century. After listening to her music and excerpts of her autobiography, I learned about how she used her art as a voice for change in the civil rights movement. I came to the realization that art and the social and political climate of an era are closely related. As an art scholar, I would like to know more about how art has influenced society.
Reel In The Closet
Documentary and Discussion About LGBTQ Home Movies
October 2, 2020
Live on Crowdcast
#film
After watching the documentary, Reel in The Closet, and the post-discussion, I learned so much about the history and culture of the LGBTQ+ community in the past century. This documentary showcased the history of this community through simple and intimate photographs and short home videos of the everyday life of queer people. Even though they went through many struggles to gain their rights, they made the most out of their lives and were genuinely happy. I was able to see how their way of life, their music, and art inspired them to get together to fight for their rights. As an art scholar, I would like to know more about how art has led to other social movements like this one.
Broward College Symphonic Band - The New Normal
October 25, 2020
Live on youtube
#Music
After attending this virtual concert, I learned about the instrumentation in different ensembles. I was able to listen to well-known pieces such as Carmen Fantasy, Mozart, and Schubert in arranged versions played by different instruments. Before this concert, I was only familiar with the instrumentation of string ensembles as a violinist playing mostly original compositions. Now, I know more about percussion ensembles, woodwind, and brass choirs. I am also more familiar with arrangements of previously composed works.The title of this concert is The New Normal. Being part of the University of Maryland Symphony Orchestra, I understand how challenging playing music can be in the midst of a pandemic. For this, I really appreciate the hard work of these musicians and look forward to listening to more of their music in the future.
Fallapalooza with Finneas
November 12, 2020
UMD Virtual Platform
#Music
I really enjoyed listening to Finneas sing and play beautiful music. I found his music to be very calming, and it helped me relax and take my mind off of schoolwork for some time during these difficult times. Finneas’s talent and love for his music was an inspiration for me as a violinist minoring in music performance. I would like to share my music with others around me like him.
Art Drawing Workshop
On Zoom
#Artscholarsevent
I enjoyed spending some time with my Arts Scholars peers and drawing very nice-looking sketches. As I do not draw often, this was a very good opportunity for me to practice my drawing skills. I also got the chance to get familiar with another form of art and appreciate it even more.
Pentathalon Semester 2
Marc-André Hamelin in Concert
January 30, 2021
Live on youtube
#Music
After attending Marc-André Hamelin’s virtual classical concert, I learned more about the works of different composers, such as Szymanowska, a female composer and virtuoso classical pianist, who I had never had the chance to listen to before. Unfortunately, female composers have usually been unheard of throughout the history of classical music. We mostly hear the works of white male musicians, so I really appreciate having had the opportunity to listen to the work of Szymanowska. Her piece was unique and had a very soft and soothing melody. The selection of music in this live concert showed me how important diversity in music is, something I previously learned from my time in arts scholars. I also had the chance to listen to works from Bach and Schubert, composers that I was familiar with before. It was interesting to see how different their music was since they are from different eras. It was also very nice to listen to a world class pianist’s interpretation of these pieces and how he played each one with a unique character. From my experience in this virtual concert, I learned how important music diversity is and the works of all composers should be appreciated.
Kress Collection Digital Archive
February 26, 2021
Presented on kress.nga.gov
#Visualart
After viewing the Kress collection of European Renaissance artwork, I got more familiar with art from this period and learned more about the Renaissance as a movement. Almost all of the pieces in the collection were paintings with a unique style common to this era. They were very naturalistic depicting humans in a realistic form. I saw mostly portraits, but there were many pieces depicting important religious scenes or historical events. Religion was the main theme of these paintings as I saw many biblical references. I realized that regiolin and the church played a significant role in society in this era. However, I also saw many secular portraits of individuals holding a book, which shows that science and education were also gaining importance. From this collection, I realized that there is a strong connection between art and the state of society, something I learned from art scholars and my art and history supporting course. This was also my first time looking very closely at such paintings, and I would like to learn how to analyze this type of artwork in more detail because they contain valuable information from the time they were created.
