The Board of Trustees of The Catholic University of America voted on June 5, 2018, to unite the Departments of Drama and Art, previously in the School of Arts and Sciences, with the Benjamin T. Rome School of Music to create the new Benjamin T. Rome School of Music, Drama, and Art. This new school includes the Department of Music Performance; the Department of Music Theory, History, and Composition; the Department of Drama; and the Department of Art.
The Benjamin T. Rome School of Music, Drama, and Art unites programs that are by nature creative and collaborative to inaugurate an exciting new dynamic focus on the visual and performing arts at Catholic University.
The Rome School of Music, Drama, and Art is dedicated to achieving diversity and full inclusion, and addressing the consequences of systemic racism. As artists, educators, and scholars, we believe that the fine and performing arts can play a pivotal role in effecting change, and we strive to vigorously nurture a community of faculty, students, staff, and leadership that are empowered to make change. To do that, we must change ourselves, our practices, and our curricula. We understand deeply that this must be achieved with far more than words and promises. It will require action from all of us. To that end, The Rome School Anti-Racism, Inclusion, and Equity committee has been established to investigate past, current, and ongoing practices to promote racial equality in all aspects of School operations.
Fr. Dennis H. Holtschneider, president of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities, stated in his newsletter, “racism is America’s original sin. It continues to complicate all our attempts to create a truly human civil society. Those of us who accept the audacious task of leading faith-based education still have much work to do.” We are inspired by his words and are ready and willing to do that work.
We pledge to constantly renew our commitment to listen to and engage with the voices of black, indigenous, and people of color in the arts, to examine our own biases and racist tendencies, to develop curricula that shifts the narrative from white hegemony, and to endeavor to create an environment that is equitable towards all members of our community.
Despite a long and productive career, 94-year-old CatholicU alumna and artist Lilian Thomas Burwell had never before had a solo exhibition of her work in New York City prior to the opening of Soaring at the Berry Campbell Gallery in Chelsea in late April, 2021. She is seen here with her painting Arctic Flow (1983).
The Catholic University Repertory Chorus — housed within the Benjamin T. Rome School of Music, Drama, and Art — overcame the obstacles presented by the pandemic to present a Spring Series of sacred music concerts.
This digital series brings students, faculty, staff, and alumni together for a closer look at the inner workings of the school and industry in a time where everyone is separated and living in different places.
The COVID-19 pandemic presented Allan Laino, conductor of the University Singers, with a challenge. He needed to replace the three weekly class meetings of the University Singers with a virtual experience.
The Department of Drama is staging a digital version of Shakespeare's Measure for Measure.
Many Catholic University students expanded their educational experience through outstanding summer internships in places like Paris, Cape Town, Dublin, Fairbanks, and New York.
All first-year students admitted to the Studio Art and Art History majors are eligible to compete for the $20,000 Karen Laub-Novak Art and Faith Scholarship.
An alumnus of our music program recently unveiled portraits he completed of former deans of the music school.
Many of our students find the freedom and support to take diverse paths simultaneously.
Best of both worlds — individual musical instruction, and freedom to explore diverse academic subjects
Our students are involved in numerous on and off-campus productions. With approximately 100 student organizations, students have the chance to explore all their interests.
Our location in Washington, D.C., enables our students to use the city as their classroom.