The late 2010s brought new collaborations between students and professional musicians, photography from around the world, the first in a succession of Faith+Works lectures from CFAC faculty, partnerships with nonprofits and more! In these years, students across disciplines continued to flourish creatively as the college opened new doors and offered new opportunities.
Capturing the Coronation: Photography Professor’s Unexpected Trip to Tonga | 2016
BYU photography professor Paul Adams and retired instructor John Telford travelled to Tonga expecting to photograph ancient artifacts — instead, they were chosen as the Queen’s official photographers for King Tupou VI’s historic coronation. The photographers were granted exclusive access to intimate ceremonies and captured scenes previously unseen by the media. Although initially challenged by security restrictions, they soon became recognized and welcomed. Reflecting on their two‑week journey, Adams described the Tongan people as exceptionally warm and emphasized the honor of blending into local traditions to enhance their experience.
Living Legends Performs for the Queen, Prince, Local Leaders and Dignitaries Abroad | 2016
On May 4, 2016, in Wellington, Elder O. Vincent Haleck (Pacific Area general authority) and BYU’s Living Legends performed and met with U.S. Ambassador Mark Gilbert to New Zealand and Samoa. Elder Haleck praised the performers’ love for Pacific cultures and said music and dance unite us as children of God. Also in 2016, BYU’s Living Legends traveled to Tonga, where they were warmly welcomed by local communities and national leaders. The group had the rare honor of performing for King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipauʻu, a highlight that underscored the cultural significance of their visit.
First F+W Lectures from the College of Fine Arts and Communications | 2016
Faith + Works lectures are a staple of the current College of Fine Arts and Communications and aim to explore “journeys of faith within a disciplinary context. Each lecturer demonstrates how artists and scholars can productively wrestle with vital disciplinary questions in ways that exhibit mastery and rigor while also exploring, respecting and fostering faith.”
Commercial Music Expo Empowers Young Musicians | 2017
BYU hosted the first-ever Commercial Music Expo, led by music instructor Yahosh Bonner, to equip commercial music majors with industry skills. Student participants received direct mentorship from professional musicians in areas such as songwriting, live performance and studio techniques. The Expo fostered student confidence and career readiness bridging university study with the demands of the professional music world.
Art and Design Departments Collaborate to Benefit At-Risk Youth | 2018
Through courses like Design Lab and App Creative/Critical Thinking, BYU art and design students collaborated with the Volunteers of America (VOA), Utah, at their Youth Resource Center (YRC) in Salt Lake City. For the duration of one semester, the students raised funds, ran clothing drives and led art workshops. The students also hosted a pop‑up shop to sell screen prints and products, with proceeds going back to the Youth Resource Center. The initiative gave BYU students real-world experience and helped vulnerable youth develop skills, confidence and artistic self‑expression
Art Department to Implement Exciting Changes to BA Program | 2018
Beginning in the fall semester of 2018, BYU’s Department of Art introduced a redesigned BA structured around three distinct tracks: art; arts administration; and art and technology. Students selecting the art track follow the traditional liberal arts foundation with additional upper-level coursework. The arts administration track blends art study with nonprofit management coursework from the Marriott School, culminating in a capstone focused on arts organizations. The art and technology track prepares students for media-focused careers by incorporating advanced photography, video and audio courses, and new offerings in web design and digital sculpture.
TMA Has Its First Sensory Friendly Theatre Performance | 2019
In the 2019–20 season, BYU’s Department of Theatre and Media Arts included its first sensory-friendly performance under the direction of Julia Ashworth. On October 16, BYU’s Young Company performed “With Two Wings,” featuring a preparatory tour designed to accommodate families and children with sensory sensitivities. In the play — set in a forest, far from civilization — flightless young Lyf is on the cusp of life-changing choices. The protagonist, along with play attendees, found hope in this story of “learning to let go and gaining the courage to fly.”
BYU’s China Spectacular Tour Celebrates 40 Years of Friendship | 2019
In May 2019, BYU assembled its largest international tour ever — over 200 students from eight performing groups, including Living Legends, Young Ambassadors and more — to celebrate the 40th anniversary of its first China tour in 1979. They performed in Beijing, Xi’an and Shanghai, blending music, dance, theatrical spectacle and cultural exchanges with the Central Conservatory of Music. The tour highlighted shared values of friendship, family and harmony, reinforcing decades-long ties between BYU and China.
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