The benefits of music education
March 21, 2021
Ted Talk
#presentation
After watching this talk about music education, I realized how important and valuable it is. I learned that music education at an early age can help significantly with the development of the brain. In other words, it is like a work out for the brain improving its functions and activities in many aspects. Most individuals who have received music education tend to be more successful in their careers later in life. Unlike what most people believe, everyone can learn to play music; you do not need to be musically gifted. Music education has so many benefits and is a very enjoyable learning experience. However, I learned that not everyone has access to this type of education. Therefore, it is critical to promote it in public education systems around the world. This ted talk reminded me of how lucky I was to receive this type of education from the age of seven. I am still taking music classes in college and truly appreciate all that I have learned from it. After realizing the importance of music education, I would like to teach music to young children in the future.
Devised Theatre Showcase 2021: No Strings Attached!
April 10, 2021
Zoom
#theater
Before attending this event, I thought it was going to be like any other theatre show. However, this was something completely different. There were two sock puppets who had a series of talks with different people. The talks were very educational, especially for young kids, as the puppets talked about reading books to cooking. They also made me laugh a couple of times. This reminded me of when I was little and watched cartoon on TV. They also showed us how to make one of those sock puppets. In art scholars, I learned that art can be used as a medium for education. We can use art to teach something to others. In this show, I saw how art can was used as an effective educational tool for young children. They learn how to make a puppet and learn about many other things at the same time. This can also help a lot with creativity. This show was organized by college students, which I really appreciate. I would also like to do something educational like this in the future.
Soul Movie Screening + Q&A
April 23, 2021
Disney Debut & Zoom
#Artsscholars
Watching Soul was very entertaining and enjoyable. Throughout its plot, it had many important life lessons. I learned that I should never take something for granted, no one is born to follow a specific path in life, and things can still work out if your dream does not come true. I liked how the movie portrayed life before earth and the after life. I also enjoyed the music theme of Soul showing how someone could find solace through playing music. Not only some musicians but almost everyone can relate to the life of Joe Gardener or 22 at some point in their life. I also liked the ending and learned that no matter how long it takes you will eventually find your spark in life and as for Joe Gardner, everyone deserves a second chance. I found the Q&A session very interesting as well with the production designer and editor of Soul on the call. It was nice to hear their perspective and their experience of the production of the movie. Looking at the life of Joe Gardner, this movie made me realize how powerful music can be and how it can impact someone’s life.
Paint Branch Creek Performance
September 19, 2021
NextNow Fest
#Artscholars
It was really nice to listen to and watch the Paint Branch Creek band create such beautiful music. I also enjoyed attending the performance as my first in-person pentathlon event and sitting in the outdoor space of a restaurant with other people. The music was new to me, and everything about it, from the sound of the acoustic guitar to the country-style singing, matched the atmosphere of the event. I really liked the instrumentation of this band and how they created such an enjoyable experience and music with the collaboration of only three people. As an art scholar, I have learned to appreciate different forms of art and different genres of music. As I am minoring in music, I am solely focused on learning classical music, so I do not usually listen to this genre of music or play it. Watching Paint Branch Creek play their lively tune was a very rewarding experience, and I ended up appreciating country music even more. Maybe, I will try to play some country music on my violin and see how it sounds. You can play classical music with an acoustic guitar, so you should technically be able to play country music on the violin.
Galaxy of Sounds
Octoboer 3, 2021
Disney+
#Film
Last year, I watched Star Wars for the first time and I have fallen in love with it ever since. When I came across Galaxy of Sounds on Disney plus, I knew I had to watch it. Each episode of this short series features a certain theme in star wars and shows edited footage with no dialogue and music. The focus is just on the background noise like lightsabers igniting, blaster shots, or simply characters breathing. After watching all the episodes, I got the chance to experience Star Wars in a whole new way. I do love the music, and I think that it is an essential part of Star Wars. However, watching my favorite moments just with the real background sound made the experience more real. It was unique since I felt as if I was experiencing these iconic moments in real-time. The scenes were perfectly sequenced and reminded me of how I felt when I first watched them. For example, watching the tragedy of Anakin in silence felt kind of more upsetting. As I learned in Art scholars, this feeling is what makes Galaxy of Sounds a work of art. Having no music does not change anything about it.
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HERstory
October 16, 2021
Youtube
#Dance
Watching HERstory was a very valuable experience. Through telling the story of HER and how she overcame her struggles in life, I learned so many important lessons. I learned more about mental health problems, such as depression, and how to deal with them. HER was able to cope with her problems with the help of family, friends, dance mates, and dancing. I really appreciate how she found her spark in life through art and dancing. I have heard similar inspirational stories in my time as an art scholar. Art can help us in difficult times. In addition, it was my first time watching an Odissi performance. I really enjoyed the dance and music and was able to learn much more about Indian traditions. I liked how different types of music were used throughout the performance. In addition to the dance, some scenes were narrated, which made the central theme of this play more clear. I did a similar podcast project in my first semester as an art scholar researching the effects of music on mental health. It was really nice to see an entire project dedicated to this cause. I will also focus on the subject of art and mental health for my capstone project research.
Wind Band Halloween Haunt
October 31, 2021
Vimeo
#theater
It was really nice to attend this concert on halloween day and listen to its halloween spooky tunes. I really liked how all the musicians were wearing costumes and appreciated their creativity. One musician was wearing a Garfield costume. Usually, these concerts are very professional with musicians always wearing the same attire and following traditions of classical music for concerts. However, this performance was completely different with its halloween themes and seemed less formal. For example, I doubt that you can find what costumes musicians need to wear on the score of these pieces. I really like how each musician was creative in their own way to choose a costume for themselves. I also enjoyed the music of both the full wind ensemble and the wind octet. It was my first time listening to those pieces and works from these composers, which made me appreciate the music even more. I particularly liked Music for a Darkened Theatre with its sinister and frightening meldy. Being part of the music minor program and having taken orchestra classes, I understand how hard this band has worked to get ready for this performance. I really appreciate how they celebrated Halloween with the community.
New Music at Maryland
November 17, 2021
vimeo
#music
For this pentathlon event, I attended a virtual concert featuring the works from the school of music student composers. I was really inspired by their music and impressed by the quality. I had no idea that the UMD composers were so talented. I really liked the Rizgar Ismael piece written for violin. This piece had a contrasting energy of aggressiveness and moments of calmness, which was illustrated through the occasional change in harmony. The melody was beautiful and reminded me of middle eastern and asian music in certain moments with harmonic minor. In addition, it was very virtuastic, and I loved how the violinist performed it. I also play the violin, but I feel like to be able to play this piece I need ten more years of consistent practicing. The next piece by Ray Fields was very beautiful. I really enjoyed the harmonic tune by the flute and liked the dance accompaniment. The harmonic melody also reminded me of east asian music. I really appreciate all the work the composers and performers put into creating such beautiful music. As a musician, I know how challenging it can be. I look forward to listening to more music from our talented composers and musicians in the future.
“We Are All Ears”: Sense of Place and Storytelling in Ghana, West Africa
February 4, 2022
Facebook
#presentation
I was really inspired by Dr. Ibrahim’s work and learned that there are so many different ways one can use art to assist people in need of help. For example, Dr. Ibrahim used storytelling as a form of art to create change in the community she was working at. Her project helped students as her work was not only educational but also inspirational. The fact that Dr. Ibrahim’s project was based in Ghana, a place so far and unfamiliar for her, was very inspiring to me. In arts scholars, I learned that art can bring about social change. In this case for example, art brought a whole community closer together and also increased literacy among individuals. This experience taught me that art does not have to be anything fancy that only a select few people can be good at. It can be a universal and interactive experience where anyone can participate in and learn so much from. The art of storytelling is a very good example of this. One specific advantage of storytelling is that it also encourages creativity. Storytellers can create a whole new world, make it interactive, and teach important life lessons to their audience. I really appreciate Dr. Ibrahim’s work as she did all of these things for communities far from her home.
Gamer Symphony Orchestra Concert
February 27, 2022
Twitch
#music
For this pentathlon event, I attended the gamer symphony orchestra concert led by UMD students. I was really inspired by their music and really enjoyed their performance. This concert and the music was very different from the usual classical concerts I attended before. I got the chance to see the performance of my favorite video games music. The music arrangements were really interesting to me as most video games music is not performed using classical instruments. Also, a solo singer performed with the orchestra in some of the pieces, which is not typical in a classical orchestra. I particularly enjoyed the performance of Pokémon because it reminded me of watching it when growing up and playing the game with my friends. This performance taught me that it requires the work of many musicians playing in coordination to produce such high quality music. Looking at the number of musicians and their hard work, I now appreciate video games music production more. Being an art scholar, I know that art can be used to build community. Looking at this orchestra, I was able to see how music has brought so many people together to create art, which is something that I am thankful for.
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UMD Repertoire Orchestra
March 8, 2022
Vimeo
#music
I really enjoyed attending this concert by the repertoire orchestra and listening to the beautiful classical and middle eastern music. I really like the first orchestral piece from Gretel and Hansel. I enjoyed listening to its playful melody and Christmas- like theme. I also liked Scheherazade as it was based on the one thousand and one nights middle eastern folk legend. I read a few of the one thousand and one nights stories when growing up, and it was really interesting to watch a live performance of music inspired by it. I also liked the last piece inspired by the fairy tale Beauty and the beast. I learned that the repertoire orchestra is for non-music majors and music minors. As a music minor, I would like to join this orchestra and continue playing the violin. As an arts scholar, I know how music can build community. Looking at the community of these musicians playing with one another, I am really grateful for their work and would like to join them in the future. I am really thankful for all the work the musicians put into creating such beautiful music. As a violinist, I understand how challenging this can be.
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Shrek
March 26, 2022
Netflix
#film
For this pentathlon event, I watched the first Shrek movie. I felt very nostalgic after rewatching this movie as I had missed Shrek and my favorite character Donkey. I really liked Shrek movies as a little kid, but I had forgotten about the plots since I watched them a very long time ago. I really liked the humor in this movie, and I also enjoyed the romantic plot. I really appreciate how they ended the movie with a happy ending and showed that true love and not appearance is the thing that is important. I also learned that we should not judge people by their looks. We also should not make assumptions about them without listening to what they have to say first. I also really liked the background music. In art scholars, I saw many examples of how people use art to convey a story and teach important lessons to their audience. This movie did a very great job of that. Since the audience is children, I really appreciate the important lessons that the creators of this movie provided to children. I would like to watch Shrek the musical to get a theater experience of this movie.
A Life in the Nation's Capitaldline
April 14, 2022
University of Maryland Library
#dance
For this pentathlon event, I watched A Life in the Nation’s Capital, solo dance performance by Boris Willis. This performance is from the early 1990s, but it was digitized by Liz Lerman.I found it very interesting that Liz Lerman was the creator of the creative response process that we have been using in my art scholars classes. I really liked the music. It was really strange, and the chromatic nature of the music reminded me of the famous piece flight of the bumblebee. I also enjoyed watching the dance, and this style of dancing reminded me of the blacklight summit field trip I attended earlier this semester and their performances. I really appreciate the creativity of this performance. The chaotic nature of the dancing and music was really like life in the nation’s capital. It has been thirty years since the recording of this performance, and I am sure many things have changed. I wonder how people’s opinion of this specific form of dance performance has changed throughout the years. I wonder if I would think of the performance differently if I had watched it in the 90s.